DESCRIPTION: Still the absolute “Holy Grail’” of the SS collectors, the Honor Ring of the SS stands as the ultimate collectible and for some it has even deeper meaning than that! It took on a mythos of its own! At least two books have been produced, chronicling facts and pictures that pertain to these rings. To the SS of old and to the collector of today, the rings have great significance and are even more important than the daggers or the swords. The ring emerges as the singularly most coveted and prized of all the SS trappings and awards then and now! The formal award of the ring was only under approval of the Reichsfuhrer SS Heinrich Himmler and in this capacity he practically had to know every applicant to be issued one. By the way, this was the only truly issued ring of the N.S. apparatus; all other rings of the Party, Wehrmacht and SS were purchased by the wearer. The only exception being the Victory rings produced by Herr Franz Schnell of Halle am Salle, but as far as we know, those rings were to be issued but never actually reached that point due to the unfortunate outcome of the war.   Once again, Germania International has located and now presents another fine Honor ring. 100% original with authentication document issued by Mr. Don Boyle, the author of the first and best book on the subject, “SS Totenkopf H. Himmler Honor Ring 1933-1945." We show a picture of this Boyle certification in our images. Also there is an incredible accumulation of papers copied out of official U.S. Archives concerning this SS officer. The former owner was SS Standartenfuhrer Dr. Ehrhardt Hamann whose SS number was 351 382.  Among this stack of official documents are at least 3 pictures of Doctor Hamann and three of his wife, Erika Richter Hamann. Also included is the questionnaire from the Race and Resettlement Office (Rasse und Siedlungsampt Fragebogen) and a complete Lebenslauf (his and her personal histories handwritten). The SS Ahenentafel completed is also all there giving every detail of his and her existence and ancestry. There is a letter from the office of the Reichsfuhrer SS Himmler with approval.

The papers show that Hamann was born Jan 13, 1900 in Halle-Salle. There are also official papers concerning Erika Richter, the name of his wife before their marriage, with her “Lebenlauf” and Ahnentafel; it shows her as being in the HJ Madelshaft in 1940. There is also another SS approval from the Reichsfuhrer SS Himmler. The Rasse und Siedlungsampt papers are complete and approved. All of the separate groupings of papers have the stamp stating copy from the National Archives and records administration. There is an official letter among the documents from the “Mutterdienst” (Mother's service) to Frau Hamann. Also seen is a letter to the Rasse und Siedlungsampt from Dr. Hamann on official N.S Party stationary. He signs it Dr. Hamann Gauarztefuhrer and SS Standartenfuhrer. Gauarztefuhrer is a term meaning Medical Director for the Gau (district), so we know he was a high official in the medical arts. We also find a note by Dr. Ehardt Hamann to the effect that someone committed suicide (Selbmord). At some point the report was dated January 23, 1943. There are other official letters from Doctor of Medicine, E. Hammon. Many, many letters between the Doctor and the Race and Resettlement Office concerning certifications, etc. Many such letters and correspondence. Signifying that he worked closely with that official office. There is an SS officer file that shows his awards, religion, family history, assignments. And other sections of the NS administrative apparatus, dates of service and honors received. And here is what every collector likes to see—in one block it shows that he received the “Totenkopf ring” and that his Beruf (Specialty) was as Doctor of Medicine. It also shows he won the Social Service Medal, the Sudetenland Medal and Service Medal of the NSDAP in bronze and an Alte-kampfer "Old fighters" abzeichen. There is an order from the personal staff of the Reichsfuhrer ordering him to Norway to assist the famous Brigadefuhrer Dr. Conti and there is a letter from Dr. L. Conti confirming this. A letter is also here promoting him to SS Standartenfuhrer on 11 March 1940 and a congratulatory letter from the Oberabschnittes Elbe. One of the letters is from Reinhard Heydrich, the Chief of the Reichsicherheitspolizei, and it makes mention that Hamann was a Party Member since 1929 and has been a leader in the fervent work and struggle in German Health practice. Letters from the Oberabschnitt Elbe and from the Police President and the Gauleiter in Halle. Much too numerous for complete listing -- 103 pages from the archives and then a professionally assembled bound supplemental documentation booklet prepared by Ross J. Kelbaugh of the historical graphic research service in Baltimore, MD.

