BACKGROUND: Traditionally German Army Officers had worn a saber as part of the uniform dress and this tradition was carried on through the Weimar era and on into the Third Reich. In an attempt to build morale and curry favour within the Army, Hitler introduced the dress dagger for optional wear by Officers with the walking out dress, and retained the saber for wear on more formal occasions. The dress dagger was designed by Berlin graphic artist Paul Casberg and was officially approved for wear on May 4^TH 1935 along with specifically styled dagger hangers and a new pattern portepee. Production of the dress dagger was to be discontinued as per regulations of May 27^TH 1943 and further wear of the dress dagger was prohibited by order of September 5^TH 1944. Additional regulations of December 23^RD 1944 indicated that officer ranks were to wear a pistol in place of the dress dagger. The Officer’s dagger hangers were manufactured in a couple of slightly different versions with the standard version pattern and a private purchase, more ornate, deluxe pattern. This example is the deluxe pattern.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The hangers consist of a molded alloy construction, three section, top clip, with one section each for the two hanger bands, and the third for attaching the hangers to the belt. The hanger bands are stitched to the top clip and consist of a machine woven, silver/aluminum facing with a central waffle pattern, flanked on either side by a smooth vertical stripe. The reverse of the hanger bands have a protective green velvet backing. The bands are roughly, 9" and, 8" long respectively and both are almost, 3/4" wide. Both of the bands have a molded alloy, solid backed, oval, pronged buckle with a single corresponding alloy prong grommet and an alloy retaining loop. The ends of each band has a molded alloy, spring activated, retaining clip to attach to the dagger scabbard suspension rings. The top clip, buckles, retaining loops and retaining clips all have an ornate, embossed, oak-leaf pattern. All the alloy fittings have lost most of their original silver wash and have reverted to the flat matte grey of the base alloy with a faint yellowish patina. The top clip and the reverse of both of the retaining clips are all well marked with impressed initials, "D.R.G.M." indicating, Deutsche Reichs Gebrauchsmuster, (German National Registered Design). The hangers show light to moderate age and usage toning.

GRADE ***1/4                             PRICE $165.00