BACKGROUND: The DRK, Deutsches Rotes Kreuz, (German Red Cross), was a civil assistance organization under auspices of the Ministry of the Interior. Due to its non-combatant status, it had to conform to the international Geneva Convention which directed that members not carry any weapons, including edged weapons. As a result the DRK Subordinates hewer was designed with a squared blunt tip, to preclude its classification as a weapon and allow its wear in the field. DRK Subordinates hewer as introduced in 1938 for wear by ranks of DRK-Anwärter to DRK-Haupthelfer.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The blackened leather frog consists of dual layered leather creating a belt loop to top with two natural aluminum rivets just above the narrowest part of the frog body. Rivet head to the left hand side is missing, but otherwise perfect. The frog has stitching to the outside edges from the top rivets to the bottom of the hewer pocket. The hewer pocket is also rivetted at is top edge and is stitched down the outside edges, with a central front stud hole. The reverse of the frog also has an additional vertical row of stitching running down the center. The reverse of the frog is well marked with impressed manufacturers name, location and date, "Carl Busse Mainz 1940". Superb example.

GRADE ****½                             PRICE $144.00