<TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"><TBODY><TR height="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on" width="100%"><TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off">Hello All
First, let me state that I will be posting more than just a photo of a dagger, but because the dagger originally belonged to a high ranking Nazi at one time, I thought I would post everything here. Well, I am about to share a sad, but true story. Several years ago I was informed that a former WWII US CIC-OSS agent attended my church. That this man, a lawyer at the the time the war began, was very active in counter intelligence as well as worked with the French Underground from 1943 to the end of the war. During his short, but amazing career he often found himself behind enemy lines gathering intelligence while hiding from the Gestopo (who shot at him more than once, but always seemed to miss). Following D-Day (he actually came ashore on Utah beach on D-Day+6) he would often travel about in "no-man's land" looking for information and known spies. Throughout this time, he obviously had the opportunity to "liberate" a few items of interest that he came across, some of which I have photographed and am now sharing with all of you. The real interesting part to this story is that two of these items pictured actually belonged to FRITZ SAUCKEL, Gauleiter of Thuringia (and later Brunswick and Anhalt and who was later hung at Nuremberg). The items (the Red Cross Dagger and the Medal bar) were physically taken from Sauckel's house by the vet only a couple hours after Sauckel had fled. As the primary CIC-OSS agent in the area at the time, he had vast investigative authority which provided extended access in not only Sauckel's house, but other high ranking officials in the following months. When I first saw the Red Cross Dagger, I must admit I was a little puzzled. Why would a Gauleiter have a Red Cross Dagger? However, after giving it some thought I believe this dagger may have been presented or awarded to him as a honorary dagger from the German Red Cross Organization. There is no doubt, that the vet acquired this dagger as well as the medal bar from Sauckels' residence. With regard to the medal bar, which includes a War Merit 2nd class without swords, NSDAP Long service medal, a Hindenberg cross without swords and a air defense medal, I found a Mothers cross loosely tied to it and the vet states this is how he remembers finding it. As for the other items pictured, he picked these up throughout France and Germany and could not recall who the original owners may have been. And now for the sad part of this story, I was not able to purchase any of it because his son wants it all
. Yes that right, all of these items are within a 2 miles from my house and none of it will ever be mine.
Enjoy!
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First, let me state that I will be posting more than just a photo of a dagger, but because the dagger originally belonged to a high ranking Nazi at one time, I thought I would post everything here. Well, I am about to share a sad, but true story. Several years ago I was informed that a former WWII US CIC-OSS agent attended my church. That this man, a lawyer at the the time the war began, was very active in counter intelligence as well as worked with the French Underground from 1943 to the end of the war. During his short, but amazing career he often found himself behind enemy lines gathering intelligence while hiding from the Gestopo (who shot at him more than once, but always seemed to miss). Following D-Day (he actually came ashore on Utah beach on D-Day+6) he would often travel about in "no-man's land" looking for information and known spies. Throughout this time, he obviously had the opportunity to "liberate" a few items of interest that he came across, some of which I have photographed and am now sharing with all of you. The real interesting part to this story is that two of these items pictured actually belonged to FRITZ SAUCKEL, Gauleiter of Thuringia (and later Brunswick and Anhalt and who was later hung at Nuremberg). The items (the Red Cross Dagger and the Medal bar) were physically taken from Sauckel's house by the vet only a couple hours after Sauckel had fled. As the primary CIC-OSS agent in the area at the time, he had vast investigative authority which provided extended access in not only Sauckel's house, but other high ranking officials in the following months. When I first saw the Red Cross Dagger, I must admit I was a little puzzled. Why would a Gauleiter have a Red Cross Dagger? However, after giving it some thought I believe this dagger may have been presented or awarded to him as a honorary dagger from the German Red Cross Organization. There is no doubt, that the vet acquired this dagger as well as the medal bar from Sauckels' residence. With regard to the medal bar, which includes a War Merit 2nd class without swords, NSDAP Long service medal, a Hindenberg cross without swords and a air defense medal, I found a Mothers cross loosely tied to it and the vet states this is how he remembers finding it. As for the other items pictured, he picked these up throughout France and Germany and could not recall who the original owners may have been. And now for the sad part of this story, I was not able to purchase any of it because his son wants it all
. Yes that right, all of these items are within a 2 miles from my house and none of it will ever be mine. Enjoy! </TD></TR><TR UNSELECTABLE="on" hb_tag="1"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 1pt" height=1 UNSELECTABLE="on">
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and would have loved adding this booty to my little collection. 
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