BACKGROUND: Although Hitler himself despised smoking the habit was firmly entrenched in Germany, as elsewhere, when he came into power. As with most other nations the German government levied a tax on all tobacco products sold as a source of revenue. The knowledge of the dangers of smoking was not nearly as widespread at the time and smoking was quite common although the NSDAP, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party), strongly discouraged females from smoking they still capitalized on smoking’s popularity among men. As an example of the governments involvement with the tobacco industry the "Sturm" cigarette company which manufactured Sturm, Trommler, and Alarm brands of cigarettes was owned by the SA, Sturm Abteilung, (Storm/Assault Detachment), and a popular brand of cigars were sold under the brand name, Generalfeldmarschall and utilized Herman Göring’s image in its marketing campaigns.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: "Ermuri Zigarren" wooden box measuring approximately 16cm x 10cm x 4.5cm with paper hinge. With original "Rpf" eagle tax stamp.