Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Superb German Second War RAD Konstantine Hierl Presentation Dagger Awarded to Obergeneralarbeitsfuhrer Wilhelm Busse

An excellent and extremely rare RAD officers dagger with presentation blade in Damascus and gold. Standard RAD officers dagger form with the hilt being in the highly brushed aluminium. Standard celluloid grips, mint condition, in its scabbard that has the silvered patination overall with dark chemically patinated to the central pebbled section of the scabbard and in the lower field of the scrollwork and the wheat sheaves. On the reverse side of the scabbard, to upper part are the intertwined engraved initials ‘WB’. The blade is the most superb Damascus pattern with the RAD logo of ‘Arbeit Adelt’ in raised gold. On the reverse side a presentation dedication in raised gold ‘Fur Hervoreeagende Verdienst’ (For outstanding service) with the full signature of the head of the RAD ‘Konstantine Hierl’ with the maker’s logo ‘Alcoso, Solingen’ also in raised gold. The blade is fully Damascus from end to end, also encompassing Damascus pattern on the flat back edge of the blade. Underneath the easily removable grips the blade is neatly riveted to the hilt with the numbers ‘133’ stamped into the hilt material, excellent condition £8,000-£12,000

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

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Wilhelm Busse was born in Berlin in 1878 and joined the Imperial German Navy in 1896, serving throughout the Great War, and finishing the War as a senior officer on the Admiralty’’s staff. After the Great War he joined one of the many Freikorps, and he was the longest serving NSDAP official in the Reich Labour Service when it was created, being appointed President of the RAD Court of Justice in 1934. In this function he ran for the NSDAP in the Reichstag election of March 1936 but was not elected. In 1939 he made himself available to the Navy of the Third Reich and was given the rank of Rear Admiral on 1 June 1940. On 27 November 1941 he entered the NSDAP Reichstag as a Deputy to Rudolf Hess, who had been expelled in May 1941, and was a member of the Reichstag until the end of the Third Reich regime. From 1939 Busse also held the rank of Generalarbeitsfuhrer of the RAD (Reich Labour Service) and concurrent with his service in the Kriegsmarine he was promoted to Konteradmiral on 1 September 1944. He obtained many orders, medals and decorations including Bulgarian orders, Prussian orders and was a holder of the Golden Party Badge of the NSDAP. He died in Kiel in 1965.

Sold together with various Award citations included A5 sized punch holed for filing Award certificate for the Bulgarian Order of St. Alexander with the rank of Generalarbeitsfuhrer dated 27 August 1937 awarded in Berchtesgaden, Berlin, the name ‘Berlin’ crossed through on the citation paper with original pen signature by Adolf Hitler. Further A4 citation punch holed for filing to Obergeneralarbeitsfuhrer the Grand Cross of the Bulgarian St. Alexander Order dated 25 September 1940 with facsimile ink signature of Adolf Hitler and pen signature of the Chancellery Secretary Meissner. Large form promotion document to Obergeneralarbeitsfuhrer, although he had already achieved that rank by 1940 to Wilhelm Busse issued Headquarters 20 April 1942 with pen signature by Adolf Hitler, pen signature of Konstantine Hierl and another signature unidentified. This large format citation within its cream folder with large gilded eagle and swastika to the face side, some tape marks to the right hand side. A small A5 standard size citation punch holed for filing for the War Service Cross Second Class with swords to Konteradmiral Wilhelm Busse date of award 1 September 1944, a personal award from the Commander of the Kriegsmarine Donitz with signature of an unidentified Konteradmiral, some rust staining close to the punch holes. A second A5 citation awarded to Dem Obergeneralarbeitsfuhrer Wilhelm Busse, Reichesleitung Des Reichsarbeitsdienstes, Berlin-Grunewald, for the West Wall Medal dated 26 January 1940, pen signed by the State Minister and Head of the Presidential Chancellery, Meissner. Two further documents, one for the Great War Iron Cross Second Class, awarded Constantinople February 1916, and the second for three Ottoman Empire awards, The Order of Osmanieh Forth Class, The Order of Medjidie Third Class and the silver Intiyaz Medal with crossed swords, also awarded Constantinople on the same date 29 February 1916.

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