Description
A very rare find fresh from an estate sale in eastern Pennsylvania, just as brought back as a war trophy by a US GI in 1945. This SS dagger is stamped with the identification number of Ernst Fick (born 1898) who joined the NSDAP in 1928 and the SS in 1930 and served throughout WWII until he was killed in 1945. Full documentation of his service record is included.
The dagger is an early example as manufactured by Robert Klass of Solingen, Germany and is in far above average condition. There are minor scuffs on the sheath and blade and the ebony grip has minor chips near the edges of the mounts, as you can observe in the posted images. His final promotion came in November, 1944 when he advanced to the rank of Major General of the Waffen SS.
There are several images online which show the scene of his death in 1945 (one attached).
FICK, Ernst
(1898 – 1945)
SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS:
Born: 5.02.1898 in Kirchdorf/Bayer.Wald.
Killed: 1945, during fighting in Berlin.
NSDAP-Nr.: 124 087 (Joined in Winter 1928/29)SS-Nr.: 2 853 (Joined 02.1930)
Promotions:
SS-Brigf.u.Gen.Maj.d.W-SS: 30.01.44; SS-Oberf.: 30.01.43; SS-Staf.: 30.01.42; SS-OStubaf.:
Assignments:
Inspekteur für weltanschauliche Erziehung (Insp. W.E.) im SS-Hauptamt: (9.11.44)
Decorations & Awards:
1939 Spange zum 1914 EK II: ; 1914 EK II: ; KVK I m. Schw.: ; KVK II m. Schw.: ;
Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer; Landesorden;
Ehrendegen des RF SS/Totenkopfring der SS.
According to related documentation, “On April 29, 1945, during the oflag assembly a plane with Polish insignia had appeared in the sky, circled above the assembly square, tried to signal something and went away. Soon on the road to the camp appeared American tanks. At the same time from the other side of Murnau 2 German cars approached. They stopped upon noticing the tanks. Germans had been taken by surprise. An SS officer in the first car opened fire with a machine gun, and at the same time his companion jumped out of the vehicle. Both men were killed on the spot by Americans. The same fate met the passengers of the second car. Among the killed Germans was SS Major General Fick. His briefcase contained a letter signed by Himmler. It was an order to kill all 5000 Polish officers in Murnau. To execute this task, Fick had had at his disposal an SS group in 40 armored vehicles that started from Munich. Most likely the SS-man intended to assemble the POWs and kill them with the machine guns fire from guard’s towers.“
SS commander and his lieutenant killed by Americans
