I had this dagger for quite some time now, and though they're not too "popular" in the collecting community, I still love it.
This is a very early vintage NPEA dagger with it's school inscription on the lower crossguard.
The crossguards are the nickel silver type and the scabbard was professionally repainted with the proper olive color. Everything else is all original and untouched.
This dagger is really interesting because of the fact that you can actually know which school this student graduated from.
"PL" stands for the famous Plon school Castle which was one of the first three NAPOLA school to open in 1933.
The Plon Castle, where the school was, still exist today and is situated in Northern Germany ( north of Hambourg ).
Prior to 1933, the Castle was used by military Cadets during the Weimar years. Today, it is still used as a school.

Close up.

Plon school marking and trademark.
The blade is mint.

Trademark.

NAPOLA motto.

Pat they dont get any better that that. A real Beauty.

Nice dagger Pat ,I don't think i would want it do to the painted scabbard If you would like send it to me and I'll think about it Will be waiting by the mail box but I'll not hold my breath for it to arrive.

Is that Albrects Dagger? hehe. After seeing that movie I want a NaPoLa dagger even more now I love the holbein design and the movie now got me interested in the history of NPEA also. That dagger is beautiful my friend, beautiful .

Beautiful dagger Pat - maybe some have less interest in these because they don't have the eagle and swas. Still a great one to have in a your collection. I'd love one in mine!

Regards
Russell

In all my years in this hobby, nothing has spiked more interest the Third Reich than these schools. Students were the cream of the crop, entrance was very limited to only the best. I know of at least three different period movies made in the schools: Oranienstein, Spandau and Schulforta.
The daggers are very interesting. The manner in which they were presented with an honor certificate, the numbering and the graduation terms, the different schools and their classes and the small number of students (no more than 4500 in 1939 and only 42 different schools total.
So much to learn and so little information.
Ron Weinand
Weinand Militaria

Ron,
That is great information and I know I should really purchase the book for a better insight, but it is always good to see this type of advanced history posted on the forum for members who do not have access. Personally, I had no idea that these schools were so limited and this type of knowledge can only spark more interest in a totally underated dagger, My congratulations to Pat for a great example .

Great dagger Pat.

They a pretty popular in my house.

These are one of my favorite's second to the SS 36 in the holbein series.

I have 3 , all Burgsmuller have yet to pick up an Eickhorn or a Max Weyersberg (I wont be holding my breath on that maker)

Does any one know a percentage breakdown of the makers/distributers marks ??

Ron Perhaps...??

As Ron stated, the NAPOLA was a fascinating organization and there is still much to be discovered on the subject. Sadly enought though, there's hardly any reference books on the subject.
A new book came out last year on the NAPOLA and I hope that it will eventually be translated in english. The book was written by two French scholars.
The book is really interesting because of the fact that many NAPOLA students, that are still alive today, were interviewed. It is fascinating to read their "thoughts" on when they were Hitler's students and today, how they see the world in XXIst century.
Indeed, there was only 42 NAPOLA schools within the Third Reich boundaries but there was also 3 other schools in occupied Belgium (Quatrecht school) and Holland (Valkenburg and Heijthmijsen school). We have to remember that both of these countries also had very large Waffen SS divisions and were very active on the Eastern front.

Here's a neat picture of 3 brothers that attended the Koslin NPEA school in Prussia ( Poland today ). On the picture you can see two "Jungmannen" and a "Jungvolk" in the middle.

Here's the school Director ( Lothar Dankleff ) that was also an SS Officer.
The Napola schools were never really controlled by the SS, though Himmler tried very hard, but many of their administrators were in the SS.
Actually, it is intersting to read that most NAPOLA students never joined the SS and many went to the Luftwaffe. These were the Elite of Germany's youth and were actively recruited by the different Their Reich military organization ( Army, Marine, Luft and SS ).

The NAPOLA students that were interviewed in the book, all came from the Koslin school. The school was in Prussia but is today in Polish territory and was completely destroyed after the war. Here's a picture of how the school looked like in 1940.
The Koslin students have a yearly "get together" reunion in Plon (Germany) and more than 50 of them are still alive and those, were the one interviewed in the book.
Just fascinating !

Pat,

Absolutely beautiful dagger. The condition is stunning and although I usually eschew repainted scabbards, this one might make me rethink that position. I don't have an NPEA but it's up there on the list of things to do (or get) in 2006. Thanks for sharing your pics and the book info.

Billy,

Thanks for the good words and wish you all the best in finding that fine NAPOLA dagger.

Very nice dagger Pat, I'd be quite happy to have that in my collection.

Great thread! Makes me want to know more about the NPEA.

Stephane

AAAhh, whats all this razzmatazz about a buncha young punks. I'd just give 'em a potato peeler and a kick in the butt.

Pat: Very, very nice dagger.