Third Reich political daggers
John C Pursley examines the dress daggers utilised by some of the Nazi Party support organisations
It seems there was a dagger for almost everybody during the Third Reich period, and every Nazi organisation, whether military or not, was symbolised by their unique edged weapon.
The SA Sturmabteilung
The SA (Storm Detachment) was the original paramilitary wing of the NSDAP and had a significant role in Adolf Hitler's rise to power by providing protection at rallies, disrupting the meetings of rivals, and fighting against the paramilitary units of the competing political parties.
There were over three million members in the SA by the end of 1933 (which is why their dagger is the most common edged weapon) and under the unbridled leadership of Ernst Röhm, became an aggressive liability to Hitler. In June 1934, many ranking leaders of the SA were assassinated during the Night of the Long Knives and although the organisation survived, it lost significant influence and power.
SA DAGGERS
The shape of the dagger was patterned after the 16th century Holbein and was the inspiration for SS, NSKK and NPEA edged weapons. The semi-crescent shaped crossguard and pommel, made from nickel silver, held the grip of walnut or pear wood, stained light brown. Inset into the top of the grip was a small roundel containing the symbol of the SA and in the center was a silver spread-wing eagle.
The scabbard was made of thin sheet metal, had top and bottom nickel silver lockets, and was painted brown. Early models were coated with brown oxide. Plated and polished blades were inscribed with the motto ‘Alles Fur Deutchland' (All For Germany) and collectors may encounter an optional inscription ‘Deutchland Uber Alles'
(Germany Over All) but most are reproduction. In addition, since
over 100 makers manufactured the SA dagger, they vary in their dimensions.
The hanger used for the SA was made of brown leather with an oval nickel silver buckle and attached to the wearer’s belt by means of a springloaded catch. To add stability to the dagger when worn while marching, an additional hanger component was used to hold it in the diagonal position.
There is another infrequently used hanger part that attaches around the grip directly under the hilt. This essentially provided two beltloops that held the dagger in the vertical position while the wearer was performing duty.
A tremendously rare dagger was also developed for the SA Marines that had a black grip, black scabbard, and copper or brass fittings. The more common version has the standard brown grip and scabbard with copper or brass fittings.
An honour dagger was produced in 1934 for members joining prior to December 1931 known as the Röhm dagger because of the blade engraving
‘In herzlicher Freundschaft, Ernst Röhm’ (In heartfelt comradeship, Ernst Röhm). Approximately 136,000 were issued.
Most model 1933 SA daggers were manufactured by individual firms but in 1934 quality control was transferred to the RZM organisation. From then on, the RZM proof mark was etched into the blade ricasso in place of the individual manufacturing firm maker’s mark. There were also low-grade metallic zinc plated fittings known to flake. Blades contain either the individual maker mark or the RZM stamp, and some private purchase pieces contain both, along with the year of manufacture.
After the death of Röhm, honour inscriptions were ordered removed and surviving full inscription examples are rare. Collectors can still find Röhm daggers ranging from full inscription, partial inscription or fully erased models, thereby bringing three separate prices.
In 1938, Röhm’s replacement, Victor Lutze authorised another version of the Honour dagger which was a standard 1933 design. The SA motto on the Damascus blade, however, was in relief and gold plated. The cross-guard and hilt display high-relief oak leaf design and there was an option for a leather covered scabbard.
There was also a revised High Leader Honour dagger produced in limited numbers that has a centre scabbard fitting to accommodate a double suspension chain hanger. The rectangular links of the chain (five upper and seven lower) were adorned with swastikas and joined together by a circular clip catch bearing the SA symbol. The scabbard was wrapped in brown leather and all daggers had Damascus blades.
SA Honour daggers produced prior to 1938 are priced around £50,000; the chained leader versions cost approximately £60,000; full Röhm inscription models go for £14,000 with
partials netting £2,400. Standard 1933 models range from £600 to £1,400 depending on condition. The Lakeside Trader is one of the best on-line sources for SA daggers.
The Schutzstaffel (SS)
Initially formed as an elite group of bodyguards for Hitler, the SS organisation dominated every facet of German life, as well as controlling a great portion of Europe, for 12 years.
The SS, under Reichfuhrer Heinrich Himmler was actually three separate organisations in one command. There was the Waffen-SS, essentially their own army of two million soldiers; the Reichssicherheitshauptamt (Reich Main Security Office, RSHA) controlled the police, security, and intelligence services; and the Allgemeine (General) SS managed concentration camps, several industries, and slave labour.
SS DAGGERS
The SS dagger (identical in basic design to the SA model) was introduced for wear by all ranks in 1933. The blade was inscribed ‘Meine Ehre heist Treue’ (My Honour is Loyalty), and the black ebony grip contained an inset SS roundel and small eagle. The scabbard was painted black and was suspended by a leather vertical hanger with the officer’s version carrying a silver cord portepee.
Like the SA, another version (referred to as a chained SS dagger) was authorised for wear by officers and enlisted personnel belonging to the SS prior to January 1933. The dagger was the same, but the scabbard was upgraded to include a centre band serving as the second attachment for the chain hanger.
