Harry Truman Signed Proclamation Inscribed to His Cousin Ralph

Signed and inscribed as president at the conclusion, "Presented to Major General Ralph E. Truman by The President of the United States January 1, 1946. Harry Truman." Washington, D.C. The souvenir proclamation announces the surrender of Germany, thanking God for the victory. 1p printed, measuring 13.75" x 18" (sight), matted and framed to the overall size of 22" x 26.75". With some minor ink burn or toning around the red ink. Else, very fine with a bold signature.

On the day before Hitler’s suicide, the entirety of German troops in Italy laid down their arms in surrender, and the remaining German forces in Holland, Denmark and northwest Germany surrendered to British Field Marshall Montgomery on May 4th, 1945. The Germans wanted a separate peace with the allied troops in the West in order to continue their battle with the Russians in the East, but such negotiations were denied. General Eisenhower ordered the Germans to surrender unconditionally, which they ultimately did, signing the surrender document on May 7th.

Ralph Emerson Truman (1880-1962) was an American major general who led the 35th Division of the Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska National Guards between 1938 and 1941 and was the cousin of President Harry S. Truman. He faced being relieved of his command in October 1941, as part of a plan by the Army to purge older or ineffective officers in the run-up to potential American entry into World War II. Rather than be assigned to an administrative position, General Truman chose to retire from service.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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