WW2 German SS / Wehrmacht – SS TOTENKOPF RING – KNIGHT’S CROSS WINNER – GROSSDEUTSCHLAND – PUBLISHED – VERY RARE!

Description

You are bidding on a SUPERB and VERY RARE example of a WW2 German SS Totenkopf Ring! A VERY UNIQUE piece of history, this was presented to a WEHRMACHT Officer and Knight’s Cross with Oakleaves Winner, Hauptmann der Reserve, Diddo Diddens.

Diddo Diddens (22 April 1917 – 27 September 1997) was a highly decorated Hauptmann der Reserve in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Diddens served in the Invasion of Poland, Battle of France, Operation Barbarossa, Siege of Leningrad, Battle of Voronezh, Battle of Rzhev, Third Battle of Kharkov, Battle of Kursk, Belgorod-Khar’kov Offensive Operation, Lower Dnieper Offensive, Dnieper-Carpathian Offensive
Korsun–Shevchenkovsky Offensive, and the First Jassy-Kishinev Offensive.

Though Diddens was most known to have been serving with Grossdeutchland as a tank hunter (Sturmgeschutz), in his EARLY service, he was an NCO with the Allgemeine SS. After he recevied his Knights Cross, Himmler had him honorably promoted to an SS Reserve Leutant, and bestowed upon him this SS Totenkopf Honor Ring.  On June 15, 1944, due to severe injuries, he lost the use of his right leg, which subsequently had to be amputated.

Purchased from Craig Gottlieb on July 23, 2010, this is one of only a HANDFUL of SS Honor Rings attributed to a Knight’s Cross Winner with Oak Leaves! Made of solid silver, there are some marks, scratches, and wear, but that is expected due to the age.  All details are SUPERB, and as mentioned, this EXACT ring is published in Craig Gottlieb’s book titled, “The SS Totenkopf Ring – An illustrated History from Munich to Nuremberg”. A copy of this book will be included. During the war, it was sized down (most likely, due to weight loss after his injuries), resulting in the jeweler re-attaching the skull upside down. More of this is described in Gottlieb’s book. Also included are a COA from Craig Gottlieb; a COA from Don Boyle; photocopies of various Service Records, Reports, and Documents; a scan of a letter from Craig Gottlieb regarding the history of the ring; and FOUR modern images of Diddens (three showing him wearing this exact ring, and one that is hand-signed).  Probably one of the most AMAZING pieces of history I have had, this would make a SUPERB addition to any collection or display!