The hanger was a chain of rectangular links containing two alternating SS runes and the death head symbol on each suspender joined together in a clasp decorated with a Celtic design. Officers were signified with the standard portepee attachment. Many incorrectly refer to this model as an Officer’s dagger.
Another variant was the Röhm Honour dagger introduced in 1934 and presented to SS personnel in good standing prior to December 1931. This model was also outlawed unless the signature was removed from the blade after his death.
Himmler instituted his own version of the Honour dagger for higher-ranking SS leaders using the basic 1933 model. It is adorned with oakleaf decorations in relief on the cross-guards and has a Damascus blade with raised gilded inscriptions.
Himmler also awarded 200 specially made daggers bearing the inscription ‘In herzlicher Freundschaft, H. Himmler’ (In warm camaraderie, H. Himmler) for SS members participating in the 1934 purge of SA leaders.
Standard RZM SS dagger prices vary from £2,300 up; early models are around £3,400; Rohm inscriptions for £13,000; partial or ground Röhm vary from £3,900-£6,900; chained daggers range from £ 6,900 t0 10,000, with Himmler Honour daggers starting at £21,000. Germania International is an excellent on-line shop where you can be assured your purchase is genuine.
THE HITLER YOUTH (HITLER JUGEND)
The Hitler Youth organisation was established by Adolf Hitler in 1933 to educate and train male youths in Nazi principles. In 1939 membership became
compulsory for 17-year-olds with the age lowered to 10 in 1941. When the youth turned 18, he was made a member of the Nazi Party and required to serve in the state labour service and armed forces until the age of 21.
After 1940, HJ personnel operated as flak helpers for the Luftwaffe and Army and in 1943 the 12th SS Panzer Hitlerjugend was created and served courageously until the unit was virtually wiped out in Normandy.
HJ KNIVES
A sheath-type, single-edged blade knife (Fartenmesser) was introduced in 1933 for use by all ranks. Blades were etched with the motto ‘Blut und Ehre’ (Blood and Honour) with a checkered black plastic grip with the Hitler Youth normal diamond of red and white enamel with a black swastika center inset into the front side. The knife fit into a black metal scabbard with a leather attachment.
Maker marks were applied to the early versions, but these also came under the umbrella of the RZM in 1934. These knives can be marked with the RZM mark and the makers control number, the combination of makers and the
RZM mark, or no mark. The motto was discontinued in 1938.
There are more variants to the HJ knife than any other edged weapon of the Third Reich. Some have the HJ diamond, some have a staghorn or wooden grip, and others resemble a small bayonet.
HJ LEADERS DAGGER
The Leader’s Dagger for the HJ was introduced in 1937 and had a blade similar to that used on the Army model with the motto acid etched on the flat central section in block print. The grip was made of wood and wrapped in aluminum or silver-plated wire with the cross-guard and pommel, which bears the engraved HJ symbol, made of the same metal.
The scabbard was wrapped in dark blue leather with the HJ symbol in relief on the upper scabbard fitting. Hangers were plain black leather with silver oval buckles and clasps.
Hitler Youth knives are priced from £250-£900 with Leader models fetching almost £6,000.
THE NATIONAL SOCIALIST MOTOR CORPS (NSKK)
Otherwise known as the Nationalsozialistisches Kraftfahrkorps, the NSKK was a military transportation organisation, separate from the SA, that provided military and state transport services from 1930 to the end of the war.
The NSKK expanded to be almost as large as the SA and incorporated a motorboat division. During WWII, the NSKK was delegated the responsibility of providing driver training for all manner of motor vehicles, light, and heavy machinery and also panzers.
Many NSKK members were conscripted into the military during the war and as such, the functionality of the organisation was weakened with many duties transferred to the armed services.
NSKK DAGGERS
Members wore the standard 1933 pattern SA dagger until 1936 when steps were taken to separate participants of the organisation from the SA by authorising a black scabbard in lieu of the standard brown model. Subsequently, black dagger scabbards were specifically manufactured for the NSKK and existing models could be painted. On occasion a double-painted scabbard will show up.
A number of NSKK daggers are known to have poorly fitting scabbards. This condition may be attributed to allowing personnel already having an SA dagger not wanting a shabbily painted scabbard, to purchase a replacement not specifically matched to the blade. A craftsman at the factory would have ensured a tighter tolerance in the throat.
Having a motorboat section in the NSKK, a unique Marine dagger was authorised, which was exactly like its other dagger with the exception of the cross-guard and hilt being plated with either copper or tombac.
Naturally the NSKK had its own version of the chained dagger which was developed in 1936 and has the general appearance of its SS and SA cousins. The major differences were the suspension loops on the upper and centre scabbard fittings, and the chain contained four links on the upper side (although some have only three) and five on the lower. The links consisted of alternating sunwheel swastikas and eagles.
The prices of NSKK edged weapons are comparable to those of the SA. The Ruptured Duck is a great source.