The totenkopfring, also known as deaths head ring is frequently, and wrongly, believed to have been a wedding ring of the nazi party. The award was both a product of, and a source nourishment to hint of arrogance that surrounds all military units that consider themselves elite. Craig gottlieb ss totenkopf ring axis history forum. Februar 1943, michailowka gefallen theodor eicke visited until 1909 a secondary school, but broke off his education and joined the 23rd infantry regiment. Wwii ss death head ring german rings skull waffen totenkopf.
With the advent of the warsaw uprising, totenkopf was sent in to help reclaim the city. During the polish invasion conducted security operations behind the lines. Hauptsturmfuhrer artner ss membership number 382789, party member number 6204036 served with the 4 th ss panzer grenadier police polizei division, during which time he was awarded the iron cross 2 nd class and the war merit cross 2nd class with. See great designs on styles for men, women, kids, babies, and even dog tshirts. However, books on totenkopf, even after almost threequarters of a century, have repeated many past errors, incorrect assumptions or show a lack. But that does not alter the fact that men of the 3rd ss panzer division totenkopf division were some of the toughest soldiers germany perhaps the world ever produced. Some portions of the 3rd ss division were formed from. The 3rd ss division was formed from the totenkopf units that took part in the polish campaign and with other members of the totenkopfverbande and the allgemeine ss. Sturzebecher was born june 16, 1903, and held party number 973,144 and ss number 31,036.
German ss totenkopf ring large skull military tour. The totenkopf division owed its origin to hitlers decision after the conquest of poland to expand the waffenss from his prewar conception as a elite militarized guard force that owed its loyalty only to him to a combat force that exemplified the military virtues of national socialism. This date also designates the summer solstice ceremonies, and you can see his name plus the facsimile of himmlers signature within the rings interior all. This ring was presented to and worn by specially selected members of heinrich himmlers elite storm troopers. The award of the ring is the visible sign of our communitys inner code and loyalty to the fuhrer and his ideology, proven in years of struggle and duty. The ssehrenring ss honour ring, unofficially called totenkopfring skull ring or deaths head ring, was an award of heinrich himmlers schutzstaffel ss. The division was formed through the expansion of kampfgruppe eicke, a battle. The bulk of totenkopf withdrew to dubossary dubasari and then reassembled in kishinev chisinau. This example shows wear to the highlights consistent with having been worn by the recipient. The rings were designed basically the same, but for the central design, which would be different as to branch of service. Sspanzerdivision totenkopf was forced to abandon around 1,000 wheeled vehicles. After the campaign against poland in 1939, a number of new ss divisions were formed.
Sstotenkopfinfanterieregiment and assigned to the totenkopf division, with some men forming the cadre of the 10. Also covered are design background, construction techniques, and an indepth analysis of the physical characteristics of rings. The ring retains excellent detail in all but the rear double runic panel, which is where most worn rings show wear. Again, the book is the ss totenkopf ring by craig gottlieb, schiffer publishing. A ring award document to a totenkopf division knights cross recipient is exceedingly rare. These rings were crafted for the waffen, army, navy, and air force and were never officially issued, although battlefield pickups were actually noted. Ss totenkopf honor ring ss totenkopf honor ring given to a member of the ss, with certification signed by expert authenticator donald boyle.
Free returns 100% money back guarantee fast shipping. Ss totenkopf the 3rd ss panzer division totenkopf german. The rest of the ring is the classic totenkopf ehrenringe. The structure, development and personalities of the 3. The structure development and personalities of the 3. Sspanzergrenadier division totenkopf ss division totenkopf was one of the thirtyeight divisions fielded by the waffenss during world war ii 59 usd. Sspanzerdivision totenkopf was one of 38 divisions of the waffenss of nazi germany during world war ii. Ss rings ww2 ring german ss ring totenkopf ss nazi ring.
Heinrich himmler, totenkopf ring award regulations, 10. Each piece was cast and handfinished by specially commissioned jewellers working for the firm of otto gahr in munich, and was finely engraved inside the band with the letters s. Ss totenkopf deaths head ring taken from an ss officer by a liberator and later given to a holocaust survivor object accession number. The ring was awarded to werner sturzebecher and is dated mar. We carry high quality german militaria, for reenactors, collectors, historians and entertainment industry for the preservation of history. Ss panzer division totenkopf, was one of the 38 divisions fielded by the waffen ss during world war ii.
Its name, totenkopf, is german for deaths head the skull and crossbones symbol and it is thus sometimes referred to as the deaths head division. Our inventory has been utilized by television, movie studios and theaters. Ss totenkopf deaths head ring taken from an ss officer by. Siegfrieds recreation rings germania international. The ring prominently featured the runes and mystical symbols of the ss, symbols that played a significant role in magnifying the veil of obscurity and mystique that covered the organization. The quest of martial grandeur is nowhere revealed more plainly as within the design of the famous deaths head honor ring totenkopf ehrenringe. Separate chapters follow on the divisional commanders and senior staff officers. The book also covers the prehistory of the totenkopf ring, placing its appearance onto the ss scene in historical context. Between the thirtieth and thirtyfirst, the last three operational panzer ivs from iisspanzerregiment 3 were lost. Totenkopfring award documents are rarer than the rings themselves. Sspanzergrenadierdivision totenkopf ss division totenkopf was one of the thirtyeight divisions fielded by the waffenss during world war ii 59 usd.
