German Daggers of World War Two

Bright red silk cloth. Hand-embroidered black army eagle on both sides set off with brown feathers, and beak and claws in gold trim embroidery on a field of cream-coloured silk, surrounded by an embroidered silver oak leaf wreath on an iron cross. Four appliqué swastikas in the corners. Silver fringe on three sides. Ca. 51 x 69 cm.
The 48 attachment nails (worn by polishing) are backed by silver lace. Black polished wooden staff, complete with a light metal, tear-drop finial bearing an army eagle and a circular scroll, six nickel-silver longitudinal metal bars, and a removable nickel-silver shoe. Silver-plated brass battalion ring (one nail missing) with the appropriate engraving. Interwoven black-white-red banderol with clasps "16 März 1935" and "16 März 1936" respectively). Total height 285 cm.
Clear, vivid colours, the sleeve has a small tear due to age, the staff has defects in the lacquer and can be separated under the battalion ring.
A rarity, as not only are the standards for mechanized artillery regiments already rare, but scarcely any staffs or battalion rings survived the war.
The 1st Battalion consisted of three batteries and was raised on 6 October 1936 in Heilbronn and attached to the 35th Infantry Division, their colours were awarded to them by the Reich's Minister of War on 26 October 1937 during festive ceremonies in the Wiesbaden Spa Hall. When mobilised, the original battalion was assigned to the 35th Artillery Regiment. It saw action in France, on the Belgian canal coast, at Smolensk, Moscow, Gzhatsk, Mogilew, Bobruisk, Modlin, and in West Prussia. Destroyed in April 1945 in Danzig and on Hela.