German Daggers of World War Two

The Navy [Kriegsmarine]
The German Navy holds a long and honorable tradition. Unlike the other services, German Navy uniforms and accouterments have been historically slow in reflecting change. For example, the German Navy edged weapons which remain in service today bear only a minor modifications to the edged weapons carried by members of the Royal Prussian Navy in the mid-nineteenth century. Although the Versailles Treaty signed after World War I seriously limited any sizeable overt expansion of the German Navy, covert submarine production continued outside the country. When Hitler gained power in 1933, he immediately boosted the Navy to a formidable military force under the aegis of Admiral Erich Raeder. Raeder remained at the helm of the German Navy for the next fifteen years, when he was replaced by Admiral Karl Donitz. Early in the war, German U-boats were the nemeses of Allied sailors throughout the Atlantic Ocean. As anti-submarine warfare was perfected by the Allies, heavy combat losses were inflicted on the Germans.
Third Reich Navy Sword w/Depot/Inspection Markings. F.W. Höller (thermometer) TM. Gilted brass hilt fittings show surface wear with traces of gilting remaining in the recesses of the heavily-chiseled lion head pommel without glass eyes, backstrap, knuckle-bow and folding handguard. Exterior of the reverse folding guard is stamped, "Hamburg" with the accountability number, "75", as well as both Kriegsmarine and Reichsmarine Ordnance stamps. White celluloid-over-wood grip has one crack on the upper obverse near the pommel, and is complete with tight triple brass wire wrap. Plain plated, quillback blade shows light surface wear/runner marks, minor gray shadowing, and several shallow nicks to cutting edge. Is complete with original red felt blade buffer pad. Black leather scabbard shows light surface wear with some surface scuffing, but no creases or damage to the reverse stitching. Upper, center, and lower gilted brass scabbard fittings show light surface wear/age patina, with two minor depressions to obverse lower fitting. All scabbard retaining pins are present, and reverse upper fitting is stamped with Ordnance and accountability markings matching those on the reverse folding guard. Sword is complete with original silver bullion sword knots in correct tie, showing light fraying to one spot of the cord. Nice example of a depot/ordnance inspection-marked Naval sword.