The ssdivision totenkopf was formed of new recruits and a cadre from three sstotenkopfstandarten, that were involved in the invasion of poland, and were formerly guards in prison camps, that would later become concentration and death camps. Oct 28, 2008 gottlieb draws on a body of over 200 examples to document currently believed notions about the ring. Best totenkopf ring reproductions axis history forum. While the totenkopf skull was the universal cap badge of the ss, the sstv also wore the deaths head insignia on the right collar tab to distinguish itself from other nazi.
Ww2 original german militaria nazi ss panzer totenkopf items. It was, in fact, a highly prized award of heinrich himmlers schutzstaffel or ss. This is the most beautiful ring of the third reich. While in france in 1942, the division took part in the take over of vichy france, and was provided with a panzer abteilung and a new name, ss panzer grenadier division totenkopf. Original photos of the ssdivision totenkopf this album has photos covering from the divisions formation in 1939, all the way through the end of the war in 1945. The division stayed in france until february, 1943.
After the soviet operation bagration and the destruction of army group centre the german lines had been pushed back over 300 miles, to the outskirts of warsaw. Gottlieb, craig, the ss totenkopf ring, from munich to nuremberg, schiffer, isbn 9780764330940. Totenkopf ring prominently featured runes and mystical symbols of ss, symbols that played a significant role in magnifying the veil of obscurity and mystique that covered organization. He offers never before seen photos and documents, and even develops using modern tools not available to previous authors on this subject, craig gottlieb paints a comprehensive picture of the totenkopf ring and the man who was behind it. Ring totenkopf ss unofficially called ring ss german ss ringsor totenkopf ss ring, was an award of heinrich himmlers schutzstaffel ss ss ring. Ring giver is an anglosaxon metaphor often used to describe a king. Ww2 original german militaria nazi ss panzer totenkopf. Pdf 3rd waffen ss panzer division totenkopf gustavo. Half the divisions more than 100 german cross in gold recipients are individually detailed to include their careers outside of totenkopf service, all surviving award proposals, and. An illustrated history from munich to nuremberg pdf online. In february, 1943, the division was transferred to the east as a part of army group south. Sspanzer division wiking was also a part of this corps. The deaths head ring comprised a massive band of oak leaves deeply embossed with a totenkopf and a number of symbolic runes. Ss totenkopf honor ring sep 09, 2014 alexander historical.
This studentenbund ring is quite a good looking piece, with a simple yet elegant design. The ring is silvered and largely plain, with a wide band and somewhat roughy hewn edges. German documents and paper militaira oakleaf militaria. Ringgiver is an anglosaxon metaphor often used to describe a king. Rising high off the face of the ring is an elongated diamond and swastika, surrounded by a tightly hashed border. This nearmint ring is one of the finest totenkopf rings ever offered by oakleaf militaria. The grotesque skull and mystic runic symbolism advance a terrifying yet thrilling image of. The award was both a product of, and a source nourishment to the hint of arrogance that surrounds all military units that consider themselves elite. Rainbow loom halloween totenkopf deutsche anleitung. An illustrated history from munich to nuremberg online pdf. German ss totenkopf ring large skull reproduction skip to the end of the images gallery. Totenkopf rings were awarded between 1933 and 1945 approximately 15,000 rings were made and had been presented to qualifying ss members. I wanted to post this to inform those of its publication and for those who get the book to give their opinion of it so others can decide whether its worth the money in these tightening monetary times. The skull or totenkopf was the traditional symbol of the ss, taken from other german and prussian military units of the past, the two sieg victory runes represent the lightning flash runes of the schutzstaffel, while the hagall rune represents the faith and camaraderie that was idealised by the leaders of the organisation.
In 2017 i wrote the book sstotenkopfring himmleruv prsten cti. Prior to achieving division status, the formation was known as kampfgruppe battlegroup eicke. Ss totenkopf deaths head ring taken from an ss officer. Framed document comes with military combat record of oberscharfuhrer kochle on the reverse. Waffen ss totenkopf ring 23 apply waffen ss totenkopf ring filter. Documents measures approximately 21x30cm 8x12, with original signature of h. When a german left the ss or died they were required to return the ring to the reichfuhrerss. This is the most extensive collection of photos of the totenkopfdivision available anywhere on the internet. Ss totenkopf ring award document awarded to sshauptsturmfhrer luther martin, ssnr. Don boyle, recognized as the worlds leading authority on ss honor rings has rated our kroeger honor ring as the finest reproduction of an ss totenkopf honor ring i have ever seen.
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