Degen (SS)

SS-Ehrendegen
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
Type	Sword
Place of origin	Peter Dan. Krebs firm of Solingen, Germany
Service history
Used by	Schutzstaffel
Wars	World War II
Production history
Produced	c. 1936 - 1945
Specifications
Blade type	Single-edged, straight bladed.

The SS-Ehrendegen also SS-Degen (officially Ehrendegen Reichsführer-SS^[1]) was a straight saber or sword, especially of the dress sword worn with a Schutzstaffel (SS) uniform from 1935 until 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.^[2] Later degens were manufactured by Paul Müller at Dachau and by Puma of Solingen.^[3]

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.^[2]

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.^[2]

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 school) at Bad Tolz and Brunswick.^[2]

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.^[2]

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

↑ Dienstaltersliste der Schutzstaffel der NSDAP, Berlin, 1943, p. 106
1 2 3 4 5 Williamson, Gordon, Waffen SS Handbook 1933–1945.
↑ http://www.germaniainternational.com/ss15.html

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to SS-Ehrendegen.

Schutzstaffel (SS)

Branches	Allgemeine SS Totenkopfverbände (SS-TV) Waffen-SS

Leadership	Reichsführer-SS SS and Police Leader SS personnel SS commands

Leaders	Julius Schreck Joseph Berchtold Erhard Heiden Heinrich Himmler Karl Hanke

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Ideological institutions	Ahnenerbe Das Schwarze Korps SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz Lebensborn

Police and security services	Regular uniform police (Orpo) Criminal police (Kripo) Secret State police (Gestapo) State Security police (SiPo) SS Security Service (SD)

Führer protection	SS-Begleitkommando des Führers Reichssicherheitsdienst

Paramilitary units	Einsatzgruppen Ypatingasis būrys Lithuanian Security Police Rollkommando Hamann Arajs Kommando Ukrainian Auxiliary Police Ukrainian collaboration Volksdeutscher Selbstschutz Trawnikis

Waffen-SS divisions	Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT) Leibstandarte (LSSAH) Totenkopf-Division Polizei-Division

Foreign SS units	Germanic-SS Germaansche SS in Nederland Germaansche SS in Vlaanderen Germanske SS Norge Schalburg Corps Britisches Freikorps Europäische Freiwillige S.S. Sturmbrigade R.O.N.A. Finnisches Freiwilligen-Bataillon

SS-controlled enterprises	Ostindustrie Deutsche Wirtschaftsbetriebe Deutsche Ausrüstungswerke DEST Allach porcelain Apollinaris Mattoni Sudetenquell Anton Loibl

SS Awards	Ehrendegen Reichsführer-SS Totenkopfring

Ranks, uniforms and insignia	Uniforms and insignia of the SS Ranks and insignia of the Waffen-SS Ranks and insignia of the Orpo Corps colours of the Waffen-SS

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