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{{Short description|Nazi SS dress sword}}
{{Infobox Weapon
{{Infobox weapon
|name= SS-Ehrendegen|image= [[File:SS-Ehrendegen img 0482-b.jpg|250px]]
|name= SS-Ehrendegen| image= Degen img 0482.jpg
|caption= Three views of a ''Degen'': top, the SS sign on the pommel; middle, the oak leaves and the runic design of the handle and upper scabbard; bottom, the art deco tip of the scabbard
| image_size =
|origin= ''Peter Dan. Krebs'' firm of Solingen, Germany
|caption=
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|type= [[Sword]]
|origin=
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|type= [[Dress sword]]
<!-- Type selection -->
<!-- Type selection -->
|is_bladed= yes
|is_bladed= yes
<!-- Service history -->
<!-- Service history -->
|service=
|service=
|used_by= [[Schutzstaffel]]
|used_by= ''[[Schutzstaffel]]''
|wars= [[World War II]]
|wars=
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|designer=
<!-- Production history -->
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|designer=
|design_date=
|design_date=
|manufacturer=
|manufacturer=
|unit_cost=
|unit_cost=
|production_date= c. 1936 - 1945
|production_date= 1935–1945
|number=
|number=
|variants=
|variants=
<!-- General specifications -->
<!-- General specifications -->
|spec_label=
|spec_label=
|weight=
|weight=
|length=
|length=
|part_length=
|part_length=
|width=
|width=
|height=
|height=
|diameter=
|diameter=
|crew=
|crew=
<!-- Bladed weapon specifications -->
<!-- Bladed weapon specifications -->
|blade_type= Single-edged, straight bladed.
|blade_type= Single-edged, straight bladed.
|hilt_type=
|hilt_type=
|sheath_type=
|sheath_type=
|head_type=
|head_type=
|haft_type=
|haft_type=
}}
}}
The '''{{lang|de|SS-Ehrendegen}}''' or '''SS Honour Sword''', also '''{{lang|de|SS-Degen}}''' (officially {{lang|de|Ehrendegen des Reichsführers SS}}<ref>Dienstaltersliste der Schutzstaffel der NSDAP, Berlin, 1943, p. 106</ref>), is a straight [[Small sword|dress sword]] that was worn with an [[Uniforms and insignia of the Schutzstaffel|SS uniform]] from 1935 to 1945. First introduced in 1935, the SS sword was designed by [[Karl Diebitsch]], [[Heinrich Himmler]]'s personal advisor on art and design within the SS. It was originally manufactured by the Peter Dan. Krebs firm of [[Solingen]], Germany.<ref name=williamson>Williamson, Gordon, ''Waffen SS Handbook 1933–1945''.</ref>


⚫
The sword has a long thin straight blade produced at different lengths to accommodate the height of the wearer. The {{lang|de|Degen}}'s [[hilt]] features a D-shaped knuckle-bow (fingerguard) and a black ribbed wooden grip. The grip is bound with silver wire and features an inset disc featuring the [[Esoteric insignia of the Schutzstaffel|SS lightning-bolt runes]].<ref name=williamson /> The [[scabbard]] is painted in black enamel and has decorative silvered top ([[locket]]) and bottom ([[chape]]) mounts. It was worn with an aluminium braid [[Lanyard|sword knot]] embellished with the SS runes in black on the stem.<ref name=williamson />
The '''''SS-Ehrendegen''''', also '''''SS-Degen''''' (officially ''Ehrendegen Reichsführer-SS''<ref>Dienstaltersliste der Schutzstaffel der NSDAP, Berlin, 1943, p. 106</ref>), was a straight [[saber]] or [[smallsword|sword]], especially of the [[dress sword]] worn with a ''[[Schutzstaffel]]'' (SS) uniform from 1935 until 1945.


==Honour award==
First introduced in 1935, it was designed by Professor [[Karl Diebitsch]], an ''SS-[[Oberführer]]'', who was also [[Heinrich Himmler]]'s personal referent on all art and design within the SS. The ''degen'' was originally manufactured by the [[Peter Dan. Krebs]] firm of Solingen, Germany.<ref name=williamson>Williamson, Gordon, ''Waffen SS Handbook 1933–1945''.</ref>
⚫
The officer's sword was officially awarded with a hand-signed certificate from Himmler to selected officers of the ''[[SS-Verfügungstruppe]]'' and ''[[SS-Totenkopfverbände]]'' in recognition of special merit. It was also awarded to officers who graduated from the [[SS-Junker Schools]], the SS officer training centres.<ref name=williamson /> The [[non-commissioned officer]] (NCO) version is similar to the officer version, but the scabbard has a plain, unadorned chape. The NCO version's handle also lacks the silver wire wrapping and the SS runes are moved from the handle to the [[hilt#Pommel|pommel]] cap.<ref name=williamson />