This grouping has explanations of the records of the National Archives. Here also is the SS Dienstaltersliste Der Schutzstaffel Der NSDAP Berlin 1942. Here listed are the names of the SS officiers -- Obergruppenfuhrer to SS Standartenfuhrer up to 1942. This gives the name, SS section, Party number ,birth date and rank plus the times and places where he was promoted. Two copies are included showing Dr. Hamann’s records before he received the ring and another where it shows he received it and also the Iron Cross 1st Class and that he was assigned to the staff  HQ XVIII and was promoted to SS Standartenfuhrer January 30, 1940. Enclosed here are the pictures of Dr. Hamann and his wife Erika. So here is provenance far beyond what is normally associated with any of these rings when rarely found. It is one of the best? (We think) What do you think? Along with it, as we have stated, is the positive certification of Mr. Don Boyle.

The ring is unusually huge, measuring a 16 inch size. We have never seen one this big. It is quite worn as so many of them were due to everyday wear -- to some collectors this is part of the fascination. They see something that we may not in a well worn ring (deep significance?). The skull is quite worn down but it is still there. The date inside the ring is the issue date of 30/7/36. Exactly four years later, 30/7/40, to the day he was promoted to SS Standartenfuhrer (significance?) Does anyone have any idea as to why? The sig runes to each side of the skull are also worn as are the oak leaves that emit from them to the sides of the skull but they are readily discernable. Right after that we see very heavy wear to the double runes and arrow looking rune and the swastika rune although the swastika rune is fully discernible. The Hagel rune is also there but very, very, worn. The inscription inside is clear but the center seam under the skull is almost impossible to perceive. However, Don Boyle very kindly taught us a trick or two. During manufacture the tolerances were so very tight on these rings that now and then one comes along that it seems impossible to see the seam. We have had two like this in the last two years. Don showed us that if you hold the ring in the flat of the palm of your hand you will be positively amazed to see the seam appear!  This was great to see and learn from the “Ring King Don Boyle.” He certainly knows his stuff! The seam on this ring is unmistakably visible with this process, we have here not only the genuine article, but a ring once owned and worn by a famed and important Doctor and highly regarded SS officer of high rank. I can’t imagine anyone doing better than to invest in this very significant historically important item. It is priced very reasonably as well.

PRICE: $8,950.00 Ultra reasonable.

Iron Chest from the Home of Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler ( Item SS 35-3 & HH 4-10)

