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HIROSHI OSHIMA

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Militaria Start Price:300.00 USD Estimated At:600.00 - 800.00 USD
HIROSHI OSHIMA
(1886 - 1975) General in the Japanese Army and Japanese ambassador to Nazi Germany during World War II. Virtually all of his diplomatic dispatches were intercepted by the Allies. Sentenced for war crimes at Tokyo and imprisoned until 1955. Rare war-date T.L.S., 2pp. large 4to., Berlin, Feb. 13, 1943 to Nazi Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels. In part: "...Please allow me to thank you for introducing the young Japanese violinist Miss Suwa into the artist circle in Berlin with the help of your ministry...Now you surpass yourself with your intention...to present an antique master violin by Omobono Stradivari to Miss Suwa as a sign of German- Japanese friendship...I express my warmest gratitude for your generous intention...". File holes at left margin, else fine. The subject of a September, 2012 New York Times article, the origin of the Stradivarius violin remains unknown and its history is still the subject of intense speculation. The violin is still in the hands of Ms. Suwa's family.