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Gerd Pleiss photograph album

Document | Digitized | Accession Number: 2013.455.1

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    Gerd Pleiss photograph album
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    Overview

    Description
    Consists of a photograph album consisting of photographs of military training, Nazi rallies, the 1936 Berlin Olympics, and Berchtesgaden, all 1936-1937. The album was compiled by Gerd Pleiss, a member of the Leibstandart SS Adolf Hitler, 1st Company, and includes amateur photographs of leading Nazi personalities.
    Date
    bulk:  1936-1937
    inclusive:  1910-1942
    Credit Line
    United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Wendie Theus
    Collection Creator
    Gerhard Pleiss
    Biography
    Gerhard (Gerd) Pleiss was born on April 20, 1915, in Remscheid, Germany. He attended gymnasium in Dortmund and then began an apprenticeship with a dentist. He volunteered for the SS in April 1936 and was accepted into the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, 1st SS Company. This unit was Hitler's personal bodyguard, charged with guarding Hitler, his office, and personal residences. Pleiss attended SS-Junker school in Braunschweig and, in April 1939, was promoted to Untersturmfuhrer. He participated in the invasion of France in May 1940 and was awarded the Iron Cross, 1st class. In 1941, the Leibstandarte became part of the Waffen SS, during preparations for Operation Barbarossa, the planned invasion of the Soviet Union. SS-Hauptsturmführer Pleiss was made commander, 1st Company LSSAH, for the campaign in the Balkans. In April 1941, during the Battle of Vevi in northern Greece, Pleiss's unit captured Klidi Pass from British troops, opening the way into Greece. He was wounded, but remained in command. Pleiss was awarded the Knight's Cross, the highest award for bravery and leadership, which was personally presented to him by Hitler on April 21 in Berlin. Operation Barbarossa was launched on June 22, 1941. Pleiss was mortally wounded on November 17, 1941, when he stepped on a land mine during the attack on Rostov-on-Don (Rostov-na-Donu, Russia.)

    Physical Details

    Language
    German
    Genre/Form
    Photographs.
    Extent
    1 box

    Rights & Restrictions

    Conditions on Access
    There are no known restrictions on access to this material.
    Conditions on Use
    Material(s) in this collection may be protected by copyright and/or related rights. You do not require further permission from the Museum to use this material. The user is solely responsible for making a determination as to if and how the material may be used.

    Keywords & Subjects

    Corporate Name
    Nazi Party

    Administrative Notes

    Provenance
    Wendie Theuss donated this photograph album to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2013. Her father, Milton Verne Elliott, brought it back after his service in the United States Army during World War II.
    Record last modified:
    2023-09-15 09:26:26
    This page:
    https:​/​/collections.ushmm.org​/search​/catalog​/irn85296