SS-Ostubaf Garthe - SS Röhm Honor Dagger by Eickhorn

German WWII > Edged Weapons > SS Daggers > SS Röhm Daggers

SS-Obersturmbannführer Herbert Garthe’s Model 1934 - Schutzstaffel Ehrendolch mit Widmung by Carl Eickhorn of Solingen. E. Röhm Honour Daggers were granted to members of the SS and SA who either had interrupted service from December 31, 1931, or those who transferred from the Hitler Youth prior to that time (February 22, 1934 - II Order Nr. 2869). 9900 were allocated for eligible members of the SS. After the Night of the Long Knives, Ernst Röhm was declared a “traitor” and removal of the inscription was mandated (July 4, 1934 - II Daily Record Nr. 7566). Furthermore, this piece is numbered, per orders set out on April 12, 1934. Any SS Ernst Röhm inscribed dagger is very rare, even scarcer is retaining the full name and inscription, then to be able to attribute the number to the recipient is rare to the extreme…

The blade on this one looks great. The acid etched “In herzlicher kameradschaft Ernst Röhm” inscription is fully intact! The “Meine Ehere Heißt Treue” motto and smooth tail “Carl Eickhorn Solingen” maker mark are all crisp and beautifully executed. The crossgrain is easily visible as you shine it in the light. The fit is nice and tight and the tip comes to a perfect point. The blade rates Exc++. It shows age grey, spotting throughout. The steel based black anodized scabbard is in excellent condition. The body remains completely dent free. The scalloped solid nickel-silver scabbard fittings look wonderful. They have the slightest bruises/scratches throughout. The ball retains a nice round profile. All four screws remain intact. The solid nickel-silver crossguards look excellent. The reverse of the lower cross guard is district stamped “I” (Munich) which is covered by the “12 327” (Garthe’s SS Nr.). The black hardwood grip looks good. It has a chip to the lower right hand side and there are some pressure cracks throughout. The solid nickel silver eagle retains beautiful detail and has a perfect fit. The SS runes roundel retains 95%+ of its enamel and has perfect fit. Purchased from an individual in South Africa. Never been in a collection…

SS-Obersturmbannführer (Senior Assault Unit Leader / Lieutenant Colonel) Herbet Garthe (SS Nr. 12 327 - NSDAP membership Nr. 307 449) was born October 3, 1907, in Dorthmund. Garthe had an extensive SS leadership career. He passed away in August of 1992.

From some research I was able to find:

Awards / Photo:

• The 1935 SS list shows Garthe was awarded the SS Honor Ring. Photo evidence dated July 17, 1940, shows Garthe wearing a star on his left breast pocket (perhaps a Spanish War Breast Cross or DKiG on the wrong pocket). Further, it describes that the photo was taken after an Iron Cross 1st Class ceremony. I am confident that he would have been awarded more, yet this is all I can find based on limited research. The photo states: “Officers of the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler pose in front of the Palace of Versailles, France, shortly after the successful Wehrmacht military operations in the West in 1940 (Fall Gelb).” This photo shows Garthe (#12 - Then SS-Hauptsturmführer - Chief of 12.MG-Sturm/ III.Sturmbann / LSSAH [1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler]) pictured next to SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Josef “Sepp” Dietrich (#7) (Kommandeur LSSAH). Garthe was likely awarded the Eastern Front Medal while in the Begleit-Bataillon Reichsführer-SS (Operation Barbarossa).

Promotions:

• Garthe was promoted to Untersturmführer June 10, 1932, to Obersturmführer January 1, 1935 and to Hauptsturmführer March 10, 1935. He was promoted to the Sturmbannführer after July 17, 1940, but prior to November 20, 1941, and ended his career with the rank of SS-Obersturmbannführer.

Service:

• In 1939, Garthe was in the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. Afterwards Garthe was in the SS-Sturmbannführer & Commander of II.Bataillon/SS-Infanterie-Regiment 6/SS-Division “Nord”, SS-Sturmbannführer & Commander of Begleit-Bataillon-Reichsführer-SS: from November 20, 1941, to February 1, 1942. Then, SS-Sturmbannführer & Commander of the SS-Freiwilligen-Legion “Niederlande” (Volunteer Legion Netherlands - formed September 24, 1943) when the Legion was upgraded to 4. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Brigade Nederland in October 1943 (November 1941 to February 1942). Also: SS-Sturmbannführer & Commander of I.Bataillon/SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 19/9.SS-Panzer Division “Hohenstaufen”. SS-Obersturmbannführer & Commander of I.Bataillon/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 20/9.SS-Panzer-Division “Hohenstaufen”: in October 1943. SS-Obersturmbannführer & Commander of 15 Waffen-Grenadier-Ausbildungs-und-Ersatz Brigade der SS: 21 December 1943-15 March 1944.