The SS Honor Dagger M 33 ranks among the most well-known and historically significant edged weapons of Nazi Germany. These ceremonial daggers were issued to members of the Schutzstaffel (SS) from 1933 onwards and served as symbols of membership in this organization as well as decorations for special merit.
The introduction of the SS Honor Dagger occurred in December 1933 under Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler. The design came from Professor Karl Diebitsch, the artistic director of the SS, and followed the models of historic German daggers. Production was strictly controlled and permitted only to a few authorized firms, including renowned Solingen blade manufacturers such as Eickhorn, Carl Eickhorn, Robert Klaas, SMF Solingen, and others.
A distinctive feature of the early SS Honor Daggers was the Röhm dedication on the blade. This engraving “In herzlicher Kameradschaft Ernst Röhm” (In cordial comradeship Ernst Röhm) honored the then Chief of Staff of the SA, Ernst Röhm, who was considered a close confidant of Adolf Hitler. The dedication was located on the reverse side of the blade and was part of the original equipment of all early SS daggers.
The historical turning point came with the Night of the Long Knives from June 30 to July 2, 1934, also known as the Röhm Putsch. During this purge, Ernst Röhm and numerous other SA leaders were murdered on Hitler's orders. This marked a decisive power gain for the SS under Heinrich Himmler over the SA. Immediately following these events, orders were issued to remove the Röhm dedication from all existing SS daggers.
The removal of the dedication was accomplished in various ways. Many daggers were sent back to the manufacturers, where the engraving was professionally removed and the blade repolished. Others were modified by the owners themselves, resulting in varying qualities of removal. The present specimen shows a “completely and cleanly removed” dedication, suggesting professional treatment.
The technical specifications of the SS Honor Dagger M 33 were standardized: the blade was approximately 24 cm long, with a total dagger length of about 37 cm. The black grip consisted of stained hardwood or plastic and bore the characteristic SS runes emblem on both sides. The crossguard and pommel were made of non-ferrous metal, often silver-plated or nickel-plated.
The maker's mark “Eickhorn” indicates the firm Carl Eickhorn Waffenfabrik in Solingen, one of the most significant manufacturers of SS daggers. The stamp “I” for the Reichszeugmeisterei in Munich was part of the SS administration's quality and control system. The Reichszeugmeisterei was responsible for the procurement and inspection of SS equipment.
The scabbard of the SS dagger was typically made of metal and covered with black lacquer. It featured nickel fittings, including throat mount, center band, and chape with suspension ring. The discrepancy between dagger and scabbard mentioned in the object description was not unusual, as many daggers and scabbards were separated during and after the war and later reassembled.
The distribution of SS Honor Daggers was subject to strict regulations. Initially, they were intended only for SS leaders from the rank of Sturmführer upward. Later, the award criteria were expanded, and meritorious non-commissioned officers could also receive the dagger. The dagger could only be worn with the black SS uniform and was part of the walking-out dress.
After 1945 and the end of World War II, SS daggers were classified as symbols of Nazi rule. In Germany today, they are subject to the provisions of Criminal Code § 86a, which regulates the use of insignia of unconstitutional organizations. Possession for collecting purposes is permitted under certain conditions, but public display is prohibited.
From a historical perspective, SS Honor Daggers with removed Röhm dedications are particularly revealing historical documents. They document not only the material culture of the SS but also the political purges and historical revisionism of the Nazi regime. The careful removal of the dedication reflects the attempt to erase an inconvenient historical truth and adjust the official historical narrative.
Today, these artifacts serve as tangible reminders of the mechanisms of totalitarian power, the cult of personality, and its rapid reversal. The physical evidence of removal on the blade tells a story of political terror, opportunism, and the systematic erasure of fallen comrades from the historical record. For military historians and collectors, these daggers represent important primary sources for understanding the internal dynamics and evolution of Nazi organizations during the Third Reich.