BACKGROUND: The Sword/Saber is an age old military tradition, that evolved from a functional weapon into an item of uniform dress ornamentation by the start of WWI. This strong tradition continues in many armies and navies to this day as a symbol of strength and power. After Hitler rise to power in January 1933 and the reintroduction of conscription in March 1935 a wide variety of new sword and saber designs were introduced to outfit the rapidly growing Wehrmacht. This revival in sword/saber production resulted in the numerous blade manufacturers, mainly located in Solingen, to develop a wide variety of ornate designs in an attempt to compete for the lucrative manufacturing contracts which resulted in over one hundred different patterns of the army sword/saber being produced during the Third Reich era. The Kriegsmarine Officer saber can trace its origins back to 1848 with the establishment of the Imperial Prussian Navy composed of a fleet from the un-unified, German states. This fledgling navy was abolished in 1852 as result of disagreements amongst the independent states, but the sabre pattern was retained by the K霵igliche Marine, (Royal Prussian Navy). Although the German army introduced numerous patterns of swords/sabers during the Third Reich era the Navy maintained its traditional saber which remained virtually unchanged with minor variations. Dress regulations for Officers and senior NCO prescribed wear of side arms as a component of particular forms of dress. Officer and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own uniforms, including side arms, and as a result were allotted a clothing allowance through the Navy Offizierkleiderkasse, (Officer Clothing Account), system. Although enlisted personnel were issued their side arms from government supplies they were also permitted to purchase privately manufactured side arms although the price may have been restrictive. When worn the saber was accompanied by a portepee and specific hangers. Originally designed as a functional item to secure the blade sidearm to the holders wrist the portepee evolved into a purely decorative accessory and was to be worn with all Kriegsmarine Officers saber. Regulations of May 7TH 1943 discontinued further manufacture of the portepee although those already issued continued to be utilized. Issue sabers were marked with the Navy ordnance acceptance marks and property control marks while privately purchased side arms were not. Interestingly regulations of February 25TH 1944 discontinued wear of the dagger to be replaced with a pistol until the successful conclusion of the war although the saber was not mention in the order and presumably continued to be worn through-out the war.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 33 1/2" long, slightly curved nickel/silver plated, drop forged steel construction blade features roughly, 22 1/2" long fullers and an acid etched design to each side featuring ships, fouled anchors, crossed oars, tridents and an ornate foliage pattern. The spine of the blade also has an ornate acid etched foliage pattern. The blade is in overall good, clean, condition with some minor surface spotting. The obverse ricasso is well marked with the deeply stamped manufacturers logo and initials consisting of the profile of a medieval style helmet positioned above the initials, "WKC", indicating manufacture by Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Co. Waffenfabrik Solingen-Wald. The saber has die cast, gilt plated, brass, hilt fittings consisting of an obverse, swivel hinged clam shell cross guard, a reverse, swivel hinged tab, a ferrule, a "D", knuckle bow, a back-strap and a nicely detailed, pronounced lion head pommel. The obverse, swivel hinged, clam shell cross guard can be set in a fold back or forward position as desired and features a high relief, embossed, vertical fouled anchor within a vertically oval border with an irregular pebbled background field, flanked by oak-leaves and acorns. The reverse of the cross guard has a small, half-moon shaped, swivel hinged tab with an embossed oak-leaf pattern to the obverse and a plain reverse with a central drilled hole. The reverse tab may be set in the downward position and the top scabbard fitting has a corresponding, small, horizontally extended dowel which slides into the hole on the tab securing the saber in the scabbard when required. The cross guard has one down swept arm and a plain bottom edge. The ferrule has a low relief, embossed oak-leaf and acorn pattern. The "D", knuckle bow has a high relief, embossed oak-leaf and acorn pattern on an irregular pebbled background field and extends from one side of the cross guard up to the lion head pommels mouth. The back-strap features a central, small, plain, scalloped panel, and an ornate, embossed foliage design that extends upwards into the flowing mane of the lion head pommel. The lion head pommel has a nicely detailed mane and pronounced snout with inset red, (Port), and green, (Starboard), glass eyes. The tang end of the blade has been skillfully hidden in the lions mane and is not visible. The saber has a contoured, white celluloid grip with a central bulge, and triple, twisted, horizontally repeating, brass wire wrap all intact. All the hilt fittings are still quite clean and bright. The saber comes with a woven silver/aluminum portepee which is tied in the correct manner. The portepee consists of an interwoven silver/aluminum cord with an interwoven silver/aluminum slide and stem and a twisted silver/aluminum braid crown and ball mounted on a wooden template base. The crown features horizontally laid braiding while the ball has vertical braiding. The bottom of the ball has a circular recess with an inset silver wire dot. The portepee shows small areas of light fraying to the cord and moderate to heavy age tarnish through-out giving it a coppery toned appearance. The saber comes with its original blackened leather scabbard with a vertical stitched seam to the reverse and three gilt plated brass fittings. The leather shows moderate to heavy surface cracking through-out resulting in some small spots of the top layer having flaked away. All three fittings feature scalloped edges, ornate impressed stylized swirl patterns and horizontal stripes and are secured to the scabbard by large staple like clips on the reverse. The bottom fitting features an extended "drag", while the central and top fittings both have extended securing loops and the hanger suspension rings intact. The scabbard fittings are all still clean and bright. Of Note: A photographic example of this pattern, (WKC #40), can be seen in J.R. Angolia book, Swords of Germany 1900/1945, on the bottom of page 165.

