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The SS-Ehrendolch (SS honour dagger) was considered an honour weapon of the Schutzstaffel (SS). In addition to this dagger there was also the SS Honour Ring and SS Honour Sword. The awarding ceremony was conducted according to strict rules developed by Heinrich Himmler.

Introduction and ceremony

This honour weapon was introduced in December 1933, following analogous traditions in the army, air force, and navy. The awarding ceremony took place on November 9, during the final introduction of the SS-men in the Allgemeine SS, SS-Totenkopfverbände units, and SS-Verfügungstruppe (later known as the Waffen-SS) every year.

The SS dagger was an official sidearm of the SS dress uniform used by all full members of the SS. Production of these honour daggers was suspended in 1940.

Appearance and design

The design of the weapon was based on the 16th century Swiss dagger. The centre of the wide and long spear-pointed blade has a very pronounced rib. Along the longer axis of the blade the slogan of the SS "Meine Ehre heißt Treue" (My honour is loyalty) was etched.

The cross-guard and pommel were nickel-plated; the handle was black, inlaid with the silver NSDAP eagle and the SS symbol. The metal scabbard was covered in black gloss lacquer with silver-plated chape and mount. The SS dagger was introduced in 1933 and there are three distinctive versions available, depending on the year of manufacturing.

• Early production: 1933-1935: Manufacturer's logo, black burnished ebony handle, hilt with Roman numerals (I-Munich, II-Dresden, III-Berlin);
• Middle production: 1936-1938: Manufacturer's log with RZM code (double labeling), scabbard burnished or painted black, no Roman numerals on the guard;
• Late production: 1938-1942: Only with RZM code, scabbard painted black, eagle insignia on handle usually made of aluminium.

Design for the "old fighters"

On June 21, 1936, another variant of the dagger was introduced, which was awarded only to SS officers and NCOs who had joined the SS before 1933. This dagger was identical to the 1933 model, but the scabbard was fitted with a chain made of rectangular plaques adorned with skulls and SS runes and an additional silver fitting with swastika motif.

High-ranking SS leaders were presented a special dagger bearing the inscription In herzlicher Kameradschaft, H. Himmler (In warm camaraderie, H. Himmler). There were numerous variants of this dagger, which were handed to the recipients by Himmler. These gift daggers were identical to the general-issue daggers, but were made of top quality materials and had gilded inscriptions. They were and still are considered a rarity due to the low number issued.

Carrying method

The SS honour daggers were usually worn with the black SS uniform. According to Himmler, every SS member was obliged to use the dagger against anyone who had violated the honour of the SS or offended the honour or the family of the SS member. In November 1935, Himmler issued a decree stating that "every SS man has the right and duty to defend his honour with the weapon."

As of February 15, 1943 all officers of the Waffen-SS were entitled to wear this dagger also with the field-grey dress uniforms. For these occasions, the dagger was fitted with a tassle and sword knot made of aluminium lace, similar to one used by Wehrmacht officers.

SA-Dienstdolch

An SA-Dienstdolch (SA service dagger) of similar appearance and design existed for the Sturmabteilung (the Nazi Party's original paramilitary wing) members. Along the longer axis of the blade the slogan "Alles für Deutschland" (Everything for Germany) was etched. In 1934, Ernst Röhm introduced an SA-Ehrendolch (SA honorary dagger) based on the SS model, with the inscription In herzlicher Kameradschaft, Ernst Röhm ("In warm camaraderie, Ernst Röhm"). Following the Night of the Long Knives, SA members awarded with this dagger were ordered to remove Röhm's name from it.

Notes

1. SS Dagger Basics
2. Dienstdolch.de - Klinge und Devise (archived) and German Dress Daggers - SA Standard 1933 Dagger
3. Dienstdolch.de - Der Ehrendolch (archived)

References

• Quarrie, Bruce (1988). Weapons of the Waffen-SS. From Small Arms to Tanks. England: Patrick Stephens Limited. ISBN 1-85260-048-9.
• Höhne, Heinz (1992). The Order of the Death's Head. The Story of Hitler's SS. Germany: Weltbildverlag. ISBN 3-89350-549-0.
• Williamson, Gordon (2003). Waffen-SS Handbook 1933-1945. England: Sutton Publishing Limited. ISBN 0-7509-2927-8.
• Miller, Michael (2015). Knight's Cross Holders of the SS and German Police 1940-45. England: Helion & Company. ISBN 978-1-909982-74-1.
• Dienstdolch.de at the Wayback Machine (archived July 4, 2022)
• Rhodes, Peter; Vogel, Manfred. "German Dress Daggers". German Dress Daggers. Retrieved 2 May 2024.

v t e Schutzstaffel (SS)
Branches	Allgemeine SS SS-Totenkopfverbände (SS-TV) Waffen-SS
Leadership	Reichsführer-SS SS and police leader SS commands Allgemeine-SS regional commands
Leaders	Julius Schreck Joseph Berchtold Erhard Heiden Heinrich Himmler Karl Hanke
Main departments	Personal Staff Reichsführer-SS Command Staff Reichsführer-SS SS Main Office SS Medical Corps Head Operational Office Reich Security Main Office (RSHA) Economics and Administration Office Office of Race and Settlement (RuSHA) Main Office for Ethnic Germans (VOMI) Office of the Reich Commissioner for Germanic Resettlement (RKFDV) Courts Office Personnel Office Education Office
Ideological institutions	Ahnenerbe Das Schwarze Korps SS-Junker Schools Lebensborn
Police and security services	Uniformed police (Orpo) Schutzpolizei (Schupo) Criminal police (Kripo) Secret State Police (Gestapo) State Security Police (SiPo) SS Security Service (SD) Customs Border Guards (ZGS)
Führer protection	SS-Begleitkommando des Führers Reichssicherheitsdienst
Waffen-SS units	Paramilitary Einsatzgruppen Schutzmannschaft Byelorussian Latvian Lithuanian Ukrainian Estonian Rollkommando Hamann Arajs Kommando Selbstschutz Volksdeutscher Trawnikis Order Police battalions Hiwi Security Battalions (Greece) Waffen-SS divisions SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT) Leibstandarte (LSSAH) SS Division Das Reich SS Division Totenkopf SS Polizei Division SS Division Wiking Foreign SS units Austrian SS Germanic-SS Germaansche SS in Nederland Germaansche SS in Vlaanderen Germanske SS Norge Schalburg Corps British Free Corps Kaminski Brigade Finnish Volunteer Battalion
SS-controlled enterprises	Deutsche Wirtschaftsbetriebe German Earth and Stone Works (DEST) Ostindustrie German Equipment Works Klinker-Zement Allach porcelain Apollinaris Mattoni Sudetenquell Anton Loibl

• Nazi SS
• Daggers