Brigadeführer Anton Dunckern Numbered SS Dagger

Product Description: We are extremely pleased to be able to offer this extraordinarily significant piece. This M33 SS dagger was the property of a Gestapo general. This SS-Brigadeführer Anton Dunckern numbered SS dagger is an early type, with solid nickel fittings and anodized scabbard. It’s made by Herder, and has a great blade, with only normal runner marks. The original darkening to the etching in the motto has faded somewhat with time, but the engraving remains nice and crisp. A typical early commercial type Herder maker emblem is etched on the reverse of the blade. The grip has some minor small chips and marks, but no serious damage. The grip eagle and enameled SS emblem are intact, with expected age patina. There is no sign that this dagger has ever been disassembled. The scabbard on this SS-Brigadeführer Anton Dunckern numbered SS dagger shows some age, with a pleasant patina on the nickel silver fittings, and is complete with its original leather hanger with matching nickel silver clip. The upper crossguard on the dagger is crisply numbered “3526,” which was the number of SS-Brigadeführer Anton Druckern. There is no doubt that this number is original to the piece- this dagger was Druckern’s, and we are offering this together with some copied information about Druckern’s career and life. Anton Druckern had an NSDAP membership number of 315601. As a member of Freikorps Overland, he was a participant in the Beer Hall Putsch in Munich in 1923. He joined the NSDAP in 1930 and by 1935, he had become a high leader in the Gestapo. Druckern was awarded the War Merit Crosses 1st and 2nd Class with Swords, the Blood Order, the SS Long Service Award, the Honor Degen of the SS, and the SS Honor Ring. In 1944, Himmler put Dunckern in charge of the SS and Polizei in the defense section of the city of Metz. There, he was captured by the Allies, where, because of his rank, he was personally interrogated by General Patton. At the time of his capture he was the highest ranking SS man to fall into the hands of the Allies. He remained a military prisoner until, in 1953, he was tried as a war criminal and sentenced to 20 years of hard labor. He was released due to poor health in 1954, and died in 1985. This SS-Brigadeführer Anton Dunckern numbered SS Dagger is a unique and important object, an iconic piece of SS regalia with solid attribution to a high leader in the SS and Gestapo. It is a truly historic object that could be the key piece in a very advanced collection.

Historical Description: The Model 1933 (M33) SS dagger was first serviceable dagger produced for the SS. The design was derived from a 16th century Swiss hunting dagger called the “Holbein”. The M33 SS Dagger was worn by all ranks within the SS. Becoming a member of the SS was held in high respect during the Third Reich, and their daggers became a symbolic piece within its ranks. Every year on November 9th, the new SS men would pledge their full allegiance to the Führer (Adolf Hitler) in front of the Feldherrnhalle monument in Munich and receive their dagger as a symbol of that oath. The inscription on the blade “Mein Ehre Heißt Treue”, which translates to “My Honor is Loyalty”, was the motto of the SS.
Manufacturing for these daggers began late in 1933, and continued until 1942 when production of all daggers ceased to conserve materials and labor for the war effort. Today, collectors categorize these daggers into three main categories; Early, Transitional, and Late period. SS daggers produced from 1933 to early 1935 are early and have anodized scabbards, nickle fittings, and are generally of a higher workmanship. Transitional period daggers were produced from 1935 to 1938, are usually found with painted scabbards, plated fittings and RZM codes with their makers logo on the blade. Late period daggers were produced from 1938 to 1942 and are similar to the transitional period daggers in that they use plated fittings, painted scabbards but will only be found with the RZM logo and code on the blade.

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