Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An extremely rare German Second World War Allgemeine SS / Waffen SS Model 33 Man’s Dagger and subsequent Officer’s Sword, both belonging to Obersturmbannfuhrer (Lieutenant Colonel) Alfred Graf

The model 33 dagger in magnificent condition having a very good blade by the manufacturer Gotlieb Hammesfahr of Solingen, virtually all the cross grain finish remaining, a minor area of black spotting where the blade butts up against the lower cross guard. The grip has an undamaged enamel SS inset, high quality national eagle, one minor chip to the upper right hand side of the ebony grip. Roman numeral group mark ‘I’ on the reverse side of the lower cross guard. Fitted into its excellent condition scabbard that has virtually all of the original blueing remaining to the blade, some thinness at the edges. The finish of the upper scabbard mount and lower scabbard mount is perfect without any indentations to the lower ball. One small knock to the lower scabbard mount on the left hand side just below the fixing screw. The dagger is fitted with a near perfect condition vertical hanging strap, which is ‘Assmann’ and ‘DRGM’ marked, plus a brown leather belt loop. The number ‘1969’ stamped just underneath the lower cross guard on the reverse side of the blade.
The accompanying SS Officer’s Sword having a superb blade measuring 83.5cm the blade is faintly marked ‘Carl Julius Krebs, Solingen’ with number ‘1969’. The white leather washer is still intact between the blade and the lower part of the D shaped hilt and to the lower part of the D shaped hilt is the double runic symbol within an octangle stamp. The plating to the hilt overall is excellent. Considerable wear to the black finish of the wood grip indicating much service use. A circular SS runic symbol is complete and all grip wire complete. The upper pommel is engraved with the initials ‘AG’. The sword is fitted with its original SS sword knot ,when opening the two strands of the knot the original RZM silk woven label is still inside which has frayed and oxidised in places but is still strong and all intact. The scabbard retains virtually 90% of its original paint finish with some minor abrasions. One small indentation to the scabbard just below the hanging ring, another quite severe indentation to the lower chape of the sword. The sword is fitted into original carrying bag, overall very good condition (2) £5,000-£7,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of German Militaria.

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Alfred Graf was born in Kassel on 13 December 1906 and joined the SS as an Untersturmfuhrer on 5 April 1934, with number 1969. Ultimately promoted to SS Obersturmbannfuhrer in 1944, his first units were Standarte Germania, Standarte Deutschland, Standarte Nordland, SS Division Viking, SS Volunteer Mountain Division Prinz Eugen and finally 21st Mountain Division Skanderbeg. The Division SS Skanderbeg comprised of ethnic Albanians and Volksdeutsche and were involved heavily in anti-partisan operations in the Balkans. There have been statements made that he was the last Commander of Skanderbeg; however, that is in dispute through recent research but he was undoubtedly was a high ranking officer within Skanderbeg and Prinz Eugen to the end of the Second World War.

This sword and dagger have an interesting history; they were obviously both liberated at the same time, more than likely from Graf’s home, and were brought back to the United Kingdom. The sword was sold to a notable collector of the 1960s and 70s and then purchased by the present vendor in the early 1980s. Some years later the dagger was seen at an Arms and Military Exhibition in the United Kingdom by the present vendor and he noticed the matching number and purchased the dagger, thus reuniting the two pieces. Included in the accompanying research file with the lot is a letter of 1986 from a researcher back to the present vendor where he has helped with the research of the history of Alfred Graf; it also would appear that many items of Graf’s were liberated, as in 2020 his SS Totenkopf ring was sold at auction along with some of his medals, and consequently there may well be other items of Graf’s circulating within collecting circles. These two items have been in the possession of the owner since the mid-1980s.

This is an age restricted lot: the successful buyer will be required to either collect in person, or arrange specialist shipping.