Did the SS have "numbers" assigned their units? Please help!

[Legato_lover]

I'm desperate.

Long story short, I have this weird spoon... And the spoon has German words engraved in it. So I'm like, okay. I've read it all. Weird. At the bottom it has "EK 1257" (the 5 could be omitted, but it looks like it might be there when I shine the light a certain way.)

EK stands for Einsatzkommando, I believe. It fits in with the context of what is written on the spoon. What do the numbers mean? Were numbers ever attached to individual soldiers? Is that a division number? Suggestions?

[Ian Hulley]

Sorry but why would a unit on temporary 'Special' duties have it's own engraved cutlery. It's not an SS divisional number either so it's either something innocuous with a civilian connection or a fantasy/fake engraving.

Ian.

[Ludwig]

Sorry but why would a unit on temporary 'Special' duties have it's own engraved cutlery. It's not an SS divisional number either so it's either something innocuous with a civilian connection or a fantasy/fake engraving.

Ian.

Agree!

[CWP]

There is tons of this type of old material with new fake engravings. Photos would be helpful.

[Legato_lover]

Bleh

No, you are missing the point I'm trying to make!

It is NOT engraved. It does not fit the typical army spoons, although it is made by a German manufacturer.

Someone took something sharp and faintly engraved words onto it. You can only see it in the light. I can't take pictures of it because I have to either turn it a certain why to the sunlight or go in a closet with a high powered flashlight to make it out. It is very, very faint.

It isn't fake. If it were fake, someone would make it noticeable where someone didn't have to do ridiculous things to see it. o.0

But unless someone can propose why it has "EK" and then a number after it, I really am not sure what else that is supposed to mean.

[Ian Hulley]

What makes you think it's SS or Einsatz Kommando related ? Couldn't it have been made by 'Ernst Klein' or some other (made up by me) German silversmith with those initials.

Ian

[Legato_lover]

Bleh II

Really, no one is listening to me.

The maker is NOT EK. The Maker is some little brandname I can't read that starts with an A, that is engraved *by machine* into the spoon.

SOMEONE during WWII took a sharp object and engraved stuff into the spoon. Like taking a knife and writing stuff on a tree, etc. It translates to "The end only comes once. Good bye, old friend." with other stuff I can't read. At the bottom, EK and a number is scratched on.

I think it belongs to to einsatzkommando because of the unusual placement next to a series of numbers. It makes no sense that is would be a name because of the placement by weird numbers, so it must be something else. If someone has an idea, please tell me.

[TomH]

spoon

perhaps the EK stands for Iron Cross and someone gave it an award for culinary services....

[Ian Hulley]

If someone has an idea, please tell me.

I have an idea, it's nothing to do with the SS or the Einsatzgruppen ... oh ... I already put that ! Silly me

* presses ignore button *

[vbergman1]

Hmmm, I'm really curious now If you can't capture it in a photo, can you make a reasonable sketch of the item locating the inscriptions and other markings?

[Legato_lover]

Bleh

Yes, but your idea was based upon misinterpretation and makes less sense than the SS idea. Like, some guy in a battlefield happened to make a spoon and engrave it?

So far, I can read in the spoon, "The end only comes once. Goodbye old friend!" There is other stuff, too. Only I can't read it due to the build up on the spoon. Here are pictures. You are not going to be able to see the marks I'm talking about, although I can kind of make out "die" in the picture.

<img src="http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff166/katieschildhoodphotos/DSC03064.jpg">
<img src="http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff166/katieschildhoodphotos/DSC03065.jpg">
<img src="http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff166/katieschildhoodphotos/DSC03066.jpg">

[Bob Hritz]

Lol

[Legato_lover]

Elaborate.

[Bob Hritz]

Why are pies round? Why do dogs chase cats? Heck, I don't care as this is a forum about SS militaria, not old spoons.

Bob Hritz

[Legato_lover]

Well, that's fine. I'm still fairly convinced it has something to do with WWII, though. I'll know next Friday, I guess, when I talk to the museum.

Really, why are you so rude with me, though? When you are all dead and gone people like me are going to be a bit older and collecting stuff. I'm quite new at this and like things just for the sake of their existence, even if (which I doubt it will) turn out to be meaningless.

So... ya, Mr. Hritz. I suppose that is all I have to say about that.