SS-Ehrenring

The ring was not a state decoration but rather a personal gift bestowed by Heinrich Himmler to SS members of distinction.

The SS-Ehrenring was initially presented to senior officers of the Alter Kämpfer (Old Guard) within the SS, of whom there were fewer than 5,000.

[2] In 1938, Himmler ordered the return of all rings of dead SS men and officers to be stored in a chest at Wewelsburg Castle.

[4] The ring was designed by Karl Maria Wiligut, an Austrian occultist and SS-Brigadeführer with manufacturing provided by the Otto and Karolina Gahr Family Jewelry from Munich.

[5] Rings were made of 90% silver cast in two halves with the recipient's name inside, the date of presentation, and a facsimile of Himmler's signature, plus the abbreviations S Lb.