Degen (SS)


The SS-Ehrendegen, also SS-Degen, was a straight sabre or sword, especially of the dress sword worn with a Schutzstaffel uniform from 1935-1945.
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.

Description

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 as the handle which also featured a black ribbed wooden grip. The grip was bound with silver wire and featured an inset disc featuring the SS double lightning-bolt runes.
The scabbard was painted in black enamel and had decorative silvered top and bottom mounts. It was worn with an aluminium braid sword knot which was embellished with the SS runes in black on the stem.

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 at Bad Tölz and Brunswick.
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.