Description
SS HIAG Minden Holz Truhe / wooden chest.
This is a wooden chest of the HIAG group in Minden. It has an incredible background story and is a unique piece of history.
The HIAG [Hilfsgemeinschaft auf Gegenseitigkeit der Angehörigen der ehemaligen Waffen-SS] literally translates as “a Mutual Aid Association of Former Waffen-SS Members”. This was a lobby group and a denialist veterans’ organisation founded by former high-ranking Waffen-SS personnel in West Germany in 1951. Its main objective was to achieve legal, economic, and historical rehabilitation of the Waffen-SS.
Much more on the HIAG organisation can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIAG
Historically seen this is one of those items that is directly connected to wartime history. To this day, many people and historians wonder what happend after may 1945 with the former german army’s and soldiers. An uneasy, but also somewhat logic explanaition is that postwar many former soldiers regularly gathered and got together. This continued for decades for as long as these veterns lived. Dutchmilitaria is not, and does not want to be, a political platform and let history be exactly that: HISTORY! As such this chest is also history and without condoning or condeming anything or anyone, we look at this item for what it is: an incredible piece of history.
Now, for the background: The HIAG came into being in 1951 and the Minden HIAG group was an early and immediatly very active group, which had among it’s veteran members many well known names like Sepp Dietrich, Erich Kempka, Willi Casselmann, et cetera. One of those members was Hans Schade, from who’s estate this chest is originating. Collectors knowledge and consensus tells the chest most probably originates from the formative years of the HIAG group in minden, being the 1950’s. It was an early piece that was ceremonialy used at “Treffens” [meetings] and was there used as a sort of “Spendenkiste” [donation box]. Over time the symbolic value of the chest grew and it became an important piece that was always present at the meetings. After several decaded the importance of the chest grew when veterans died and the names of the deceased where added to the chest. Mainly from the 1970’s onwards names were added. Oral collectors knowledge tells how former member of the SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, SS-Sturmmann Hans Schade was the maker and caretaker of the chest. People who first hand knew Hans Schade have confirmed this background. As such also one of it’s inscriptions shine’s a light on it’s importance:
“Die Truhe muss Wandern von Kärnten nach Flandern” [The chest has to travel from Carinthia to Flanders].
Former LSSAH SS-Sturmmann Hans Schade was a very active member of the HIAG. The chest went missing when Schade got older and in line with the saying above travelled and as such ended in “safe” hands of other former LSSAH members. As such it went “underground” and had been missing for years untill it was rediscovered in Argentina somewhere in the 21st century. No doubt in the hands of another LSSAH member that after World War 2 fled to Argentina. The son of Hans Schade had tracked the chest down via his fathers former networks and personally arranged for its return after his father’s death in 2007. The background of this story can be read on the following german collectorsforum, where also many pictures of the chest can be seen: https://www.militaria-fundforum.de/forum/thread/1035681-hiag-minden-holz-truhe-dietriech-kempka-einmalige-sache/
The wooden chest itself then. It is made of oak wood and contains a lock and key for closing/opening, and is on the inside and outside decorated with symbolism. Immediatly vivible ont he front is the following saying:
„Leuchtende Tage. Weine nicht daß sie vorüber, sondern lächle daß sie gewesen“ [Radiant days. Do not weep that they are over, but smile that they happened]. Directly under there is visible and flanked b two Sig-runes: “Von der HIAG Minden” [of the HIAG Minden].
Running all around the lid is a Strophe of the famous Hans Baumann song: “Haltet eurer Herzen Feuer” [Keep the fire of your hearts]:
“Haltet eurer Herzen Feuer
Heilig über alle Zeit,
Künden muß es, daß ihr treuer
Als die hellsten Sterne seid”
[Keep the fire of your hearts
Sacred for all time;
It must proclaim that you are truer
Than the brightest stars].
This verse is throughout and all around adorned with runes.
On top of the lid are three with mother of pearl luxuary inlayed weapons visible, these are:
1 on the left the weapon of Flanders, which held through its wartime collaboration veterans during and after the war a strong connection to German veterans organisations.
2 Central the (City) weapon of Minden
3 on the right the weapon of Württemberg
The chest is made of oak and very heavy. It’s size is a considerable 56 x 38 x 30 centimeters. The chest is robust and heavy made. The lid is held with two firm hinges and there is a lock with key (the lock needs some work but works once you learn how to use it). On the left and right side there are two metal handles.
The inside then: as written above the chest held from the early HIAG Minden days a symbolic function. from approximately the mid 1070’s onwards, the first veterans started passing away. Their names where as a sign of respect added to the chest. Among these names are many historically important persons like e.g. SS-Oberstgruppenführer Josef “Sepp” Dietrich, Hitlers personal chauffeur Erich kempka and many other former LSSAH/SS members. The list is too long to name themm all here, but im sure the photo’s (and names!) speak for themselves.
Of particular importance are two other details on the inside of the chest:
1 One of the first names that was added to the chest was that of Klaus Brandt. His name was added in the form of a small monument and has affixed a postwar (!!!) SS Buckle centre. This is in particular extremely rare. It was untill the discovery of this chest not known that post war “denazified” SS buckles were ever made.
2 there is a quite wel made Flanders shield dated 1952-1977 affixed.
Many of the added name plaques of deceased former SS member are decorated with life and death runs, or LSSAH “key” symbolism.
Also added to this chest are a few personal paperworks of Hans Schade, among these are:
– Hans Schade’s Schwerkriegsbeschädigtenausweis, with passphoto in SS uniform with LSSAH Slip-on shoulderboards
– Two passphoto’s of Schade in SS uniform
– Several Feldpostletters
– A few documents of other formed SS comrades that Schade kept
– Hans Schade’s Mitglieds-Ausweis f tge postwar Deutsche Reichs partei #25507
– A postcard of SS-Oberstgruppenführer Josef “Sepp” Dietrich
Overall this HIAG Minden wooded chest is an imporant piece of history that should belong in a museum and could be the centrepiece of an educational display. It gives an unique insight in the activities of former SS members in the postwar years, but has due to many conneceted wellknown names also many direct links to wartime history itself. It is a totally one of a kind item of great importance.
Please note: pick up in the Netherlands after appointment is prefered. It is also possible to pick it up at most of the big european militariashows. If ordered throught the website please ntoe i have to contect you the buyer afterwards for the exact shipmentcosts. I can not sent this heavy oakwood chest as a small international parcel.
