Overview
- Brief Narrative
- Found by a U.S. GI, the donor, while billeted in a house in Bad Godesberg, Germany. Sent to parents in Decorah, Iowa. The dagger and accoutrements may have belonged to an Offizieranwärter (officer candidate) in the German Army of Oberfeldwebel rank (battalion sergeant-major or senior Non-Commissioned Officer). A portepee is a sword knot and usually indicates a soldier's rank. This decorative feature was worn in peacetime Germany and in stable areas of the Greater German Reich. It was also a feature of the Parade and Walking-out uniform. The German Army Portepee was worn by all ranks from Fähnrich (Ensign) upwards. When worn on the officer's dagger it was all silver. Both the silver Portepee and the silver cap cords indicate that the wearer was an officer or perhaps an officer candidate.
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Otto Aders
Physical Details
- Classification
-
Military Insignia
- Category
-
Badges
- Object Type
-
Sword knots (aat)
- Dimensions
- overall: Height: 6.690 inches (16.993 cm) | Width: 0.390 inches (0.991 cm) | Depth: 1.500 inches (3.81 cm)
- Materials
- overall : silver
Rights & Restrictions
- Conditions on Access
- No restrictions on access
- Conditions on Use
- No restrictions on use
Administrative Notes
- Legal Status
- Permanent Collection
- Provenance
- The portepee was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1992 by Otto Aders.
- Record last modified:
- 2022-07-28 18:22:08
- This page:
- https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn6917
Download & Licensing
In-Person Research
- By Appointment
- Request 21 Days in Advance of Visit
- Plan a Research Visit
- Request to See This Object
Contact Us
Also in Otto Aders collection
World War II German Wermacht uniform jacket
Object
This uniform may have belonged to an Offizieranwärter (officer candidate) in the German Army of Oberfeldwebel rank (battalion sergeant-major or senior Non- Commissioned Officer). Pins: a= [black] 1939 war wound badge for one or two wounds. b= [silver] infantry assault badge awarded only to Infantry and Mountain Infantry who participated in at least three first wave assaults on at least three different days and had penetrated the enemy line with weapon in hand during these assaults. The two pips on the epaulettes indicate the rank of Oberfeldwebel. The fact that the jacket has six buttons and no cuff markings indicate that it belonged to an Army Officers' Undress Uniform. The Undress Uniform could be worn by all army officers including generals and above. Found by a U.S. GI, the donor, while billeted in a house in Bad Godesberg, Germany. Sent to parents in Decorah, Iowa.
World War II German Wehrmacht uniform pants
Object
Found by a U.S. GI, the donor, while billeted in a house in Bad Godesberg, Germany. Sent to parents in Decorah, Iowa. This uniform may have belonged to an Offizieranwärter (officer candidate) in the German Army of Oberfeldwebel rank (battalion sergeant-major or senior Non- Commissioned Officer). The carmine colored piping on the trousers was the color for the Veterinary Corps, other than veterinary generals, and for the general staff officers of the German High Command.
World War II German Wehrmacht uniform cap
Object
Found by a U.S. GI, the donor, while billeted in a house in Bad Godesberg, Germany. Sent to parents in Decorah, Iowa. This uniform may have belonged to an Offizieranwärter (officer candidate) in the German Army of Oberfeldwebel rank (battalion sergeant-major or senior Non- Commissioned Officer). This hat is called a Schirmmütze (meaning "peaked cap" and indicating that it is a Wehrmacht issue cap). All officers below the rank of general wore silver cap cords. While the markings on the associated jacket are not those of an officer, the answer to this indiscrepancy may be that from February 22, 1936 Offizieranwärter in the Oberfeldwebel rank range were permitted to wear officers' quality silver cap cords on the NCOs Schirmmütze.
Nazi dagger and sheath
Object
Found by a U.S. GI, the donor, while billeted in a house in Bad Godesberg, Germany. Sent to parents in Decorah, Iowa. The dagger and accoutrements may have belonged to an Offizieranwärter (officer candidate) in the German Army of Oberfeldwebel rank (battalion sergeant-major or senior Non-Commissioned Officer).
Nazi belt
Object
Found by a U.S. GI, the donor, while billeted in a house in Bad Godesberg, Germany. Sent to parents in Decorah, Iowa.The dagger and accoutrements may have belonged to an Offizieranwärter (officer candidate) in the German Army of Oberfeldwebel rank (battalion sergeant-major or senior Non-Commissioned Officer).
Silver filigree straps
Object
Found by Otto Adres, a U.S. GI, while billeted in a house in Bad Godesberg, Germany. Sent to parents in Decorah, Iowa. The dagger and accoutrements may have belonged to an Offizieranwärter (officer candidate) in the German Army of Oberfeldwebel rank (battalion sergeant-major or senior Non-Commissioned Officer).
Hitlerjugend (Hitler Youth) trench coat acquired by a US soldier
Object
Trenchcoat worn by members of the Hitlerjugend (Hitler Youth) found by a US soldier, Otto Anders, while billeted in a house in Bad Godesberg, Germany. He sent the coat to his parents in Decorah, Iowa.
