Schutzstaffel SS
The origins of what later would become the organisation “SS” were formed in the spring of 1923 composed of 12 old comrades and persons personally dependent on Hitler and the unit were called Stabswache (Headquarters guard).
The Stabswache dressed in black ski caps with skull and crossbones, field-grey overcoats and jackets and black-bordered swastika armbands swore to protect Hitler from enemies at the risk of their own life.
The Stabswache was short-lived and two month later with the twelve men Stabswache in cadre, Hitler created the hundred men “Stoßtrupp Hitler” (Shock troop) with men taken from the third Munich SA battalion.
Its leaders were Julius Schreck (later Hitler’s driver) and Joseph Berchtold.
This unit served as Hitler’s first bodyguard at NSDAP meetings in the early days.
The Stoßtrupp was also a protect force to protect Hitler against a fast growing and unpredictable SA.
Stoßtrupp Hitler 1923
In September 1925 the formation of a new guard build on the Stabwache model initially with 8 members from the former “Stoßtrupp started to took place. They were known as Schutzstaffeln (guard squadron).
The new growing SS under leadership of Hitler’s driver Julius Schreck and in 1926 by Joseph Berchtold was delegated to be a protection elite force to various Nazi Party Leaders throughout Germany.
Berchtold lost interest as leader in the organization and reliquished his office to Erhard Heiden in March 1927.
Heinrich Himmler was made second in command of the SS in September 1927 under Heiden and In January 20, 1929 Himmler was made Reichfürer SS with a force of 280 men, but the organization would soon expand into a giant powerful elite force.
Henrich Himmler
The SS become the most feared organisation of the Reich, an elite black dressed unit.
All SS personnel were picked for their mental strength and physical health also selected on racial and ideological grounds. The SS applicants had to be at least 23 years old and not older than 35.
The organisation was distinguished from the German military, N.S.D.A.P, and German state officials by their own SS ranks, SS unit insignia, and SS uniforms.
"Die Leibstandarte der führers in München 1935"
After 1933 the organisation grew fast and were splitting into three main groups.
The Allgemeine SS or General SS stated in mid 1934 was the new term of the old origin of the SS and actually consisted of about 90 percent of the total membership paid and unpaid, active and reserve.
Only the Sicherheistdients (SD) founded in 1931 had really been cut off organizationally from the SS unit structure.
The formations were divided into Oberabschnitts, Abschnitts, Standarten, Sturmbanne and Sturme which comprised the growing SS army.
In December 1934 a decisive distinction had developed between the General SS and certain special units like Verfügungstruppe SS-VT including Liebstandarte SS Adolf Hitler and Wachverbände (guard units)
The Totenkpfverbände (SS-TV) performed security duties at concentration camps.
Himmler had made Theodore Eicke since June 1933 the commander of the SS concentration camp at Dachau, inspector of state concentration camps and chief of the SS guard troops.
Eicke also assisted Sepp Dietrich and units of the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler in the assassination of Ernst Röhm in 1934, the so called “night of the long knifes”
Later the Totenkpfverbände served as combat replacements for units of the SS Verfugungstruppe and would become one of the most powerful and destructive military forces in history.
In the beginning of the war in September 1939 the overall strength of the SSTV units was about 24.000 men.
Waffen-SS (former SS-Verfügungstruppe SS-VT) or armed SS was the military arm of the SS with well trained troops of unquestioned loyalty to the party and the Fuhrer.
The new term Waffen-SS was introduced informally in November 1939 and appears as the collective term for the armed units of the SS and the Police.
The Waffen-SS became the fourth part of the Wehrmach in 1939 alongside the Army, Navy and the Air force.
The term Waffen-SS became officially in January 1940.
SS- leaders:
- Julius Schreck (1925-1926)
- Joseph Berchtold (1926-1927)
- Erhard Heiden (1927-1929)
- Heinrich Himmler (1929-1945)
- Karl Hanke (1945)
[SS] (Quick Dagger Description)
The standard SS service dagger (1933)
This dagger is identical in configuration to the 1933 standard service SA Dagger and was worn by all members of the Allgemeine-SS and later, the Waffen-SS.