DESCRIPTION: This chest is constructed from iron with a wooden interior. It is probably one of the finest pieces of Himmler-related items ever found. It was taken from the home of the Reichsführer SS at Gmund in Lake Tegernsee in 1945 by an American soldier (looter).  This was the same villa that the chair came from that we feature in the Himmler section of our site. The box is measured at 10" x 8" across the top and 3 ½" deep counting the feet.  The design is indicative of the work of the SS Ahnenerbe. (See our explanation of this Heritage Foundation as well on our pages. There is a wealth of information there.)  You can also put the word, ‘Ahnenerbe’ into Google and much more can be extrapolated. The words’ “Meine Ahnen” are to be seen in cut-out iron letters on the top of the chest -- this translates to My Ancestry; on the right side is a figure that represents the Irminsul with the “Sonnenrad” (sun symbol) behind it with Swastika  (It was the sacred symbol of the Saxons.) In the left lower section you can see a stylized SS symbol in a circle. The Ahnenerbe was the favored pet project of Heinrich Himmler and many gifts were bestowed upon him at his birthday, anniversaries and just about every time he would be visited by officials of the organization including, of course, SS Standartenführer Wolfram Sievers; he was the official chairman of the Kuratorium and he held the real power in the organization. The foundation had several (50) different departments all with various agendas. Expeditions to Tibet and other far flung places, Germanic music, excavations, medical department studies, having to do with nutrition and folk medicine, farming innovations, the social sciences as well as natural science were exhaustingly covered, studies of the Celtic and Nordic culture. One of the departments was for the study and recreation of Germanic art and it was here that they created items that were important to the Nordic mythos. Teutonic swords, and daggers shields, etc. Here also such items as this chest would be created using pagan and symbolic designs that would reflect the importance of ancestry and the dedication to the National Socialist principles and ideals. This brings us to the fact that this would have been the perfect gift for Himmler because for all intents and purposes it really says it all! On the front of the chest is an N.S. eagle and swastika of the style used in the earliest days of the N.S. movement (in the mid 20’s), this is also fashioned in iron. It is in keeping with all the rest of the design when one considers the full meaning of the gift. The stylized SS also has meaning in the fact that the Ahnenerbe was under the directorship of  the general secretary and SS Standartenführer, Seivers, who was keenly interest in the evolvement of the swastika and the SS symbolism from ancient times. The "S" was used on Teutonic war shields and weapons and under Siever's directives,various patterns of the usage of SS were used, so this rather different usage and design on the chest’s top is to be expected in an Ahnenerbe production. We are quite certain that this gift was actually from this much acclaimed academic group. When the GIs broke into the house in Gmund, on the shores of Tegernsee, this chest was taken along with many other items. Thinking that the box contained jewels or other precious objects, the looters couldn’t contain their lustful greed. There was a key sitting right in the lock but it would have had to be turned and then re-inserted in another hole beside it and turned again and the lock would have opened easily but since they were lusting heavily to open it, they never even noticed the second hole and since it would not open for them, they forced it open with a bayonet thereby destroying the lock. You can see in our picture the two lock entry points. This chest was kept in the Gmund residence in a closet and undoubtedly contained papers and/or microfilm having to do with the ancestry of the Reichsfuhrer. When the box was opened by the looters, there was consternation and great disappointment. The contents were stupidly thrown in a trash barrel by the GIs without a thought of their importance to history and the chest was carried away by the “grunts.” Carefully, so that the intelligence officers would not see it because if they had the chest would have been seized and the contents might have still been able to be rescued. There was strict orders that no looting was to be permitted, especially at this residence. So, that is the story as relayed to us by the son of the veteran who prefers to go unnamed. This is an exiting relic of the SS and of its leader. It also is very important in that it is from the Ahnenerbe and that is so crucial to the understanding of one of the admittedly positive aspect of the Third Reich. Obviously extremely rare and certainly a valuable relic of the Reich.

PRICE: $11,000.00

Large Silver Platter Presentation to Reinhard Heydrich 1934 (Item PER 4-11 & POL 3-3 & SS 35-4)

DESCRIPTION: This is absolutely the finest Heydrich piece ever made available for the historic implications are ‘stupendous’ and far reaching. The year 1934: until that year the Geheime-Staatspolizei (Secret State Police) was a private organization (Gemeinschaft) within the Department 1-A of the Prussian Sate Police.  It was established by Hermann Goring after Hitler gained power in 1933. In 1934, Goring under pressure from Heinrich Himmler agreed to grant control of this the aforementioned Dept 1-A to the SS. In 1936 Reinhard Heydrich became head of the Gestapo as it had by then been named in the transformation in 1934. In the course of the changeover to the more effective Gestapo, Heydrich had worked diligently with Heinrich Muller and others to modernize the units and bring them to speed as the most competent and efficient criminal investigative agency in the world. During World War II, the Gestapo was expanded to around 45,000 members. Prior to 1934, Reinhard Heydrich was the Police Chief of Bavaria and Head of the Sicherheitsdienst- SD from 1931 to 1942 and head of the Gestapo from 1934 to 1936. The writing engraved on this wonderful piece presented to Heydrich as SS Gruppenführer reads in grateful thanks for his leading talent in the beginning of our organization in 1934 and it is from his loyal police officers. Heydrich was an SS Gruppenführer, in 1934 he was promoted to this austere rank after the ‘Night of the Long Knives’ June 30, 1934. So it is obvious that this platter was given during the most crucial time of N.S. destiny. The men presenting it called themselves a Gemeinshaft (organization) because the presentation was obviously made during that time that the change was being accomplised from Department 1-A to Gestapo. The platter is huge and entirely crafted from genuine silver (835 grade) and so marked with the moon, crown, and eagle logo as required. The platter measures 18" x 13 ½" .  The edges are turned as fine German dining regulations demanded for elegant place settings. Below the eagle is the engraved statement ‘Meine Ehre Heisst Treue’ My Honor is Loyalty. The catch phrase of the SS and SS Police. These four words personify the SS organization and all of their agenda. It would be a real task to find something that is more historically important or more beautiful than this piece. The hand engraved eagle is the work of a master artist with each and every feather in minute detail. There were many eagles symbolizing various organizations within the Third Reich but none can compare with this special rendering for sheer glorious elegance. The engraving is so deep that you could slide your fingernail below each and every breast feather. This is National Socialist art personified !

