SS-Totenkopfring GROTH 20.4.1937

SS-hauptsturmführer Conrad Groth

SS-Fuhrer des Wirtschafts-Verwaltungsdienst

Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler

Konzentration Lager Daschau / Buchenwald Waffen-SS Div. 17 / 20

*2.11.1910 Simkau ( Kreis-Schwetz / Land-West-Preussen )

SS no: 56 733

NSDAP no: 1 390 531

Diameter: 23 mm (!) - huge ring!!

Ground dug in Czechia.

Service:

x.7.32                                     3 SS-Sturm. / 1.Sturmbann / 40 SS Standarte (Kiel) 
4.7.33 – 20.4.36        Stab 1/LSSAH
20.4.36 – 1.5.37        SS J.Schule B.Tölz                 
1.5.1937-1.4.1938        F. i. Stab RFSS, Verw-c4 SS    
                SS-Verwaltungsdienstschule Daschau
1.4.1938 – 24.4.1939        Kdtr. K.L. Daschau 
24.4.1939 – 9.11.1939    Kdtr. K.L. Buchenwald 
                ( Leiter Postzensurstelle )
9.11.1939 – 1.9.1940        12 SS Totenkopfstandarte ( Posen )
1.9.1940 - 1.2.1942        Leit. d. Verw II Batl. Herms
                Stab. SS-Infanterie-Regiment 9 (mot.)
                ( SS Kampfgruppe Nord )
1.2.1942 – 20.4.1942        SSFHA. Verw. A  SS
20.4.1942 – 1.8.1942        E.Abt. SS Verw. Dienst Dachau.
1.8.1942 – 21.3.1944        Fhr. Schule. Verw. Dienst Dachau
21.3.1944 – 10.9.1944    Stab. 20. Estn. SS Frw. Div.
10.9.1944 – 10.10.1944    Gen. Kommando XIII SS A.K.
10.10.1944 – 20.1.1945    17. SS Pz. Gren. Div. G.v.B. ( IVc )
20.1.1945                               Kdt. Indent. Akad. Konigsaal / Prag
( Equipment warehouse Zbraslav )
 

A copy of the archival documentation was preserved for the ring. It includes a complete SS-RuSHA file of 119 pages and an SSO personal file of 12 pages. The provenance is complemented by three photographs of the ring bearer in SS uniform, originating from the RuSHA folder. In the photos, the marking "SS-Totenkopf - K" is clearly visible on the outsoles, i.e. Kdtr. Konzentration Lager (concentration camp headquarters), a very rarely captured detail in authentic photographs. Furthermore, the documentation contains information about his work at the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler and his evaluation of the SS officer course and work at the Stabu Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (color copy of the document).

Ring bearer Conrad Groth was an early and long-term member of the Allgemeine-SS and Waffen-SS who rose to the rank of SS-Hauptsturmführer and held key economic-administrative and logistical positions within the SS-Wirtschafts- und Verwaltungsdienst during the war. He was a holder of the SS ring as well as the SS cord.
He joined the SS as early as 1 June 1932 (SS-Nr. 56 733) and at the same time he was a member of the NSDAP from 1932, making him one of the "alte Kämpfer". His early tenure is evidenced by an original promotion proposal dated 2/3/1934, issued by the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (Berlin-Lichterfelde), in which SS-Sturmmann Conrad Groth is proposed for promotion to SS-Rottenführer. The document evaluates him as a conscientious, blameless and reliable staff member, suitable for further career advancement. Such a document represents an exceptional proof of early service with LSSAH.
His civilian occupation was a mason and construction engineer (Hochbauingenieur) with a university degree in construction, which directly influenced his later deployment in the SS-Verwaltungsdienst. He graduated from the SS-Verwaltungsschule Dachau and subsequently held responsible positions in the administration, supply and economic management of SS units.
In the years 1938-1939, he worked as an officer at the headquarters of the Dachau and Buchenwald concentration camps, then at the SS-Totenkopfstandarte and at the SS-Infanterie-Regiment 9 (mot.) – Kampfgruppe Nord. He was later deployed to the SS-Führungshauptamt, in the staffs of the 20th Estonian SS Volunteer Division, XIII. SS-Armeekorps and with the 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Götz von Berlichingen", where he held the position of IVc (supply and economic administration).
At the end of the war, he reached the top logistical position as commander of the quartermaster academy in Königsaal / Prague, and the equipment and supply warehouse Zbraslav was also located here, which ranks him among the key economic officers of the Waffen-SS in the final phase of the war.

SS-Totenkopfring comes with Martin Toman´s COA.

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