Wilhelm Bruckner | Hitler’s Adjutant

Group 3

Bruckner’s SA Insignia as an SA-Obergruppenfuhrer & more

Bruckner became Hitler's adjutant in 1923, and was heavily involved in the planning of the 9th November 1923 Putsch. Trusted by Hitler, and liked by many of the inner circle, Bruckner's influence was undermined by 1939, as Bormann conspired behind the scenes. Bormann's manipulation led to Bruckner being superceded by Schaub, as Hitler's chief adjutant. 

The Bruckner grouping 3 contains a pair of Bruckner’s SA-Obergruppenfuhrer collar patches on a carmine pink wool base. The patches retaining an ‘M’ level RZM paper label with serial number ‘006442’. Also included, Bruckner’s single epaulette for the rank of SA-Obergruppenfuhrer with the RZM paper label to the reverse. The label bearing the serial number ‘193060’. These insignia the same as shown in a photograph of him wearing the white summer uniform (a copy included). Additionally included a document signed in ink by Bruckner with party heading, and some further photographs.

Condition report: The collar patches clean, some oxidation to the silver-aluminium wire. The carmine wool bases free from moth or other damage. The reverse of the collar patches with remains of old glue. The single epaulette clean. Slight oxidation to the silver-aluminium wire. Slight age patination to the gold wires. The reverse of the epaulette with the remains of old glue. The signed document generally clean and with a fold.

Background to Wilhelm Bruckner: Brückner was born in Baden-Baden. Later studying law in Straßburg, In the First World War, Brückner was an officer in a Bavarian infantry regiment and was discharged as a lieutenant. Directly after the war, Brückner joined the Freikorp Epp  In late 1922 he joined the Nazi Party and the Sturmabteilung (SA). On 1st February 1923, Brückner became leader of the Munich SA Regiment. Brückner was among those who were active in spurring on the Putsch. He warned Adolf Hitler early in November "We have so many unemployed in the ranks, men who have spent their last on uniforms, that the day is not far off when I won't be able to keep a hold on them unless you act. If nothing happens, we will lose control".

It was in 1923 that Brückner became Hitler's adjutant and one of his bodyguards. At the time there were only five men in the personal squad, including Ulrich Graf, Emil Maurice, Christian Weber, and Julius Schaub. Brückner was well liked by the men.

On 9th November 1923 Brückner took part in the Beer Hall Putsch in Munich, and was found guilty of aiding and abetting high treason. On 1st April 1924 Bruckner was sentenced to fifteen months imprisonment. Pretrial confinement time was deducted from his sentence, and as such, he (along with Wilhelm Frick and Ernst Röhm) walked out of the courtroom as free men on probation. Once free, Bruckner took over his old SA regiment's leadership.

Brückner was appointed Chief Adjutant to Hitler on 20th February 1934, and retained that role until being dismissed on 18th October 1940. In that role he supervised all of the Führer's personal servants, valets, bodyguards, and adjutants. He thereby counted among those who were in Hitler's innermost personal circle. On 9th November 1934, Bruckner was appointed an SA-Obergruppenführer by Hitler.

Brückner was liked by applicants and everyday visitors at the Reich Chancellery for his straightforwardness and affability. However, due to Bormann’s manouervering  Bruckner was replaced in October 1940 by Julius Schaub (Schaub being closer to Bormann). Brückner joined the Heer (army), becoming a colonel in the elite ‘Infanterie Regt.List’. Bruckner survived the war, and died on 18th August 1954.

Provenance: The Bruckner grouping was originally acquired by the Californian-based military antiques firm of Wolfe & Hardin in the 1970s. The grouping had originated as war booty, brought to the USA by a serving American soldier returning from Germany in 1945.

The well-known collector, Robert McCarthy purchased the Bruckner grouping from Wolfe & Hardin in the early 1980s. One collection since. Included in the sale, copies of documents & photographs showing the whole Bruckner grouping as acquired by Wolf & Hardin in the 1970s.