The SS-Führerdegen (SS Officer's Sword) with Damascus blade represents one of the rarest and most prestigious variants of the ceremonial edged weapon designed by Karl Diebitsch, Heinrich Himmler's personal advisor on art and design within the SS. First introduced in 1935, the SS-Führerdegen served as a dress uniform weapon for SS officers and for ceremonial purposes such as the swearing in of new SS recruits. The Damascus variants represented the highest level of craftsmanship and prestige within SS edged weapons.
The production of standard sword blades was originally undertaken by the firm of Peter Dan. Krebs in Solingen, Germany. However, the exclusive Damascus blades were forged by mastersmith Paul Müller, who can be considered as the best German blacksmith of his time. Müller was promoted to leader of the Reichslehrschmiede (Reich Teaching Smithy) and moved to Dachau where he worked as Reichsschmiedemeister (Reich Master Blacksmith). The sword smithy was located at the western end of the complex, with the weaponry buildings of the Waffen-SS nearby. Paul Müller manufactured most of the SS honor presentation daggers and swords given by Himmler.
This example embodies the characteristic features of these rare weapons: the long, thin straight blade made of Damascus steel displays on the obverse the gilt acid-etched motto “Meine Ehre heißt Treue” (My honour is loyalty) between oak leaf decor. This motto served as the official motto of the Schutzstaffel from 1931 to 1945. The Damascus pattern is visible across the entire blade, while the reverse features an oak leaf pattern. The hilt fittings in nickel show the SS acceptance stamp on the lower knuckle-bow. The pommel takes the form of six standing oak leaves interrupted by acorns. The black ribbed wooden grip features intact silver wire binding and inlaid SS runes in nickel with a toned background. The steel scabbard with original black lacquer shows the typical production for SS swords, with toned nickel fittings and SS acceptance stamp on the throat fitting.
The SS Honor Sword was officially awarded with a hand-signed certificate from 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 centres. The extremely rare Damascus-bladed Honour Swords were awarded to a select few by Himmler personally, usually to high-ranking SS leaders, or important businessmen or statesmen who held an honorary SS rank of at least SS-Oberführer. Since they were often given to recipients on their birthday, usually their 50th, they are also known as Birthday Honour Swords.
Until 1945, in addition to the young officers of the SS-Junkerschulen, 362 SS-Standartenführer out of 621, 236 SS-Oberführer out of 276, 88 SS-Gruppenführer out of 96, 91 SS-Obergruppenführer out of 92, and all four SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer of the SS officers corps (SS-Führerkorps) had received the SS-Ehrendegen. Of the Damascus variants, approximately 20 are known to exist on the market today, underscoring their extraordinary rarity. After the war, Paul Müller had a workshop and forge and produced a wooden chest full of over 100 damascus sword and dagger blades, which Atwood later purchased.
After World War II, the penal code of the Federal Republic of Germany was amended to prohibit propaganda material and symbols of forbidden parties and other organisations (StGB 86 and 86a). This explicitly includes material in the tradition of a former national socialist organization. Since 1947, the use of this motto or variations of it are prohibited in Austria and Germany in their laws pertaining to the use of symbols of anti-constitutional organizations, such as in Germany under Strafgesetzbuch 86a. As the allied troops occupied cities formerly held by the Third Reich's officials, they encountered a vast variety of edged weapons. While many were destroyed after disarming the German people, thousands were confiscated and taken as souvenirs. Today, these SS daggers and swords remain as true reminders of the darkest side of Hitler's regime and his black guard.
The described example with an overall length of 96 cm was war booty of a US soldier in 1945 and surfaced on the market only in early 2015. It is complete with portepee for SS-Führer and black leather hanger with silver braiding. As a museum exhibit or collectible, it documents a dark chapter of German history and the highest level of craftsmanship in the production of ceremonial edged weapons of the Third Reich. Among known examples of Damascus-bladed variants, the SS Honor Degen belonging to SS Brigadeführer Kurt Freiherr von Schröder was located by collector Craig Gottlieb, founder of www.germandaggers.com, along with a Damascus sword liberated by PFC Ernest Castelone and a Damascus-bladed Honour Sword belonging to Ludwig Ruckdeschel.
