Third Reich NSKK Dress Dagger Attributed to SS-Obergruppenführer Hermann Höfle, Who Played a Vital Role in Suppressing the Slovak National Uprising, Later Being Trialled and Sentenced to Death for War Crimes, this dagger being an enlisted mans type with a light brown wood grip, having nickel plated eagle and enamel SA device. Both the upper and lower cross guard mounts have been beautifully hand chassed with an leaf pattern. The dagger is housed in its original scabbard, where once again the mounts have been hand chased. The reverse of the top scabbard mount is engraved in gothic lettering, ‘Hermann Höfle nskk-mün. 17.aug.1934’. Standard blade with motto ‘Alles fur Deutschland’ and the reverse with the makers trademark for J P Sauer & Sohn, Sühl. The blade shows some wear with staining and oil marks. The blade 21 ¾ cms, overall 38cms. Hermann Höfle was born on 12th September 1898. The son of a postal official, he enlisted in the Bavarian army in 1916, serving with Infantry regiment Nr8. He transferred to the Imperial German Air Service later in the war, where he served as an Observer. After WW1, Höfle served in the Freikorps and later with Ernst Rohm, was present at the Beer Hall Putsch. He officially joined the SA (Sturmabteilung) in the 1930’s. From 1934-1937, he was part of the NSKK in Munich, rising through the ranks of the NSKK through to 1943. At the request of Heinrich Himmler, Höfle left the NSKK and joined the SS (Schutzstaffel) where he became a SS-Obergruppenführer in an administration role. He was serving in Slovakia and was a pivotal player in the suppression of the Slovak National Uprising in 1944. He was arrested by the Czechoslovakian authorities after the war and was put on trial along with Hanns Ludin and both were sentenced to death and executed on 9th December 1947, it is believed however that he may have died in custody earlier than this date.