Personalized SS Officer’s Degen – D1002

This degen initially came to us several years back, when the large Walter Harzer collection was first purchase and offered for sale. Sometime afterwards the set was split up and offered in lots through Hermann’s Historia auction house. And now just recently we were lucky enough to purchase this historic edged weapon once again.

A brief history on this beloved SS warrior is that Walter Harzer had a colorful military career which started in 1933, and spanned over the next 12 years of the “Thousand Year Reich”  He began his military service with the SS Political Readiness Detachment during the spring of 1933, and later that year joined the German Army. It was in March of 1934, young Harzer joined the SS Verfugungstruppe, later graduating from the SS Officer’s Candidate School, at Bad Tolz in 1936. He went on to serve as the commander in charge of SS 9th Pz Div “Hohenstaufen”, was noted in the history books as the 3rd Reich war hero at Arnhem, and being awarded both the German Cross in Gold as well as the coveted Knights Cross to the Iron Cross. There is lots of information as well as many photos of Walter Harzer that can be researched by a collector to go with this rare degen listed in this offering.  

The grip of this sword has survived in fairly decent condition, considering how it was stored prior to the end of the war and shortly afterwards. The information which we received was that it, and many of the other items which were in the original collection, were placed in a large wooden box and buried for safe keeping by Harzer prior to the inevitable demise of Nazi regime. As a result, many of those awards, photos, and plaques as well as this degen suffered some moisture damage. In light of that and as I mentioned, the grip and hilt on this sword faired pretty well. Though some of the original black enamel paint is worn like so many of these grips, the wood remains free from any splits, cracks, or missing chunks of material. Even all of the silver decorative wire is still intact and tight within the grooves. The SS runes button is properly in place and still displays a fair amount of factory black burnishing in the background of the lightening bolts. As a sword awarded in 1937, all of the hilt components are of plated steel. All of those parts are still in good shape. The original knot that this sword no doubt had on it at one time was gone when we received it. I added a beautiful toned example that we had, and have to admit it truly sets off this hilt in the proper fashion of how it may have been worn during the period. Though dark with age and not in the photos, the underside of the crossguard is stamped with the proper SS Kulturzeichen proof.

The scabbard to this sword remains straight, void of any bends, splits, dings, or dog leg curves. There is oxidation, wear, and age to the surface on both sides of the shell. And probably a bit more than normal, due to ground moisture which it was subjected to. The period paint is old and thick in places where Harzer probably brushed it in a few spots, after seeing the deterioration which resulted in trying to keep it hidden and safe. Both upper and lower fittings are super dark with age over their surfaces, and held firmly tight in place. As with the underside of the crossguard the lip of the scabbard is stamped with the SS proof mark.

No two ways about it, the trapped moisture in the wood runners of the scabbard resulted in what you see on the surface of this blade. It’s not all that horrible per se’, as most of us certainly seen much worse. It’s just the actual history of this edged weapon, and you’ll want to leave it exactly the same. In lieu of that, this blade still remains straight, full length, void of any tipping, buffing, polishing or cutting edge chips. The surface still projects the proper matte finish that these degens were issued with from the factory. On the obverse riccasso is engraved Harzer’s SS number # 23101. As shown in the photos, over the surface of several of the digits is the oxidation imparted by the moisture in the wood runners, very much the same as the rest of the blade exhibits. Finally, as many of these early examples which were produced in the first 12 months of production, the blade is void of any maker marks or logos.

There you have it. A cool historic degen, once belonging to a noted SS panzer commander, Knights Cross holder, and a whole lot more……Oberfuhrer Walter Harzer.  SOLD