Germany, Nsdap. An Official Photo Album Of The Finance Minister’s Inspection Of The Latvian Border

An Official Photo Album of the Reich Finance Minister’s Inspection of the Customs Border at Riga, Latvia

; A photo album, measuring 242x304mm, better than extremely fine condition with light scuffing of the cover. It is an official souvenir of the Reich Finance Minister’s inspection of the Zollgrenzschutz (Customs Border Guard) in Latvia. Next to six typewritten pages, giving an account of the journey, the album contains 95 photos, showing scenes from the city of Riga, two funerals of customs guards, gatherings of soldiers, a visit from the Reichskommissar Ostland (Reich Commissioner of the Baltic states) Hinrich Lohse, scenes from a training exercise of Latvian Hilfszollmänner (auxiliary custom guards), and of course several pictures of Finance Minister Johann Ludwig Graf Schwerin von Krosigk.

Footnote 1: Krosigk, as Reich Finance Minister, was the supreme commander of all border customs units. The Minister and his entourage arrived in the Ostland region on July 28, 1942. Their inspection ended on August 7. However, photos are dated to as early as March, and the latest ones are from October of 1942. Before arriving in Riga, they visit several Grenzaufsichtsstellen, or GASt. (Border Custody Post), including Bad Polangen (Lithuania), Libau, Pavilosta, Ulmale, and Windau, and the training facility in Tuckum (all Latvia). After a sightseeing tour through Riga with the Reichskommissar Ostland, Hinrich Lohse, the group inspects the GASt. Riga Strand (beach) and Dünamünde. Then they are on their way again, stopping at the Latvian GASt. Saulkrasti, Salismünde, and Hainasch, before finally leaving for Estonia.

Footnote 2: Johann Ludwig Graf Schwerin von Krosigk (1887–1977) was Reich Finance Minister from 1932 to 1945. He was a veteran of the First War, winning the Iron Cross. In 1937, Krosigk was awarded the Golden Party Badge, even though he had not been a member of the NSDAP.