Totenkopfring

The Totenkopfring, also known as Death's head ring is frequently, and wrongly, believed to have been a wedding ring of the Nazi Party. It was, in fact, a highly prized award of Heinrich Himmler's Schutzstaffel or SS.

The ring was at first presented to senior officers of the Old Guard who had displayed extraordinary valiance and leadership skill in battle. Later, as the entrance requirements of the undermanned SS were lowered, so were those of the Totenkopfring. It was soon available to any officer with 3 years service in the SS.

The runed design of the ring reflects Himmler's interest for mythology and the occult. The skull (or Totenkopf) was the traditional symbol of the SS, taken from other German and Prussian military units of the past, The two Sieg (victory) runes represent the lightning flash runes of the Schutzstaffel, while the Hagall rune represents the faith and camaraderie that was idealised by the leaders of the organisation. The Hakenkreuz or swastika was originally a rune meaning light and hope. However, the SS liked to portray this as another influential symbol of the power of the Aryan race. The Heilzeichen, on the rear of the ring, was a creation of the SS designers rather than a historical rune. It symbolises all the ideals of the SS, from camaraderie to their belief that SS men should sacrifice all for their brothers, as is emphasised by the SS motto "Give death and take death."

This is an approximate account of the original Totenkopfring citation, received by the bearer when the ring was presented to them. This is fully from memory and is not the actual wording.

"Ich verleihe Ihnen den Totenkopfring der SS. Es soll sein: Ein Zeichen unserer Treue zum Fuehrer, unseres unwandelbaren Gehorsams gegen unsere Vorgesetzten und unserer unerschuetterlichen Zusammengehoerigkeit und Kameradschaft.

"Der Totenkopf ist die Mahnung, jederzeits bereit zu sein, das Leben unseres Ichs einzusetzen fuer das Leben der Gesamtheit.

"Die Runen dem Totenkopf gegenueber sind Heilzeichen unserer Vergangenheit, mit der wir durch die Weltanschauung des Nationalsozialismus erneut verbunden sind.

"Die beiden Sig-Runen versinnbilden den Namen unserer Schutzstaffel.

"Hakenkreuz und Hagall-Rune sollen uns den nicht zu erschuetternden Glauben an den Sieg unserer Weltanschauug vor Augen halten.

"Umkraenzt ist der Ring von Eichenlaub, den Blaettern des alten deutschen Baumes.

"Dieser Ring ist gesetzlich nicht erwerbbar und darf nie in fremde Haende kommen.

"Mit Ihrem Ausschieden aus der SS oder aus dem Leben geht dieser Ring zurueck an den Reichsfuehrer SS.

"Abbildungen und Nachahmungen sind strafbar und Sie haben dieselben zu verhueten.

"Tragen Sie den Ring in Ehren!

"-H. Himmler."

At the end of the war, Himmler, seeing the ring as a personification of all he believed, had all the remaining rings blast-sealed into a mountain near Wewelsburg, where one of his significant castles was situated. All rings were to be returned to the Reichsfuehrer upon the bearer's death or when they left the SS. Around 14,500 rings are thought to be in existence today, and therefore are very rare, collectable items, often reaching up to £4,500 in sales. Copies are widely available and are very affordable and convincing. The rings show the name of the bearer, the date of presentation, and a facsimile of Himmler's signature, plus the abbreviations. S Lb. for "Seinen lieben" or "to dear".

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