German dress daggers and swords
John C Pursley takes a look at the ornamental weaponry of the Third Reich that harked back to more chivalrous times
John C Pursley takes a look at the ornamental weaponry of the Third Reich that harked back to more chivalrous times.
Dress daggers and swords were a large part of the German Third Reich mystique and were used by military and paramilitary organisations alike for ceremonial purpose. Swords, especially, reflected the long traditions of the past when the sabre sidearm was a functional proponent during close combat. Edged weapons are very collectable as they do not take up much space, display well and are, for the most part, durable when maintained in a warm, dry environment. By the time of Hitler’s regime, cavalry charges bearing down on the enemy with riders’ sabres gleaming in the sun were long past but the tradition of sword wearing was still very much alive, only with design differences.
Sword manufacturing
In the past, family or regiment association was indicated in the insignia crest of the grip and most swords were fitted with an ornate basket guard to protect the user’s hand. However, the ones worn during the Third Reich period were designed with a much smaller knuckle-bow. The crests on the newer model swords were also changed to acknowledge the Nazi regime. Most of the ceremonial edged weapons were, and still are, manufactured in Solingen, Germany which is part of the Ruhr Valley industrial complex.
Blade manufacture in the city has roots in the 1500s and was mostly a cottage industry with its craftsmen competing with other nations, eventually gaining fame throughout Europe. The practice of producing blades by hand was the usual method until about 1847 when the technique of rolling sword blades replaced the arduous and time-consuming forging by hand.
Industrialisation of the craft increased the demand for the quality blades, which greatly benefitted the area financially. But it was the need for enormous numbers of blades to supply Germany’s armed forces during WWI that necessitated further refinements in mass production. However, after the post-war depression in Germany, many firms turned to making cutlery and presentation swords for foreign governments to help them survive.
The real boost to the industry came with the abolishment of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and the reestablishment of Germany’s Wehrmacht. Hitler used the tradition of ceremonial sword wearing as a means to establish pride among the officers of his armed forces and approved a plan to bolster the Solingen economy. Soon, a great number of Nazi daggers and swords were being produced.
However, it was no easy task for the manufacturers to have their designs accepted. The process began with the manufacturer commissioning an artist to make a full-scale prototype hilt by hand. All patterns were subsequently submitted to the Reichszeugmeisterei (RZM) for approval. A mold of the hilt was then produced and mounted on a finished blade, followed by another RZM inspection. Upon final approval, the new pattern was placed into mass production.
Sword and dagger production soared from 1935 until the start of the war matching the demand of the swelling numbers of military and quasi-military members. The manufacturers in
Solingen made sure there were many models from which to choose.
A great number of edged weapons were produced for the military, but officers, non-commissioned officers, and members of authorised civilian organisations could, and often did privately purchase their swords and daggers. Customers could choose options like Damascus or etched blades, different coloured grips, personalised inscriptions on the blades, or alternate fitting materials.
Production during the war
Bayonets by the tens of thousands were manufactured together with dress sidearms, but by 1940 it was apparent Germany was lacking in critical raw materials to sustain their war effort and certain adjustments were necessary in the area of materials. So, instead of using brass, bronze, or nickel, less durable resources like aluminum or metal alloys were used to make the hilt components of swords and daggers.
Ceremonial and traditional dress Note the artillery officer’s Lion’s Head sword does not have the national emblem on it. Very few edged weapons were manufactured without it ( JBMilitaryantiques.com.au) sidearms were produced until 1944 when wearing a pistol was mandated to substitute the blade. Practicality apparently replaced pageantry. This left warehouses full of dagger and sword components that had no benefit for the ongoing war effort.
Allied bombing of the Solingen area further complicated the ability to produce edged weapons and most manufacturing facilities were either seriously damaged or completely destroyed. Those that did remain were overtaken by advancing US troops and the businesses were plundered for souvenirs. After that, the Poles occupied the area and what was not taken by the Americans, they grabbed. Only a small amount of unassembled part remained hidden away in blade firms.
Almost immediately after the war, enterprising Germans gathered what materials had not been stolen and manufactured what collectors refer to as parts daggers and swords or, for a more descriptive definition, post-war manufactured edged weapons. These were sold to occupation troops who did not care when they had been made.
Eventually, the Government decided they were not getting their share of the proceeds and demanded the post-war models be stamped, in English, with
‘Made in Germany’ where the maker mark would have normally been placed. If you run across one, they are worth far less as a true military collectible.
