German WWII 2nd Model RLB Leader Dagger, Hamburg Ruins Recovered
This item is listed for historical interest only. It was listed on our site previously but has been sold and is no longer available for purchase.
Sold for: $695.00

Original era manufacture. A relic condition, yet very much intact,  2nd Model RLB Leaders dagger, that was recovered during bomb rubble excavation in Hamburg Germany in 1953.This was one of those relics, that when I first saw it, I knew it had to be purchased. The great positive to the dagger is the accompanying card which is wired to the lower suspension loop, it reads;"This Nazi officers dagger was found by me in Hamburg Germany, when I was attached to an Engineer company. We  were excavating rubble that was still around in quantity from the great Allied Air Raids and Firestorms on Hamburg.My Buddy dug up a Luger pistol in like condition. It was in the fall of 1953 if memory serves me right. I'm making this tag up so whoever ends up with in the family will know where it came from. Sgt. John Marsfield."The exterior of the dagger understandably displays considerable damage, yet is remarkably intact being found so soon after the end of hostilities. Amazingly, the blade draws easily from the sheath, with evidence of original cross grain polish still visible in spots on the blade surface. Hamburg was the target of numerous Allied bombing raids during WWII, some large, some only small nuisance raids of few aircraft. Three of the worst raids occurred in July-August 1943 during Operation Gemorrah. The first, the night of July 27th, consisted of 787 RAF bombers. Because of dry weather conditions, the raid produced a firestorm which resulted in a fire plume which reached 1,000 feet altitude, creating ground temperatures of over 1400 degrees Fahrenheit, and spawning tornado-like winds of over 150 miles per hour. Over 8 square miles of the city was consumed in the inferno. This raid was followed by a second raid on the night of July 29th by 700 RAF bombers, with the third and final raid occurring on August 3rd.These three raids accounted for over 40,000 killed, and 30,000 wounded amongst the citizens of Hamburg. Losses from which the city never fully recovered.