Deaths Head Rework

[Ron Wood]

Leon,
The use of the DH on early Lugers is an enigma and has been variously attributed to The First and Second Leib Garde Hussars, the 17th Brunswick Hussars, the Brunswick 3rd Battalion 92nd Infantry Regiment, "Freikorps" units during the late Weimar era, flamethrower or "Flammenwerfer" units, tank units, sturmbattalions and a few others. For many years I favored the notion that these Lugers might have been utilized by the Leib Garde Hussars since the DH emblem has the bones crossing behind the skull, which is the style of the LG Hussars, and not the Brunswick units that have emblems with the bones crossing below the skull. Also, I felt that he â??lazy Sâ?� above the DH might be a stylized representation of the bandeau above the DH on the LG Hussar busby. However, it is the flamethrower connection that is currently considered the most favorable theory (see Jan Still's "Imperial Lugers" and "Weimar and Early Nazi Lugers" volumes) The lazy S surmounting the skull is thought to be a stylized representation of a flamethrower pattern. I have not seen any photos or illustrations of flamethrower units with such an insignia, so I guess the romantic in me would like to accept the Leib Garde Hussar attribution. But I bow to the opinions of those more learned than myself.

I do not believe that the DH Lugers have any association with the SS or death camp guards.