Heer swords
Only two sabres were officially designated by the Heer and officers were authorised to select their own model from a large variety of hilt patterns. This is why the army officers wore a wider assortment than did members of other service branches.
The enlisted man’s swords were purchased through military supply channels and stored in an armoury, but officers often purchased their own with variant designs and quality depending on the financial status of the individual.
The numerous blade firms were extremely competitive in order to attract a share of the business. Blade length depended on the height of the purchaser and the officer model came in lengths ranging from 86cm to 108cm with the enlisted man’s from 90cm to 112cm.
Most of the army officer swords were manufactured with either a lion’s head on the top of the hilt directly above the handle or a smooth rounded surface referred to as a dove’s head. The lion heads are very ornate in design and their eyes are inset with either red or green stones, with the green being rarer.
Inasmuch as each manufacturer designed their own sword, there is no consistency with the lion head, which sparks a controversy among Nazi militaria collectors. Some manufacturers made their lions with flowing manes while others eliminated the mane all together, making the hilt decoration look like a different animal. Some swords seem to be decorated with a puma or a panther. I have all three in my collection and am of the opinion they were made specifically in the image of the creature the sword depicts.
I approached renowned collector/ author Thomas Wittman with this scenario and his response indicated he never gave the subject much thought, but plenty of other collectors have. You, the reader can form your own opinion based on the pictures.
The dove head is more plain and, although ornate, it is lackluster in comparison with the lion head model. But there is another pattern, designed strictly for administrative officials, bearing an eagle head in place of the lion or dove heads. If you ever run across one, buy it as it is extremely rare.
The cross guard of the army sword normally exhibits the Nazi national emblem (an eagle and swastika) with a plain shield on the obverse with the exception of cavalry swords that are designed with either a grouping of small swords or crossed swords on the shield. Another exception is the
artillery sword
exhibiting crossed cannons.
Non-commissioned enlisted man’s sabres generally resembled the officer dove head model, but without any decoration. These sidearms also appear to be much stouter and could possibly be used in a combat situation, unlike the officer model.
Luftwaffe swords
Completely different than their counterparts, the Luftwaffe model more closely resembled those carried by Teutonic Knights, having a straight double-edged blade instead of a curved model, sharpened on one side like the army versions. Unlike the army, these swords were worn by senior NCOs and officers alike.
Early swords featured nickel fittings but, after 1940, were made of aluminum. If you can purchase the early model, do so as the plating flakes off the aluminium, which does not really detract from the worth a lot, but makes the sword look tacky.
Also, unlike the army version, general officers had their own adaptation of the sword. The first model was introduced in 1935, but the most commonly found version was designed in 1938 and was completely different from the standard sword.
This version had a thin straight blade that was meticulously etched, a hilt guard with a gold-coloured Luftwaffe eagle affixed on the front center, ornate brass hilt markings, and a gold wire wrapped orange coloured grip.
Kriegsmarine swords
The German Navy was, like most in the world, conservative and loved to honour long-standing traditions. For this reason, the naval sword is devoid any external display of the swastika, setting the officers apart from all other service, government, or political officials. There was, however, a national emblem included on the etched blade.
Like the army sword, the naval version was also adorned with the head of a lion (that also differed with each manufacturer), red and green glass inset eyes to signify port and starboard ships running lights, and a front shell guard with an anchor molded into it. The hilt was made of brass to preclude any damage from salt sea air with a grip of white plastic wrapped in brass wire.
SS swords
In 1936, Himmler was bestowed control over the police, fire protection personnel, and the SS. As a result, the basic sword pattern for all three organisations was identical with the exception of the grip inlay, which was the distinguishing factor between the branches.
Until 1936, SS officers used a sword similar to those worn by their army counterparts except the hilt was plated on old silver. The revised version had a straight blade etched with the SS motto ‘Mein Ehre heist Treue’ (my loyalty/ honour is true), a black painted wood grip wrapped in silver wire with a circular medallion containing SS runes inset, and nickel-plated hilt and scabbard mounts.
The NCO sword is similar, but the grip is larger, and the SS runes are inset into the pummel locking nut and viewed from the top as opposed to the side as in the officer’s version.
Other organisation swords
Besides military and paramilitary organisations, others were allowed to wear swords especially made for them, including Customs and Railway Protection, Diplomatic, Justice and Prison, and Miners. These are exceedingly rare, expensive, and difficult to find.
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