The brown SA grip was replaced with an ebony grip or other hardwood which was dyed black to match the SS uniform. A common problem with early SS daggers is that the hard ebony colored wood grip become brittle as the wood ages which often results in cracks, chips and other grip damages.
The insignia roundel with the runic SS initials was smooth inserted at the top of the wooden grip.
The cross-grained steel blade had the etched motto “Meine Ehre heißt Treue” (My honor is loyalty) on the obverse and the makers mark close to lower cross-guard on the reverse.
Cross guards was made of solid nickel-silver.
The Roman numerals (I) Munich, (II) Dresden and (III) Berlin often found on the reverse lower cross guard of early SS daggers indicate its respective Abschnitte (district) 1933-1934 were it passed inspection and was sent further for distribution.
The nickel eagle holding a wreath with the swastika was nice inserted in the centre of the wooden grip (same as the SA dagger). The sheet metal scabbard was finished in a blued oxide finish also known as anodized and was usually coated with a protecting factory lacquer.
To solve the problem with the early anodized worn looking scabbards they were often painted black.
After 1936 most scabbards were delivered with black painted surface from the factory.
To compare with the more than 240 producers of the SA dagger, the SS production were awarded to only a few select producers.
Length 37 cm.
The mid period (1936-1937)
The SS service dagger had nickel-silver or nickel plated cross guards.
The grip eagle was made of nickel-silver or aluminium.
Blade was maker marked or maker marked together with RZM code. (Transitional)
Other blades were totally unmarked.
Scabbard was anodized or painted and scabbard fittings were nickel silver or nickel plated.
The late period (1938-1942)
The SS service dagger had nickel plated cross guards.
The grip eagle was made of aluminium.
Blade was marked with RZM code or totally unmarked.
Scabbard was painted and scabbard fittings were nickel plated.
RZM (Reichszeugmeisterei der NSDAP)
There were unique RZM codes specially made for SS daggers which were different and separated from the regular RZM codes normally seen on SA/NSKK daggers and HJ knifes.
The 1936 chained SS dagger!
In August 1936 Himmler approved the 1936 chained SS dagger for all officers having held rank as of November 9, 1935 or for any participant who had been a member of the SS for three or more years as of January 30, 1936.
The new design was a chained scabbard with alternating pair of cross-bone skulls and SS runes held together with small connecting links.
Dagger and scabbard was factory made as a unit and blade was totally unmarked (no trademark or RZM code)
Sometimes a 1936 chained SS scabbard can be found with a trademarked dagger.
The probably reason is that the owner only ordered the new chained scabbard to his already existing 1933 standard service SS dagger.
The SS Röhm honor dagger (1934)
This dagger is identical to the standard SS service dagger 1933 except for the etched dedication from the SA leader Ernst Röhm on the reverse blade which reads “In Herzlicher kamaradschaft, Ernst Röhm”
After Röhms assassination known as “The night of the long knifes” in June 30, 1934 an order dated July 4 1934 from Henrich Himmlers office, says that the Röhm dedication had to be removed from the SS dagger alternatively the dagger must be disposed.
Some SS personnel only removed the name of Ernst Röhm “Partial Röhm” while others removed the entire dedication complete of “Ground Röhm”.
Several Röhm dagger producers reduced the normal makers mark to a smaller trademark which was placed closer to the lower cross guard to provide more space for the dedication.
Estimated quantity made: at least 9900 (Wittman)
The SS Himmler honor dagger
This dagger is identical to the SS Röhm honor dagger except for the replaced Röhm dedication to SS Reichfürer himmler dedication on the reverse blade which reads “In Herzlicher kamaradschaft, H. Himmler ”.
The Himmler honor dagger was produced exclusively by the Carl Eickhorn firm.
Estimated quantity made: at least 2500
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