There are actually TWO original batons (called Admiralstab) from Grossadmiral Dönitz. After he got the first one, he made a few changes and had a second one made. One was taken by the Shropshire Light Infantry and is in their museum in England, the other is in the fantastic museum in Hamburg along with the batons of previous Grossadmiral Raeder and four that belonged to princes of Germany in the days of the Empire.
The museum of PETER TAMM(Hamburg), here are two items of great interest in this fantastic place. The top one is the Admiralstab of Grossadmiral Erich Raeder. And the lower item is the Admiralstab (Admiral's baton) of Grossadmiral Karl Dönitz. This museum is filled with great artifacts.
The other baton is held in the Shropshire Regimental Museum in Shropshire Castle, at Shrewsbury, the capital of that English County in UK. It was donated to the Museum by Major General J.B. Churches the captor of Admiral Dönitz, he commanded the Infantry Brigade which took Flushing and arrested the Admiral's Nazi Government in May of 1945. The Curator is Peter Duckers at this Museum.
The second phptograph of the Admiral's Baton, which is taken from Page 302 of the book: TORPEDO LOS-- THE FACINATING WORLD OF U-BOAT COLLECTIBLES by GORDON WILLIAMSON.
Published by R. JAMES BENDER USA 2006.


Karl Dönitz was born in Berlin-Grenau on 16th September, 1891. He enlisted as a sea cadet in 1910 and after naval training was commissioned as an officer in the German Navy in 1913.
During the First World War Dönitz served on a cruiser in the Mediterranean before being transferred to submarines in October 1916. He was captured on 4th October 1918 and remained a prisoner of war until July 1919.
Dönitz remained in the German Navy and in 1935 was put in charge of the new U-Boats being developed. However he clashed with Hermann Goering who was unwilling to supply the necessary capital to spend on the navy. Doenitz said that he needed 1,000 submarines to win any future war with Britain but by 1939 he had only 57.
At the beginning of the war the German Navy was equipped with the 750-ton Type VII U-boat. These proved too small for Atlantic operations and larger long-range types were later introduced. Dönitz developed the idea of fighting in wolf packs. Between 1940 and 1943 U-boats took a heavy toll of Allied shipping in the Atlantic, Arctic and the Mediterranean.
In January, 1943 Adolf Hitler sacked Erich Raeder and appointed Dönitz as Commander in chief of the German Navy.
The Allies gradually began to introduce successful anti-submarine strategies. This included the convoy system, long-range aircraft patrols, improved antisubmarine detectors and depth charges. By May 1943 German U-Boats were forced to withdraw from the Atlantic.
Dönitz gave permission for a radically improved U-boat to be built in 1944. Working closely with Albert Speer, the Minister of Armaments, Germany were producing 42 of these all-electric boats a month by 1945. However, they were too late to make an impact on the outcome of the Second World War.
Adolf Hitler selected Doenitz to become head of state after his suicide on 30th April, 1945. After forming a new government he negotiated Germany's surrender on 8th May.
At the Nuremberg War Crimes Trial Dönitz was found guilty of war crimes and was sentenced to ten years in prison. After his release in October, 1956, he wrote his autobiography, Memoirs: Ten Years and Twenty Days (1959). Karl Dönitz died on 24th December, 1980.

1914 EK with 1939 eagle clasp, KVK war merit cross w/sword, WW I Bavaria service w/s Hindenburg Cross w/2 diff grades of NSDAP service & Austrian occupation wool back,pb post war put together with non glowing ribbon.

EK iron cross, KVK war merit w/swords, Russia front, 2-German social work service,SS service w/silvered runes, Czech occupation and German Italian DAK service.PB rare.

Very nice, authentic Imperial German gernal's tunic.It is size 40.Made of dark blue fine wool w/wine red Russia braid piping down the front. It has three hook red collar, w/gold bullion embroidery, red wool cuff also having gold bullion embroidery (w/two buttons), 12 button front, split tail w/red wool piping and siz buttons. All button were studio add. (2-piece,domed bronze,veriety of maker makings)and there is one belt ramp in place (other removde). The sleeve are striped white cutton, it appears that the tunic also has shoulder boards tracked on at one time.Pretty rare outfit in its own right.

Original WWII German Officer's Shaving Set

Nice original WWII period shaving set. The set includes a real leather case, metal safety razor, collapsible shaving brush, full box of blades and a storage case for blades. The only missing piece is the brush. The clasp functions. The carry case is 5" x 3.75" x 1.75" in size.