Out of the woodwork SS Honor Degen Found

The SS Honor Degen belonging to SS Brigadeführer Kurt Freiherr von Shröder was located this weekend by collector and founder of www.germandaggers.com, Craig Gottlieb.   The Paul Muller sword was liberated by PFC Ernest Castelone, who was serving with Battery A, 74^th Field Artillery Bn in the vicinity of Cologne, Germany.

Von Shröder played a pivotal role in bringing Hitler to power in 1934.  The wealthy Cologne banker and industrialist arranged the secret meeting between Hitler and Franz von Papen which took place at von Shröder’s  home in Cologne on 4 January 1933.  At this meeting, the two men agreed to bring down the government of Kurt von Schleichter and replace it by an alliance between themselves.  During the Third Reich, von Shröder laid the financial foundation for total Nazi control of Germany.  As the leader of the Freundeskreiss RFSS (Himmler’s “Circle of Friends”), von Shröder bankrolled the Nazi party and specifically the SS, thus contributing greatly to the rapid expansion of the Himmler’s black empire.  For his efforts, Himmler awarded his friend and ally the honorary SS rank of Brigadeführer (two star General).  Von Shröder was a captain during WWI.

Mr. Gottlieb was contacted by a member of the Castilone family last Thursday.  He spent Saturday at the home of Mrs. Edna Castilone, whose husband, PFC Ernest Castelone, passed away in March of this year.  They spent the afternoon going through photo albums and letters sent to her by her husband during the war.  In a June 3^rd, 1945 letter, PFC Castilone wrote, “I’m sending you a surprise.  I won’t tell you what it is, but it may be worth some money to us one of these days so keep it safe.”  And keep it safe she did.

The sword, which is in utterly superb condition, is a classic textbook example.  The four band Turkish Damascus blade is in stunning condition, exhibiting a clean, sharp damascus pattern and no rust, pitting, or other wear.  The gilting to the raised inscriptions is 99% present.  The upper scabbard fitting and crossguard are properly stamped with “800” the SS stamp, and the crown stamp.  The scabbard paint shows extremely little wear.   The 99% scabbard paint is attributable to the piece having been stored in the original felt bag that PFC Castilone found the sword in.   The sword was kept under the couple's bed, and taken out of its hiding place two or three times since it was mailed stateside in 1945.   The SS sword knot is in pristine mint condition, and the entire piece has not been disassembled or cleaned.

While letters home state that PFC Castilone’s unit took up residence in a large home “with lots of war items in it,”  the letters also state that he personally captured a German officer and his car, which he kept for a week until it was “commandeered” by higher ranking members of his battalion.   Mrs. Castilone states that the officer was in fact von Shröder himself, and that PFC Castilone relieved the Baron of his sword, two pairs of binoculars, and large stacks of sequentially numbered Reichsmark notes.  

Mr. Gottlieb purchased PFC Castilone’s entire war treasure, to include a correctly marked Mauser, the binoculars, the banknotes, and the sword.   Also included in the trove were photos of PFC Castilone, the original capture papers (dated), letters, and the journal entry Mrs. Castilone made when she received the parcel containing the items from her husband.   “One Sword with Sheath,” is written in her journal, dated June 21, 1945.  Below the entry she copied the text of the sword’s gilted and raised presentation (“Meinen Lieben Kurt Freiherr von Shröder zum 24.11.39.  H.Himmler.  Reichsführer SS) and the standard raised and gilted SS motto.

SS Honor swords were bestowed upon select SS officers personally by Heinrich Himmler in celebration of the recipient's birthday (the date on the sword corresponding to the birthday).   There are approximately 20 known swords known to exist today.