UBB.threads Forums Uniform & Accessories The Honor Ring Forum Criteria for awarding of the SS-HR to Army Officers?

I was just browsing through Craig Gottliebs site and noticed he had an SS-HR attributed to Diddo Diddens.I thought that was unusual since he was an Officer of the German Army.This may not be unusual at all...however I do not collect SS-HRs and have only a limited knowledge of these pieces.So what would be the criteria for the award to go to an Army officer?Dual membership in the Heer and SS?Was the awarding simply at Himmlers whim as to who could get the ring?Diddens is not listed as RKT of the SS.I was however familiar with Diddens as an RKT of the Grossdeutschland Div.I did a quick reference to Diddens in the book "God,Honor,Fatherland"A photo History of Panzergrenadier Division "Grossdeutschland" On the Eastern Front 1942-1944"and found no mention of SS membership in the brief bio of Diddens on pg 193.Not that it should or would mention it....I was just curious.Anyway....in the photo of Diddens on that page(193)he appears to be wearing the ring!

Who got the ring?

The first 10,000 SS members.

Also officers who joined the SS before Jan.1933,,after that date they had to do 3 years of continuous service.

SS members who held the Gold Party Badge were eligible..

SS members who had service time to other organizations before their SS service had their own criteria...

The first 500 SS volunteers from Netherlands if they received a combat award at the front.

Himmler reserved the right to give the ring to any holders of the Knights Cross and pretty sure the German cross and Coburg Badge also.......

Key thing here is 'SS' ! . I'm not familiar with this officers case..It could be he at one time joined the Allgemeine SS or is a SS reserve or was at sometime made a honorary SS member...It was not uncommon,,so he could have been a Heer officer and still retained some sort of SS membership and get a ring...
Could you post a scan of the photo you mention? , thanks , G.

*

I have found no info on Diddens as far as membership in the SS, however I believe Craig mentions in his description of the piece something about Diddens SS membership.I have found no other information or documentation in regards to Diddens SS membership.I would post the pic I refered to on pg.193 "God,Honor,Faterland"but I do not have a scanner.Perhaps someone else has the book and will post the pic.As I said before I do not collect SS-HRs however it is clear even to me he is wearing an SS-HR on the ring finger of his left hand and his wedding ring on the ring finger of his right hand.

Diddens was an NCO in the Allgemeine SS, and like most early Allgemeine SS members, never lost his membership when he entered the Army. When he received his Knights Cross, the SS promoted him to Unterstumfuhrer D.R. This is documented in his records When he was awarded the RK, the SS awarded him, among other accolades, the SS TK Ring. This is in keeping with one of the award criteria that was documented in regulations . . . the winning of the Knight's Cross by an SS member. Sure, Diddens was primarily an Army Officer, and probably never wore the SS Uniform after he entered service in the Army. However, it was an interesting discovery that he was in the SS. I have a complete copy of his SS Records, obtained from College Park. Incidentally, would you mind posting a high-quality image of the ring in wear? I would be VERY happy to see this. I would very much like to have it for the ring file, and also for my recent study of rings.

Craig,I will see if I can make you a copy.I cant post a scan here though as I do not have the scanning capabilities.

Some basic information Diddens; the Allgemeine-SS data comes from his SS-Personalakte.

Best wishes,
~ Mike Miller


Diddo Siebels Diddens
Hauptmann d. R. /
SS-Untersturmf�hrer


* 22.04.1917 in Bunderhammrich / Kreis Leer / Ostfriesland.
+ 27.09.1997.

NSDAP-Nr.: [Not a member]
SS-Nr.: 391 202 (Joined 05.11.1938)

Promotions:
00.00.193_ HJ-Gefolgschaftsf�hrer
01.01.1940 Gefreiter
01.03.1940 Unteroffizier
08.08.1940 Wachtmeister
16.11.1940 Leutnant d. R (mit Wirkung & RDA vom 01.09.1940)
15.05.1942 SS-Untersturmf�hrer
20.05.1942 Oberleutnant d. R. (mit Wirkung & RDA vom 01.10.1941; on 30.05.1942, granted new RDA vom
01.08.1941)
31.07.1944 Hauptmann d. R. (mit Wirkung & RDA vom 01.08.1944)

Decorations & Awards:
15.06.1944 Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (501.) as Oberleutnant d. R. and Chef 1.Batterie
/ Sturmgesch�tz-Brigade �Gro�deutschland� / Panzer-Grenadier-Division �Grossdeutschland� / LVII.Armee-Korps / Armee-Gruppe W�hler, Eastern Front
18.03.1942 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes as Leutnant d. R. and Fhr. of II.Zug / 2.Batterie / Sturmgesch�tz-Abteilung 185 / Infanterie-Regiment 43 / 1.Infanterie-Division / XXXVIII.Armee-Korps / 18.Armee / Heeresgruppe Nord, Eastern Front
02.10.1941 1939 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse
19.08.1941 1939 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse
17.12.1944 Verwundetenabzeichen, 1939 in Gold
23.06.1944 Verwundetenabzeichen, 1939 in Silber
18.06.1942 Verwundetenabzeichen, 1939 in Schwarz
00.00.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42"
27.04.1944 Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht
00.00.194_ Totenkopfring der SS
00.00.19__ Ehrenwinkel f�r alte K�mpfer

CRAIG,WHO IS COLLEGE PARK FOR SS RECORDS.MAYBE I CAN GET MORE INFO ON MY SS GUY.THANKS

CRAIG,WHO IS COLLAGE PARK FOR SS RECORDS?MAYBE I CAN GET MORE INFO ON MY GUY?