-1000x1000.jpg "The SS Honor Ring/ Der Totenkopf # 671")
-1000x1000.jpg "The SS Honor Ring/ Der Totenkopf # 671")
-1000x1000.jpg "The SS Honor Ring/ Der Totenkopf # 671")
-1000x1000.jpg "The SS Honor Ring/ Der Totenkopf # 671")
-1000x1000.jpg "The SS Honor Ring/ Der Totenkopf # 671")
-1000x1000.jpg "The SS Honor Ring/ Der Totenkopf # 671")
The SS Honor Ring/ Der Totenkopf # 671
The SS Honor Ring/ Der Totenkopf
From the days before World War I to the end of the 3rd Reich period, there were hundreds of design patterns for the widely popular "Totenkopf Ring". But there was only one official TK ring that would be awarded by the Reichsfuhrer-SS Heinrich Himmler. Officially called on its award documents ' Totenkopfring der SS - The Deaths head ring of the SS.
Designed by Karl Maria Wiligut - Weisthor [1866-1946] in the
early 1920's, this ring would become one of the highest honors bestowed
upon a man of the elite SS. Wiligut who was previously certified as
"insane" by a state run mental hospital, found his home within the SS
and was hired/recruited in the early 1930's by Heinrich Himmler and
stationed in the SS castle Wewelwsburg in Westphalia Germany. He went on
to become the man who would develop the pagan rituals designed to
take Himmler and his SS back to its pre-Christian roots. It is these
rituals that can take the 3rd Reich collector into the darkest era of
modern history, through what can only be considered a one way door.
Often referred to as the "Dark Side" by collector's, this facet of the
hobby when entered and studied, leads to a thirst to understand its
complexities and a drive to obtain a piece of the darkest era of modern
history.
The ring was die cast in a bar shape, the correct ring size was
given by the recipient and a small amount from each end was cut to
achieve the proper size. It was then engraved and rolled into its
circular shape with its design incorporated into the band. The skull
would have been cast separately, the open ring then joined by solder and
the skull placed above the seam. In the end it was hand finished by the
master jewelers at Gahr.
SS Himmlers Black Order 1923 -45 - by R. Lumsden
Photo Credits: John Pepera Collection
Product Id: #671
From the days before World War I to the end of the 3rd Reich period, there were hundreds of design patterns for the widely popular "Totenkopf Ring". But there was only one official TK ring that would be awarded by the Reichsfuhrer-SS Heinrich Himmler. Officially called on its award documents ' Totenkopfring der SS - The Deaths head ring of the SS.
Within the SS, strange ceremonies, rituals, and mysticism would
come forth to represent a pure blooded Aryan race. The Teutonic Knights
or "The German Order" would be the basis of many of the symbols used
during the 3rd Reich. Odd ceremonies, rituals, and use of imagery of
centuries past, would bring forth an award in the form of a silver ring
with an accompanying document stating it as "A symbol of our loyalty to
the Fuehrer, of our unwavering obedience to our superiors, and to our
unshakeable sense of bonding and comradeship" at the end of this
document "Wear this ring with Honor!". The ring so special, no jeweler
could copy it, it was not to featured in photo's or advertised in print.
Such a strong emphasis was placed on its place within the SS, it was to
be returnable upon death to the SS.
This ring would be produced solely by master gold/silversmiths Otto
& Karolina Gahr of Munich. The rings were awarded from the years
1933 to 1945 with the 45 ring still bearing its 1944 dates. Mistakenly
called the "SS Wedding band" because of its appearance, it is
approximately 7mm wide by 2mm thick. Made of silver and alloyed with
other metals. The view to the outside of the ring is the "Deaths head"
each side displays a single sigrune within a triangle,and at the bottom
SS runes and a combination of TYR and the OL in a circle. On one side the swastika in a diamond and on the other the six pointed Hagel rune in a hexagon, all on a field of oak leaves.
On the interior of each ring, hand engraved and starting with S.lb
(to my dear) the last name of the recipient and the award date starting
with the day, month, and then the year followed by the facsimile of
Himmler's signature. Several variants are noted, there is an early
pattern of 1933-1939 and the later pattern of 1940 to 1945. In between
was a transitional ring and they can be possibly found in the later
pattern with an earlier date to account for, loss, damage, or common
wear. The difference between the early and the late pattern is not
really noticeable to an untrained eye, but for students of this award
the difference to the eye is immediate.
The collectors and those that study the ring and its construction
know how important it is to recognize the flaws, and to have knowledge
of these flaws in ascertaining originality. Discussion of process of
manufacture has been a hot topic and several different methods have been
put forth. Only a handful of people know exactly how the ring was
manufactured. It is my opinion that the process was the following:
For those who wish to become students of this wonderful ring. And,
would like to know the runic meanings of what is on the ring as well as
distinguish the differences of early and late rings , interesting facts
about Wewelsburg castle, along with who was eligible for the ring
and all the other nuances I'd like to suggest the following reference
material:
'Der SS - Totenkopfring' - by K.D.Patzwall
SS Totenkopf H. Himmler Honor Ring 1933 - 1945 - by D. Boyle
Otto und Karolina Gahr Die Silberschmiede der NSDAP und der SS - by A. Meyer & H.W. Schild
The Secret King: Karl Maria Wiligut, Himmler's Lord of the Runes - by M. Moynihan
Photo Credits: John Pepera Collection
REFERENCE ONLY. (SOLD or NOT FOR SALE)
The SS Honor Ring/ Der Totenkopf
From the days before World War I to the end of the 3rd Reich period, there were hundreds of design patterns for the widely popular "Totenkopf Ring". But there was only one official TK ring that would be awarded by the Reichsfuhrer-SS Heinrich Himmler. Officially called on its award documents ' Totenkopfring der SS - The Deaths head ring of the SS.
