Description
Incredible, and very rare example of a NPEA Chained Leader Dagger by (Karl Burgsmüller Berlin.) The grip is a very fine example having high center ridge and vertical grain. It fits the crossguards like a glove. As we see on NPEA’s there is no insignia in the upper grip. The grip eagle is a aluminum example. It is the the “high necked” variety and is completely crisp with all detail to the bird’s head breast and wing feathering talons wreath and swastika. The blade of this example shows a few light runner marks, but no damage to the edge or tip. The motto is sharp with all of the factory darkening remains in the recesses. On the reverse it is etched “Karl Bergsmüller Berlin”, this is the correct marking for the earlier 2nd type examples marks. The scabbard shell is straight throughout and fitted to the scabbard are the nickel plated chain mounts. The upper mount is in excellent condition with a little bit of age in the reverse lower portion, the center ramp is in fine condition showing a little age being the style with no screw as we see with this maker. The lower fitting shows some minor age here and there from poor storage, but the plating is still there and tight to the scabbard. These mounts are complete with the original screws. The scabbard green paint is in wonderful condition looks perfect. Connected to the ramps at the upper and center fitting is a aluminum style Luftwaffe chain having four upper links and six lower links, this has been period shortened which was common on early Luftwaffe daggers, typically we see 5 on top and 7 on the bottom. Overall this is a very rare, and highly sought after edged piece from the period, a fantastic example for any collection!
Note – The main task of the NPEA ‘National Political Institutes of Education’ (Nationalpolitische Erziehungsanstalten) was the “education of National Socialists, efficient in body and soul for the service to the people and the state”. The pupils attending these schools were meant to become the future leadership of Germany – political, administrative, and military. Until the beginning of World War II on 1 September 1939, the Napolas served as strong politically-accentuated elite preparatory schools within the framework of the general higher education system. During the war, they increasingly developed into preparatory schools for entry into the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS. In keeping with their unique nature, Napola schools operated separate from all other German secondary schools.
