What ever became of Heinrich Himmler's SS Honor Ring?
Em.
Himmler's Honor Ring
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Emerson Begolly
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Oktobermann
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Kurt Steiner
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More likely than not when he attempted escape in May 1945, his last concern would be for a ring ....which probably met the same fate as his uniform.
Why else do you think he was wearing those snappy threads when he was captured
I think by then self preservation was more important to him than a piece of jewelery that was the equivlant to holding a sign saying " I'm SS "!
Why else do you think he was wearing those snappy threads when he was captured
I think by then self preservation was more important to him than a piece of jewelery that was the equivlant to holding a sign saying " I'm SS "!
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Oktobermann
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I am not quite clear where you are coming from. At the checkpoint where Himmler was captured and subsequently committed suicide by cyanide, was wearing a policeman's uniform, which of course was part of the SS. Some policeman's uniforms also bore the SS runes sewn onto the front pocket, others the police emblem on the sleeve with the correct coloured piping.
Hitler had ordered Himmler's arrest when it was made known by him that Himmler was fleeing and I do not believe his departure was on an impulse but was well planned out. Where he changed his uniform I personally do not know, but it would make sense to remove his ring and all other papers. Himmler like many others had more than one uniform and more than one set of awards for wear. Himmler's parade medal set is shown in John Angolia's book "For Führer & Fatherland."
It is doubtful though, that he had duplicate rings. I still believe though, he would have made the effort to say goodbye to his family and if possible making the change at his home. On his uniform would have been his Blood Order Medal, Golden Party Badge, Luftwaffe Combined Pilot's and Observer's Badge in Gold with Diamonds (Honourary), and late in the war the HJ badge, but I don't remember for sure.
Okto
Hitler had ordered Himmler's arrest when it was made known by him that Himmler was fleeing and I do not believe his departure was on an impulse but was well planned out. Where he changed his uniform I personally do not know, but it would make sense to remove his ring and all other papers. Himmler like many others had more than one uniform and more than one set of awards for wear. Himmler's parade medal set is shown in John Angolia's book "For Führer & Fatherland."
It is doubtful though, that he had duplicate rings. I still believe though, he would have made the effort to say goodbye to his family and if possible making the change at his home. On his uniform would have been his Blood Order Medal, Golden Party Badge, Luftwaffe Combined Pilot's and Observer's Badge in Gold with Diamonds (Honourary), and late in the war the HJ badge, but I don't remember for sure.
Okto
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Kurt Steiner
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No one can say what exactly was going through Himmler's mind other than the fear of trying to escape from his former master and the allies. For me, it wouldn't make sense for him to go home .... the chance of being captured would be too great. It would make more sense to make contact with his family once he was in a safe location.
As for his elusive Honor Ring .... we may never know what became of it like many other relics of the Third Reich.
As for his elusive Honor Ring .... we may never know what became of it like many other relics of the Third Reich.
That's correct, if a recipient of the HR was KIA, died, retired or was discharged from the SS, the ring had to be returned to Wewelsburg castle.
http://www.wewelsburg.de
http://www.wewelsburg.de
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Kurt Steiner
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An interesting note is that as the allies began to close in on Wewelsberg castle, Himmler gave orders that the honor rings were never to fall into their hands, and these treasured items were blast sealed into the side of the nearby mountain.
As far as I know, to this date ..... the rings have never been located.
As far as I know, to this date ..... the rings have never been located.
Raz
There were according to Dan Boyle around 20,000 rings awarded. About 18,000 were believed to have been returned to Wewelsburg Castle on Himmlers orders.
Not sure on the Lumsden blast theory, but they must have been well hidden or more likely destroyed ?
Only 200 were found by the liberating allies in the castle itself.
This leaves around 2,000 still out there, of which who knows how many are still in existence in collections ? And as for the 17,800 odd who knows !!
There were according to Dan Boyle around 20,000 rings awarded. About 18,000 were believed to have been returned to Wewelsburg Castle on Himmlers orders.
Not sure on the Lumsden blast theory, but they must have been well hidden or more likely destroyed ?
Only 200 were found by the liberating allies in the castle itself.
This leaves around 2,000 still out there, of which who knows how many are still in existence in collections ? And as for the 17,800 odd who knows !!