PRICE: $8,980.00 A brilliant investment

DESCRIPTION: This is a particularly nice example of the sword of the officer candidate, or SS Unterfuhrer. It fits all the descriptions shown in the Tom Wittman book "Exploring the Dress Daggers and Swords of the German SS" (pages 396 - 417). The grip has no insignia as the officer's patterns is constructed. The upper cap portion has the raised runes. The lower scabbard drag is built into the scabbard shell and is not a separate component, as is the case with an officer sword. This is an early model as it is proofed (bears the Kulturzeichen). A further proof of being early is that like the 1936 chained dagger, there is no maker mark. In the early days, Himmler didn't wish to show company preference in his ordered examples of sword and daggers. Wittman shows an unmarked example on page 379 of his book. The sword is in excellent condition even though the blade could use some cleaning. It bears no rust, nicks or abrasions...only some spotting that will easily clean off. The type sword is becoming extremely scarce, especially in this condition.

PRICE: SOLD

Book: Deutsche Fuhrer, Deutsches Schicksal (German Leader, German Destiny) (Item SS 35-7 & NSD 18-7)
from the SS Totenkopf Library 

DESCRIPTION: This in our opinion is one of the neatest books of Third Reich history ever printed. The cover is a thing of rare beauty with the stylized eagle with the Hakenkreutzfahne superimposed over it... the silver and red tones are awesome! The book is one of the titles that we were able to purchase at the Frankfurt A.M. Book Fair a few years ago. This was the greatest offering of 3rd Reich books ever offered thence or since. There were very rare titles and books from the libraries of Goebbels, Heydrich, Goring and even a few from the library of Adolf Hitler himself. Amongst the books we purchased were quite a few from the Oberbayern SS totenkopf Standarte. All the ones from this mountain Death head group had the book plate with the leering skull with a swastika background.  It is believed that this book plate (Ex Libris) was designed by Professor Carl Diebitsch. It certainly seems to demonstrate his artistic touch. This is a massive coffee table type book measuring 9 x 12 and  1 ¼ inches thick. 399 pages with hundreds of sharp B & W photos. (200 in all) The book progresses from the year 1648 with the war against the Swedes, progressing along through the war against Napoleon up through the Franco-Prussian War, WWI with pictures and stories and pictures of the Kaiser, Bismarck, and the war heroes including the Red Baron Manfred v. Richtoffen, Graff Von Schlieffen, Graf Zepplin, and the horrible Versailles Treaty, the inflation, the Communist attempted coup, the Free Corps, and then half the book turns to the struggles of the National Socialist German Workers Party and the advent of Adolf Hitler. Here are the greatest and finest of pictures presented in wonderful succession - -struggle, battle ,victory, celebrations, heroes, martyrs, leaders, and super pictures of the members of the SA, SS, Arbeitsdienste, the early mobilization of the Army (Wehrmacht), really nothing is missing. This is a concise history of the “Bewegung” (Movement). This is truly a treasure of a book on its own and even more so considering where it comes from. Probably worth many times more than our asking price. A collectable archive for sure.

PRICE: $780.00 Expensive? No, almost priceless!!! 

Page One

Page Two

Page Three

Page Four

Page Five

Page Six

Page Seven

Page Eight

Page Nine

Page Ten

Page Eleven

Page Twelve

Page Thirteen

Page Fourteen

Page Fifteen

Page Sixteen

Page Seventeen

Page Eighteen

Page Nineteen

Page Twenty

Page Twenty-one

Page Twenty-two

Page Twenty-three

Page Twenty-four

Page Twenty-five

Page Twenty-six

Page Twenty-seven

Page Twenty-eight

Page Twenty-nine

Page Thirty

Page Thirty-one

Page Thirty-two

Page Thirty-five