Germany, Nsdap. A Scarce Blood Order, Awarded To Otto Gümbel, By Josef Fuess

(Blutorden). Instituted 9 November 1933. (1933-1934 issue). A scarce and desirable Blood Order, constructed of silver, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, the obverse with a swooping NSDAP-style German national eagle clutching a wreath with a central date of “9. NOV.”, flanked by an inscription of “MÜNCHEN 1923-1933”, the obverse with a detailed raised depiction of the Munich Feldherrnhalle, topped by a mobile swastika with sun rays in the background, with an inscription of “UND IHR HABT DOCH GESIEGT” (“AND YOU HAVE WON AFTER ALL”), the reverse bearing a maker’s mark of “J. FUESS, MÜNCHEN”, a silver content number of “990”, and an issue number of “121” for Otto Gümbel, measuring 40.11 mm in diamter, weighing 25.3 grams, with minor wear to the features consistent with age, in overall very fine condition.

Footnote: Otto Gümbel was born on 23 August 1876 in Winnweiler, Germany. He served a one-year commitment in the Imperial German Army between 1894 and 1895, before pursuing a career in the burgeoning German railway system with Palatinate Railway in 1895. Gümbel rose to become Secretary of the Royal Bavarian State Railways after its takeover of the former, and during the First World War enlisted in the Bavarian Army, serving from 1915 until 1918. Following the end of the war, Gümbel returned to the rail industry and became an administrator in Zweibrücken. His activity with the NSDAP, and participation in nationalist agitation, began early; he initially joined the NSDAP in November 1920 and was arrested for “disobedience and resistance” to French occupation forces in the Rhineland. He was released the following month and expelled from the French occupation zone, subsequently settling in Munich, where he worked in a freight yard. While in Munich, he continued as an active member of the NSDAP and, with his two sons, participated in the Beer Hall Putsch. After the re-establishment of the NSDAP, Gümbel joined as member number 63035 on 1 June 1927, simultaneously joined the Sturmabteilung (SA), where he would achieve the rank of Gruppenführer by 1942. In the interim, Gümbel was employed with Reichsbahndirektion München, being promoted to Reichsbahnoberinspektor on 1 October 1930. From 4 October 1933 until 31 March 1934, Gümbel worked with the education department of the Reichsbahndirektion, and also fulfilled SA duties, sitting on the Supreme SA Leadership Board and was a frequent keynote speaker at SA events. On 1 January 1942, Gümbel was promoted to President of Reichsbahndirektion München, and would hold this position until his death in Munich on 16 March 1943.