Designed by Karl Maria Wiligut - Weisthor [1866-1946] in the
early 1920's, this ring would become one of the highest honors bestowed
upon a man of the elite SS. Wiligut who was previously certified as
"insane" by a state run mental hospital, found his home within the SS
and was hired/recruited in the early 1930's by Heinrich Himmler and
stationed in the SS castle Wewelwsburg in Westphalia Germany. He went on
to become the man who would develop the pagan rituals designed to
take Himmler and his SS back to its pre-Christian roots. It is these
rituals that can take the 3rd Reich collector into the darkest era of
modern history, through what can only be considered a one way door.
Often referred to as the "Dark Side" by collector's, this facet of the
hobby when entered and studied, leads to a thirst to understand its
complexities and a drive to obtain a piece of the darkest era of modern
history.
The ring was die cast in a bar shape, the correct ring size was
given by the recipient and a small amount from each end was cut to
achieve the proper size. It was then engraved and rolled into its
circular shape with its design incorporated into the band. The skull
would have been cast separately, the open ring then joined by solder and
the skull placed above the seam. In the end it was hand finished by the
master jewelers at Gahr.
SS Himmlers Black Order 1923 -45 - by R. Lumsden
Photo Credits: John Pepera Collection
From the days before World War I to the end of the 3rd Reich period, there were hundreds of design patterns for the widely popular "Totenkopf Ring". But there was only one official TK ring that would be awarded by the Reichsfuhrer-SS Heinrich Himmler. Officially called on its award documents ' Totenkopfring der SS - The Deaths head ring of the SS.
Within the SS, strange ceremonies, rituals, and mysticism would
come forth to represent a pure blooded Aryan race. The Teutonic Knights
or "The German Order" would be the basis of many of the symbols used
during the 3rd Reich. Odd ceremonies, rituals, and use of imagery of
centuries past, would bring forth an award in the form of a silver ring
with an accompanying document stating it as "A symbol of our loyalty to
the Fuehrer, of our unwavering obedience to our superiors, and to our
unshakeable sense of bonding and comradeship" at the end of this
document "Wear this ring with Honor!". The ring so special, no jeweler
could copy it, it was not to featured in photo's or advertised in print.
Such a strong emphasis was placed on its place within the SS, it was to
be returnable upon death to the SS.
This ring would be produced solely by master gold/silversmiths Otto
& Karolina Gahr of Munich. The rings were awarded from the years
1933 to 1945 with the 45 ring still bearing its 1944 dates. Mistakenly
called the "SS Wedding band" because of its appearance, it is
approximately 7mm wide by 2mm thick. Made of silver and alloyed with
other metals. The view to the outside of the ring is the "Deaths head"
each side displays a single sigrune within a triangle,and at the bottom
SS runes and a combination of TYR and the OL in a circle. On one side the swastika in a diamond and on the other the six pointed Hagel rune in a hexagon, all on a field of oak leaves.
On the interior of each ring, hand engraved and starting with S.lb
(to my dear) the last name of the recipient and the award date starting
with the day, month, and then the year followed by the facsimile of
Himmler's signature. Several variants are noted, there is an early
pattern of 1933-1939 and the later pattern of 1940 to 1945. In between
was a transitional ring and they can be possibly found in the later
pattern with an earlier date to account for, loss, damage, or common
wear. The difference between the early and the late pattern is not
really noticeable to an untrained eye, but for students of this award
the difference to the eye is immediate.
The collectors and those that study the ring and its construction
know how important it is to recognize the flaws, and to have knowledge
of these flaws in ascertaining originality. Discussion of process of
manufacture has been a hot topic and several different methods have been
put forth. Only a handful of people know exactly how the ring was
manufactured. It is my opinion that the process was the following:
For those who wish to become students of this wonderful ring. And,
would like to know the runic meanings of what is on the ring as well as
distinguish the differences of early and late rings , interesting facts
about Wewelsburg castle, along with who was eligible for the ring
and all the other nuances I'd like to suggest the following reference
material:
'Der SS - Totenkopfring' - by K.D.Patzwall
SS Totenkopf H. Himmler Honor Ring 1933 - 1945 - by D. Boyle
Otto und Karolina Gahr Die Silberschmiede der NSDAP und der SS - by A. Meyer & H.W. Schild
The Secret King: Karl Maria Wiligut, Himmler's Lord of the Runes - by M. Moynihan
Photo Credits: John Pepera Collection