Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for the German air force during WWII. Founded in 1933 and disbanded in 1946.
On February 26, 1935, Adolf Hitler ordered Hermann Göring to establish the Luftwaffe, breaking the Treaty of Versailles's ban on German military aviation. Germany violated the treaty without sanction from Britain and France or the League of Nations, and neither they nor the league did anything to oppose this. Although the new air force was to be run totally separately from the army, it retained the tradition of according army ranks for its officers and airmen, a tradition retained today by united Germany's Luftwaffe and by many air forces throughout the world. It is worth noting, however, that before the official promulgation of Göring's new Luftwaffe in 1935, Germany had a paramilitary air force known as the Deutscher Luftsportverband (DLV: German air sports union). The DLV was headed by Ernst Udet and its insignia were taken over by the new Luftwaffe, although the DLV "ranks" had special names that made them sound more civilian than military.
The First Model Luftwaffe dagger was adopted for use in 1934. Its design was based on the DLV dagger but of shorter
length. The fittings in the early daggers were made of Nickel silver. It remained in use until 1937, when it was
replaced by the Second Model pattern .
A later version of the First model dagger was manufactured in Aluminum. this change took place in 1935 - 1936.
The change included the scabbard, pommel, fittings and chain.
THE HANDLE
The handle of the First Model Luftwaffe dagger was covered in dark blue leather. The design consists of a diagonal
spiral running from top left to bottom right. Two to three strands of silver wire are employed to wrap around the
grooves found in the handle.
The pommel consists of a round shape with a sunwheel swastika inlayed at the center. Both sides of the pommel
display this organizational insignia. Of gold color. Some of the models would loose this attribute due to
normal wear.
It is important to note that some of the sunwheel swastikas were decorated with an oakleaf design around the
edge. However, some daggers were produced without this additional touch.
THE BLADE
The blade was of double edge construction. Stilleto type. It had a flat central plain. A blue leather washer
was place at its base. this feature provided for better seating when inserted into the scabbard. The manufacturer's
logo was the only marking found on the blade. There was no organizational motto displayed here.
SCABBARD AND HANGERS
The scabbard is of metal construction. It is covered with dark blue leather. Metal fittings are found at the throat,
mid-section and tip. The throat and midsection ahve suspension rings attached. Teh fittings are attached via the use
of flat head countersunk screws.
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The hanger is permanently attached to the suspension rings located near the throat and at the midpoint of the scabbard.
A clip is found at the end of the hangers. The upper chain had an average of 6 links. The lower chain an average of
10 links.
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The First Model Luftwaffe dagger was produced for a period of 9 years. During this time there were approximately 33
manufacturers that made it. The blades could have been stamped with around 35 different logos. The RZM stamped
was never applied to the dagger. A comprehensive list
of manufacturers, logos, and other information is displayed in the following table:
| Count |
Number |
Company |
Description |
Logo |
Comments |
| 1 |
1 |
AES |
AES inside a box |
n/a |
n/a |
| 2 |
2 |
Alcoso |
Alcoso with Scales |
 |
Solingen |
| 3 |
3 |
Buchel |
Initials in star in single oval with name around the outside |
n/a |
n/a |
| 4 |
4 |
Clemen & Jung |
Shield with a letter "Z" on one side, The name on the other side. |
n/a |
n/a |
| 5 |
|
Clemen & Jung |
Shield with a "Z" inside oval - Like SA mark |
n/a |
n/a |
| 6 |
5 |
Eickhorn |
Squirrel with sword. Acid etched 1935 to 1941. |
n/a |
n/a |
| 7 |
6 |
Fridericus |
Script written along the blade |
n/a |
n/a |
| 8 |
7 |
Josef Hack |
Fish facing up in oval |
n/a |
n/a |
| 9 |
8 |
J.A. Henckels |
Dancing twins |
n/a |
n/a |
| 10 |
9 |
Friederich Herder |
Crossed keys |
n/a |
n/a |
| 11 |
10 |
Richard Herder |
Star inside collapsed oval |
n/a |
n/a |
| 12 |
11 |
F.W. Holler |
Thermometer inside double oval |
n/a |
n/a |
| 13 |
12 |
Horster |
Dagger and initials inside ovals |
n/a |
n/a |
| 14 |
13 |
Klaas |
Storks and company name |
n/a |
n/a |
| 15 |
14 |
Kopling |
Beer mug with initials in double ovals |
n/a |
n/a |
| 16 |
15 |
Carl J. Krebs |
Letter "K" and crown inside oval |
n/a |
n/a |
| 17 |
16 |
Peter Daniel Krebs |
Lobster and name in text |
n/a |
n/a |
| 18 |
17 |
P.D. Luneschloss |
Greek helmet inside double circle |
n/a |
n/a |
| 19 |
18 |
August Merten |
Letter "M" over two oakleaves |
n/a |
n/a |
| 20 |
19 |
Ernst Pack |
Arch with Siegfried Waffen |
n/a |
n/a |
| Count |
Number |
Company |
Description |
Logo |
Comments |
| 21 |
20 |
Richard Plumacher |
Exclamation point inside double oval |
 |
Solingen |
| 22 |
21 |
Puma |
Puma inside a diamond |
n/a |
n/a |
| 23 |
22 |
Schuttelhofer |
Hobby horses |
n/a |
n/a |
| 24 |
23 |
Paul Seilheimer |
Letters "PS" inside an oval |
n/a |
n/a |
| 25 |
|
Paul Seilheimer |
Dog with sword in mouth |
n/a |
n/a |
| 26 |
24 |
SMF |
Seated king |
n/a |
n/a |
| 27 |
25 |
Spitzer |
Lion inside an oval |
n/a |
n/a |
| 28 |
26 |
Tiger |
Tiger placed along the blade |
n/a |
n/a |
| 29 |
27 |
Undine |
Mermaid |
n/a |
n/a |
| 30 |
28 |
Emil Voos |
|
n/a |
n/a |
| 31 |
29 |
Paul Weyersberg |
Sword and wreath |
n/a |
n/a |
| 32 |
30 |
Anton Wingen |
Knight with sword |
n/a |
n/a |
| 33 |
31 |
WKC |
Knight's head |
n/a |
n/a |
| 34 |
32 |
Max WMW Weyersberg |
WMW Waffen stamped across or along blade |
n/a |
n/a |
| 35 |
33 |
Wien Zietler |
Name stamped perpendicular to spline of blade |
n/a |
n/a |
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