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The '''''SS-Ehrendegen''''', also '''''SS-Degen''''' (officially ''Ehrendegen Reichsführer-SS''<ref>Dienstaltersliste der Schutzstaffel der NSDAP, Berlin, 1943, p. 106</ref>), was a straight [[sabre]] or [[smallsword|sword]], especially of the [[dress sword]] worn with a ''[[Schutzstaffel]]'' (SS) uniform from 1935-1945.
The '''''SS-Ehrendegen''''', also '''''SS-Degen''''' (officially ''Ehrendegen Reichsführer-SS''<ref>Dienstaltersliste der Schutzstaffel der NSDAP, Berlin, 1943, p. 106</ref>), was a straight [[smallsword|sword]], especially of the [[dress sword]] worn with an [[Uniforms and insignia of the Schutzstaffel|SS uniform]] from 1935 to 1945.


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>
First introduced in 1935, the SS sword was designed by [[Karl Diebitsch]], [[Heinrich Himmler]]'s personal referent on all 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>


==Description==
==Description==
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 102-17311, Berlin-Lichterfelde, Hitler bei Leibstandarte.jpg|thumb|1935 parade for [[Adolf Hitler]] at the [[1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler|LSSAH]] Barracks. Several SS swords and scabbards are visible]]
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 102-17311, Berlin-Lichterfelde, Hitler bei Leibstandarte.jpg|thumb|1935 parade for [[Adolf Hitler]] at the [[1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler|LSSAH]] Barracks. Several SS swords and scabbards are visible]]


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 disc featuring the [[Runic insignia of the Schutzstaffel|SS double lightning-bolt runes]].<ref name=williamson />
The sword 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 disc featuring the [[Runic insignia of the Schutzstaffel|SS lightning-bolt runes]].<ref name=williamson />


The [[scabbard]] was painted in black enamel and had 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 />
The [[scabbard]] was painted in black enamel and had 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==
==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]]'' at [[SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz|Bad Tölz]] and [[Braunschweig|Brunswick]].<ref name=williamson />
The officer's sword 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-Junker Schools]], the SS officer training camps.<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 />
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]]


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|Description = ''SS-Dolch 1933, SS-Erendegen,'' and ''SS-Dolch 1936,'' from ''Organisationsbuch der NSDAP 1943''
|Description = ''SS-Dolch 1933, SS-Erendegen,'' and ''SS-Dolch 1936,'' from ''Organisationsbuch der NSDAP 1943''
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== References ==
== References ==
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{{Commons category|SS-Ehrendegen}}
{{Commons category|SS-Ehrendegen}}


{{Template:Ranks, uniforms and insignia of Nazi Germany}}
{{SS organizations}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Degen (Sword)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Degen (Sword)}}

Revision as of 23:47, 24 August 2020

SS-Ehrendegen
Three views of an NCO version 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
TypeSword
Place of originPeter Dan. Krebs firm of Solingen, Germany
Service history
Used bySchutzstaffel
WarsWorld War II
Production history
Produced1935–1945
Specifications
Blade typeSingle-edged, straight bladed.

The SS-Ehrendegen, also SS-Degen (officially Ehrendegen Reichsführer-SS[1]), was a straight sword, especially of the dress sword 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 referent on all art and design within the SS. It was originally manufactured by the Peter Dan. Krebs firm of Solingen, Germany.[2]

Description

1935 parade for Adolf Hitler at the LSSAH Barracks. Several SS swords and scabbards are visible

The sword 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 disc featuring the SS lightning-bolt runes.[2]

The scabbard was painted in black enamel and had 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.[2]

Awarding

The officer's sword 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-Junker Schools, the SS officer training camps.[2]

The 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 pommel cap.[2]

SS-Dolch 1933, SS-Erendegen, and SS-Dolch 1936, from Organisationsbuch der NSDAP 1943
SS-Dolch 1933, SS-Erendegen, and SS-Dolch 1936, from Organisationsbuch der NSDAP 1943

References

  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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