Description
Product Description: We are very pleased to be able to offer this extremely rare SS Standard Bearers Gorget. These gorgets were produced in extremely small numbers during the time period and today, are one of the scarcest German military artifacts a collector will encounter. The body on this SS Standard Bearers Gorget is stamped from a nickel silver planchet, which was electroplated with a silver plating. Light patina and scattered marks can be observed on the obverse of the gorget. A highly detailed tombak (brass) stamped eagle is attached to the gorget plate, along with two round SS rosettes which double as fasteners for the chain hooks located on the reverse. Both the eagle and the rosettes retain most of their factory darkening with enhanced highlights. Some areas of light wear can be seen on the rosettes and eagle, matching that of the gorget plate. An original feldgrau wool backing is attached to the reverse of the gorget, with no damage or mothing. Both of the chain clips are intact with their adjustable clips for the wearer to attach the gorget to his liking. The third central uniform clip is also intact with no damage, and is RZM marked with “M1/128” for the firm of “Eugen Schmidthausler”. The original chain is not present. This is a unique opportunity to own an incredibly scarce and desirable SS Standard Bearers Gorget, worn by Standard Bearers of the elite paramilitary branch of the Third Reich, the SS!
Historical Description: The origins of the SS began in 1923 as a small detail of men meant to protect Nazi Party meetings during the first years of the party. Under the leadership of Heinrich Himmler, the SS would grow to become one of the most feared, loathed, and yet in some instances, respected organizations in world history. From the early days of the Nazi party to its final moments, the SS were Germany’s foremost security, surveillance, and elite military organization. The SS was comprised of three main elements, the Allgemeine SS (General SS), the Waffen SS (Armed SS), and the SS Totenkopfverbande (SS Deaths Head Units). The Allgemeine SS were primarily responsible for policing, security, the Gestapo, and enforcement of racial policies. The Waffen SS were the organizations paramilitary combat troops who would eventually become the nucleus of Germany’s most elite formations during the Second World War, comprising of many divisions and volunteers from all over Europe. The role of the SS Totenkopfverbande is amongst some of the most notorious of the organization as their responsibility was overseeing and operating the concentration camps and death camps from 1933 to 1945. Additional subdivisions of the SS also included the Sicherdienst “SD”, and the Geheimestaatspolizei “Gestapo”. By the end of World War 2, the SS would have grown from a small unit of 8 men, to over 1 million, including volunteers from nearly every European nation serving in their ranks.
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