I would like to answer this week’s assignment with an exploration of an antique military dagger that my parents own. I do not have access to it now, unfortunately, so I cannot provide any pictures. The dagger blade is about 8 or 9 inches long and resides within a sheath—both are a dark steely grey color. The sheath is decorative, which keeps with the overall theme of the object. Inscribed on the blade, near the base, is a name: Trota, if I remember correctly. The handle is royal looking, even sporting golden tassels, which, in a combat setting, would serve only to hinder the draw and wield, so it is likely that this dagger belonged to an officer—likely one high ranking and far enough removed from the melee environment to sacrifice some functionality in return for aesthetic appeal. On the center of the handle is an eagle symbol, wings outstretched, and beneath the eagle is a swastika. Did I forget to mention that it’s a Nazi dagger? Anyway, moving on.

The dagger was likely manufactured in Germany in the 1930’s or early 40’s, and would have been one of many issued to Nazi officers throughout the war. Also likely, is that the original owner of this particular dagger was, indeed, the man whose name is inscribed on the blade: the aforementioned Trota. The engraving does not look like one done by an amateur, so my guess is that it was done by supply command before it was issued to Trota. I know nothing of this man besides that he is a deceased Nazi officer; even though, as far as ownership goes, my parents are only twice removed from him. As far as I am aware, the dagger was taken from Germany by my grandfather at the end of the war: I do not know any nitty-gritty specifics, but I imagine it is more likely that the dagger was picked out from amongst other seized personal effects, than that it was taken directly by my grandfather from the late Trota.

Regardless, the dagger has been on quite a journey: It was born in a factory in Germany, furnished to the Nazis, hung on Trota’s hip, sat in on God knows how many events and secret meetings—and probably frequented many a Nazi officer’s club; it was then taken into American possession, stowed away in my grandfather’s Alice pack, shipped across the Atlantic, to then reside in my grandfather’s house for decade, after decade, after decade; and then, finally, was given to my parents. After all this time, the dagger – probably manufactured for a few reichsmark worth of materials – has accrued a value of approximately $1400. What was first designed, technically, to kill men, was likely never used for such purposes, instead decorating the belt of some Nazi officer; further, this same object witnessed the fall of – as Miller would say – the big beautiful fascist whole of which it was an infinitesimally minute part, then traveled thousands of miles across the world in the hands of its owner’s enemy, eventually winding up in a house in New York, only to be written about in a blog by someone its original owner would have happily used it to kill.