==Description==
==Damascus blade==
The Damascus-bladed Honour Swords are extremely rare. They were awarded to a select few by Himmler personally, usually to high-ranking SS leaders, or important businessmen or statesmen who held an honorary SS rank of at least SS-''[[Oberführer]]''. Since they were often given to recipients on their birthday (usually their 50th), they are also known as "Birthday Honour Swords".
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 102-17311, Berlin-Lichterfelde, Hitler bei Leibstandarte.jpg|thumb|upright|1935 parade for [[Adolf Hitler]] at the [[Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler|SS Leibstandarte]] Barracks. Several SS swords and scabbards are visible]]


⚫
==References==
⚫
It had a long thin straight blade produced at different lengths to accommodate for the height of the wearer. The ''degen'' featured a "D" shaped knuckle-bow ([[crossguard]]) as the handle which also featured a black ribbed wooden grip. The grip was bound with silver wire and featured an inset disk featuring the [[Runic insignia of the Schutzstaffel|SS double lightning-bolt runes]].<ref name=williamson />

The [[scabbard]] was painted in a black enamel and had a decorative silvered top ([[locket]]) and bottom ([[chape]]) mounts. It was worn with an aluminium braid [[sword knot]] which was embellished with the SS runes in black on the stem.<ref name=williamson />

==Awarding==
⚫
The officer ''Degen'' was officially awarded with a hand signed certificate from Heinrich Himmler to selected officers of the ''SS-[[Verfügungstruppe]]'' and ''SS-[[Totenkopfverbände]]'' in recognition of special merit. It was also awarded to officers who graduated from the ''SS-Junkerschulen'' ([[Junker schools]]) at [[SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz|Bad Tölz]] and [[Braunschweig|Brunswick]].<ref name=williamson />

The [[Non-commissioned officer|NCO]] version was similar to the officer version but the scabbard had a plain, unadorned chape. The NCO version's handle also lacked the silver wire wrapping and the SS runes were moved from the handle to the [[hilt#Pommel|pommel]] cap.<ref name=williamson />

==See also==
* [[Rapier]]
* [[Smallsword]]
* [[Uniforms and insignia of the Schutzstaffel]]

⚫
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
{{Commons category|SS-Ehrendegen}}
{{Commons category|SS-Ehrendegen}}


{{SS organizations}}
{{SS organizations}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Degen (Sword)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Degen (Sword)}}
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[[Category:Weapons of the interwar period]]
[[Category:Modern European swords]]
[[Category:Modern European swords]]
[[Category:20th-century weapons]]
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[[Category:Military equipment of the interwar period]]
[[Category:Nazi SS]]
[[Category:Nazi SS]]
[[Category:Nazi symbolism]]
[[Category:Nazi symbolism]]

{{Sword-stub}}
{{Germany-WWII-stub}}

Latest revision as of 22:28, 28 November 2024

SS-Ehrendegen
TypeDress sword
Service history
Used bySchutzstaffel
Production history
Produced1935–1945
Specifications
Blade typeSingle-edged, straight bladed.

The SS-Ehrendegen or SS Honour Sword, also SS-Degen (officially Ehrendegen des Reichsführers SS[1]), is a straight dress sword that was worn with an SS uniform from 1935 to 1945. First introduced in 1935, the SS sword was designed by Karl Diebitsch, Heinrich Himmler's personal advisor on art and design within the SS. It was originally manufactured by the Peter Dan. Krebs firm of Solingen, Germany.[2]

The sword has a long thin straight blade produced at different lengths to accommodate the height of the wearer. The Degen's hilt features a D-shaped knuckle-bow (fingerguard) and a black ribbed wooden grip. The grip is bound with silver wire and features an inset disc featuring the SS lightning-bolt runes.[2] The scabbard is painted in black enamel and has decorative silvered top (locket) and bottom (chape) mounts. It was worn with an aluminium braid sword knot embellished with the SS runes in black on the stem.[2]

Honour award

[edit]

The officer's sword was officially awarded with a hand-signed certificate from Himmler to selected officers of the SS-Verfügungstruppe and SS-Totenkopfverbände in recognition of special merit. It was also awarded to officers who graduated from the SS-Junker Schools, the SS officer training centres.[2] The non-commissioned officer (NCO) version is similar to the officer version, but the scabbard has a plain, unadorned chape. The NCO version's handle also lacks the silver wire wrapping and the SS runes are moved from the handle to the pommel cap.[2]

Damascus blade

[edit]

The Damascus-bladed Honour Swords are extremely rare. They were awarded to a select few by Himmler personally, usually to high-ranking SS leaders, or important businessmen or statesmen who held an honorary SS rank of at least SS-Oberführer. Since they were often given to recipients on their birthday (usually their 50th), they are also known as "Birthday Honour Swords".

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Dienstaltersliste der Schutzstaffel der NSDAP, Berlin, 1943, p. 106
  2. ^ a b c d e Williamson, Gordon, Waffen SS Handbook 1933–1945.
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