SA Honour Dagger, Model 1933 & SA-Ehrendolch Modell 1933

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Description

Physical description

Hilt form: one-piece ridged baluster-shaped brown wooden grip with slender and curved plated metal pommel, ends swept towards grip, and prominent tang button. Inset within right grip is the German eagle perched on wreath enclosing swastika and, at pommel, the "SA" emblem. Slender curved bar crossguard matches pommel, quillons gently arcing away from blade. Blade form: broad flattened diamond section double-edged blade which tapers to narrow spear point. Blade (obverse) finish: etched legend in Gothic script characters "Alles für Deutschland" (translated as "All for Germany"). On reverse is etched "In Herzlicher Kameradschaft Ernst Rohm". Brown metal scabbard with bright metal locket, chape and finial. Through a loop on the locket is a metal ring, through which is short leather strap with a buckle. This strap passes through a metal clip.

Label

A specially etched example of the dagger authorized for wear by members of the Nazi Sturmabteilung (SA), otherwise known as the "Brownshirts". An SA order of 3 February 1934 entitled 125,960 SA men, who had been members of the SA or Hitler Youth prior to 31 December 1931, to have etched dedications added to the blades of their Model 1933 daggers. The dedication is in a facsimile of the handwriting of SA leader Ernst Rohm and reads "In cordial comradeship..Ernst Rohm". Rohm was killed on 1 July 1934 in the aftermath of the Nazi Party purge which became known as the "night of the long knives". Subsequently the dedication was ground off many daggers.

History note

An SA order of 3 February 1934 established the entitlement of 125,960 SA men, who had been members of the SA or Hitler Youth prior to 31 December 1931, to have etched dedications added to the blades of their Model 1933 daggers. The "Ernst Roehm" dedication on the blade is the subject of some small controversy. Klietmann is adamant that the third word is "Kameradschaft" and not "Freundschaft", which is Mollo's rendering of the (to English eyes) almost illegible flowing German script. Klietmann argues that the mistake stems from a lack of understanding of the nuances of the German language and states that "Kameradschaft" means "comradeship" not "friendship", the former being an altogether stronger and more emotive term. He writes, "This translation error, when retranslated, has led to the erroneous description of the inscription as 'Freundscahft'". The inscription is translated by Klietmann as "In cordial comradeship...". After Roehm's murder, 1 July 1934 (during the so-called "Blood Purge" that began 30 June 1934), the dedication was ground off and daggers retained in service Accessories identical to those for WEA/824 Mollo, A 1967 Daggers of the Third German Reich 1933-1945 Historical Research Unit, London p 13 (ref 9) Klietmann, Kurt-Gerhard (Dr) 1967 German Daggers and Dress Sidearms of World War II Field and Fireside, Falls Church, Virginia, USA p 37 (plate 28)

1. stamped on crossguard 2. etched on ricasso 3. etched on right flat of blade 4. etched on left flat of blade 5. stamped on hanger clip

1. oN (or "No") 2. blacksmith trademark with E.P.+ S. above and SOLINGEN below 3. Alles fur Deutschland 4. In Herzlicher Kameradschaft Ernst Rohm 5. //M5/71//OLC in diamond (RZM quality control mark)

Object Details

Category Weapons and ammunition Related period Interwar (association) Creator Pack, Ernst and Son Germany & Solingen Materials

Hilt: wood

Hanger: leather

Dimensions

Scabbard: Length 24.4 cm

Dagger: Length 34.8 cm

Catalogue number WEA 884

Object Associations

• Associated people and organisations

  • German Paramilitary Organisation, Sturmabteilung (SA)

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