Donald Wayne Richardson collection, 1935-2000

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Summary

Creators:
Richardson, Donald Wayne, 1923-2001
Abstract:
The Donald Wayne Richardson collection (1935-2000) is composed of two photographic albums, maps (of Bad Reichenhall, Germany and Berchtesgadener Alpen, Austria), a certificate to retain a captured German pistol, a patrol report of the area south of Konigess, and a pair of Lederhosen owned by Hermann Göring. A member of the 327th Gilder Infantry, Lt. Richardson was involved in the search of Göring's hunting lodge in the southern German Alps, south of Berchtesgaden in May 1945. One photographic album obtained from the search includes images of landscapes in the Alps, Göring's family, hunting and hunting gifts from Hitler.
Extent:
1 manuscript box, 2 oversize boxes, 1 oversize folder (2.34 Linear Feet)
Language:
In English and German
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Donald Wayne Richardson collection, [Box no., Folder no. or permalink], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains two photographic albums, a map of Bad Reichenhall, Germany circa 1940s, a map of Berchtesgadener Alpen circa 2000s, a certificate from 1945 to retain a German pistol captured by Lt. Richardson, a 1945 report of the Patrol in the Area South of the Konigess, and a pair of lederhosen owned by Hermann Göring.

Of note is one photographic album that was obtained by the American soldiers from Hermann Göring's hunting lodge in the southern German Alps, south of Berchtesgaden (possibly located off of Lake Obersee, Roth, Germany), after Göring was captured in Bavaria on May 9, 1945. Göring's lodge was searched by the 327th Glider Infantry (of which Richardson was a member) for military equipment. The album, from Lutz Heck to Göring, includes black-and-white images of Göring's hunting, the German-Austrian border, the Alps, family photographs, and images of the hunting gifts (live animals taken from the Berlin Zoo) from Hitler to Göring. One photograph features an image of an eagle claimed to have been a gift from Mussolini.

Biographical / historical:

Donald Wayne Richardson was born July 12, 1923, in Gorham, Maine. An accomplished ice and rock climber, he served as a specialist in alpine combat during World War II. Additionally, Richardson was a member of the 327th Gilder Infantry that searched Hermann Göring's hunting lodge in the southern German Alps, south of Berchtesgaden, in the last weeks of May 1945.

Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 2022.
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Content from this collection has been digitized. Original materials are closed due to their fragility.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Donald Wayne Richardson collection, [Box no., Folder no. or permalink], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
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