SS Totenkopf Ring, Original, dated 20.4.1936 – Franz Kemmetmüller
An exceptionally interesting and very early original SS Totenkopf ring, dated 20.4.1936 and engraved with the surname “Kemmetmüller”.
The ring belonged to Franz Kemmetmüller, born on 23 September 1912, SS-Nr. 46 212, NSDAP membership number 1 301 046. He later achieved the rank of SS-Hauptsturmführer der Waffen-SS.
During the 1930s, Kemmetmüller underwent training at SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz and served in the SS-Totenkopfverbände. In 1937, he appears among the officers of 2. SS-Totenkopfstandarte “Brandenburg”, associated with the Oranienburg area and the SS camp system.
With the beginning of the Second World War, his service continued in combat formations. By 1940, Kemmetmüller was serving with the SS-Totenkopf-Aufklärungs-Abteilung, the reconnaissance unit of the SS-Totenkopf-Division. During the French campaign, he served as an officer and was killed on 19 June 1940 in the Tarare area, France, at the age of only 27.
The ring itself is particularly interesting due to its very early date of 20 April 1936 and its direct association with a documented SS officer. The ring bears the surname “Kemmetmüller” and the date “20.4.1936”. There is no SS number engraved on the ring.
A highly interesting early original SS Totenkopf ring with a fully identified owner and a documented historical background, dating from the pre-war period of the SS.