SS Officers Honour Degan of Hermann Florstedt
We just purchased this Degan from the grandson of the US Army veteran “Gabriel Latiolais” who was located in Reims, France as a part of a tank crew. It is personalized “HF” to the pommel top and SS numbered “8660” under the buffer pad, both attributable to SS-Standartenführer Hermann Florstedt (February 18, 1895 - April, 15 1945 - NSDAP # 488 573).
Florstedt was the third Commandant of Majdanek Concentration Camp from (November 1942 to September 1943). Florstedt was a war criminal and convicted war profiteer. He was investigated by SS-Sturmbannführer Georg Konrad Morgen and charged by the SS with corruption, embezzlement and arbitrary killing of prisoner witnesses. Traces of War accounts: “His tenure is typified by excessive cruelties and mass liquidations. Florstedt himself took part in the selection of prisoners unfit for labor and who were subsequently murdered. Just like Koch, he stole jewelry, gold and money from the Jews which led to his downfall as well. He had to account for it before a special SS court, was found guilty and relieved of his post in September 1943. On April 15, 1945, he was executed by the SS.”
The Buchenwald Report said there were rumors that Oberaufseherin Ilse Koch was having relationships with Hermann Florstedt. Additionally, a prisoner who worked in the Koch household recalls that Florstedt frequently came to her by night (p.336).
Florstedt was awarded the ranks of SS Untersturmführer on November 9, 1933; Hauptsturmführer on April 1, 1934; Sturmbannführer on June 9, 1934; Obersturmbannführer on April 20, 1935 and Standartenführer on April 20, 1938. There is a lot to read about this guy and there was a book written about him, Hermann Florstedt, SS-Führer und KZ-Lagerkommandant: Ein Lebensbild im Horizont der Familie in the 90"s.
We did clean a bunch of old grease and dirt off of it to stop any oxidation. It needed to be done and some light scratches are visible to the blade and scabbard body. The blade measures 34 inch long and is single fullered. It rates Exc. It shows age grey, spotting and minor pitting throughout. There are some rough spots and three nicks to the cutting edge. The white buffer pad remains intact. The black anodized scabbard holds a nice dark finish. Anodized scabbards on Degans are extremely early and rare! It has oxidization spotting throughout. There is one wee pressure mark to the obverse. The bottom fitting is the slip-on type. The top nickel fitting is secured with two screws. The scabbard throat is SS proof marked. The D-guard hold has beautifully patinaed. The underside is SS proof marked and numbered “8660”. The quillion has a light bend. The cast oak leaf and acorn ferrule is beautifully hand chased. The black wood grip and wire wrap looks great. The solid nickel SS runes button is nicely burnished and tightly set in place. The pommel top is wonderfully engraved. “HF”. This piece has never been disassembled. The sword measures 40 1/8 inches tall. A rare opportunity to own a degan attributed to a known officer.
| Rating: | Exc+ |
| Item Number: | SW-29064 |
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