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Degen (SS)

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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.

Degen is the German term for a straight saber or sword, especially of the dress sword worn with a military uniform. In the context of Nazi Germany, the Führer Degen was a type of straight saber used by the Schutzstaffel (SS) from 1935 until 1945.

The Führer Degen was first introduced in 1935 and 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.[1] Later degens were manufactured by Paul Müller[disambiguation needed] at Dachau and by Puma of Solingen[2]

Description

December 1935 parade for Adolf Hitler at the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler Barracks, Sepp Dietrich is to the right of Hitler

Officer pattern

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 SS double lightning-bolt runes.[3]

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.[4]

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 Bad Tolz and Brunswick.[5]

NCO pattern

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.[6]

Uses

SS Officers

The Führer Degen was used by officers as a dress uniform weapon and for ceremonial purposes such as the swearing in of new SS recruits.

SS NCOs

SS NCOs, especially senior NCOs, used the degen as a full dress weapon.

References

  1. ^ Williamson, Gordon, Waffen SS Handbook 1933-1945.
  2. ^ http://www.germaniainternational.com/ss15.html
  3. ^ Williamson, Gordon, Waffen SS Handbook 1933-1945.
  4. ^ Williamson, Gordon, Waffen SS Handbook 1933-1945.
  5. ^ Williamson, Gordon, Waffen SS Handbook 1933-1945.
  6. ^ Williamson, Gordon, Waffen SS Handbook 1933-1945.

Further reading

  • Thomas Wittman Exploring the Dress Daggers and Swords of the German SS
  • Thomas Johnson
    • Collecting the Edged Weapons of the Third Reich (Volumes I to VIII)
    • Wearing the Edged Weapons of the Third Reich, Volume I to III

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Degen (sword).
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