(1900-1945) Hitler's Chief of the Gestapo placed in charge of security and responsible for the construction and operation of extermination camps. He chose suicide rather than face a hangman's noose at Nuremberg. HIMMLER ‘EMPLOYS’ A KNIGHT’S CROSS RECIPIENT Partly-printed D.S. 1p. legal folio, Berlin, Sept. 21, 1935, a ‘Service Contract’ in which Himmler appoints SS-Untersturmfuhrer FRITZ EHRATH to: ‘…Serve as a leader in the SS-VT Troops without interruption until the age of 45…’. FRITZ EHRATH (1909-1972) was an early member of the SS, joining in 1930. He commanded a company in the Polish Campaign with Panzer Division Kempf, for which he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class, then took part in Operation Barbarossa, and was awarded a Knight’s Cross while in command of a Panzer regiment in 1943. Boldly signed by Himmler, and by Ehrath at left. File holes, a couple of negligible spots, otherwise very good condition. A fine association piece!