(1884 - 1942) German field marshal who commanded the Tenth Army in the invasion of Poland, and the Sixth Army in the invasion of France and in the taking of Kiev and Kharkov. Reichenau supported the work of the SS Einsatzgruppen in exterminating the Jews in the occupied Soviet territories, yet may have been plotting against the Nazi hierarchy. Died of either a heart attack...or at the hands of the Gestapo. Potentially pivotal war-date D.S., 1p. 4to., [in the field], Dec. 1, 1941 in German to O.K.H. in pencil. Untranslated but clearly the text of a telegram or radio message sent by von Reichenau to OKH and referencing Field Marshal GERD VON RUNDSTEDT who had been relieved by Hitler the same day. Von Reichenau signs 'v. Reichenau 1/12' at bottom in blue indelible pencil. File holes at left, else fine. From the estate of Field Marshal FRANZ HALDER. On Nov. 21st, Kleist, reinforced by Waffen-SS General Sepp Dietrich's 1st SS Division (the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler), captured Rostov. But the Soviets had had time to prepare, and launched a counter-offensive on the 25th. On the 28th Rundstedt authorized Kleist to withdraw from Rostov and establish a front on the Mius, 70 km to the west. When Hitler heard of this the next day, he ordered that Rostov should be held, although it had in fact already been evacuated. Rundstedt replied by insisting on his decision, and adding: 'Should confidence in my leadership no longer exist, I beg to request someone be substituted who enjoys the necessary confidence of the Supreme Command.' Hitler took Rundstedt at his word, and on 1 December he dismissed him, replacing him with Reichenau. The new commander saw at once that Rundstedt was right, and succeeded in persuading Hitler, via Halder, to authorize the withdrawal. This was the first significant defeat the German Army suffered in World War II, and Rundstedt was the first senior commander to be dismissed. Worthy of a full translation and further research. Sold with three postcard images, one showing Halder and signed by him postwar.