As it is well known "Brannik" was the military Nazi Hitler youth organization in Bulgaria. Established in 1941. This organization was the Bulgarian equivalent of the German HJ and was popular during King Boris III’s rule when the Royal Kingdom of Bulgaria was Nazi Germany pro orientated. Since the mid 30's Bulgaria was much involved on Germany’s side. Thus, when in 1941 the Germans needed the Bulgarian land to launch an attack in the Balkans, Kingdom Bulgaria officially joined the Dreimacht Pakt, signed it and became an official ally to Germany, Italy and Japan.
After the end of the war the communist regime in Bulgaria overthrew the Brannik organisation; its members were hunted by the police; all belongings and insignia related have been destroyed.
The set we offer is very rare for many reasons. Risking their life a family managed to preserve a precious memory by keeping the things belonged to brother and sister, members of Brannik.
In 1941 Georgi Georgiev become one of the first members of 43rd Brannik battalion in town of Dobritch. Later he rose to a “Leader, 3rd rank” and Banner-bearer of the city organisation. In 1944 his sister Penka Georgieva also joined the Brannik girls section. On the next year 1945, the organization was proclaimed. Georgi was persecuted. However he managed to hide the belongings we are now offering you:
1. No doubt the rarest item in this group is the BRANNIK KNIFE DAGGER. It is modeled on the dagger knifes employed by the German organisations popular in the 1930s - the form of our Bulgarian dagger is absolutely the same! There are two emissions of these knives. The first one made by Robert Klaas Solingen is smaller; the second one is bigger and heavier made in Bulgaria especially designed for Brannik leaders. This second model is rarer and more beautiful. Such is the dagger we got in this group: blade is 14,5 cm/ 5,7” long; the full length of the dagger is 25,5 cm/ 10”.
The dagger blade is perfect never sharpened, with stampings: on the one side is the logo of the Bulgarian dagger producer “Factor” factory - a deer and an edelweiss; on the other side is the motto of the organization: “Duty and Honor”, similar to the German organization motto: “Blood and Honor”. The grip is perfect too, made of black bakelite that is as rough as the German material. The logo of the organization “B” (Brannik) is placed in a shield. The scabbard is black and made of metal, originally black painted. The carrier is made of leather, there is a button for suspending the knife-dagger.
The dagger knife is in VERY RARE perfect authentic condition.
2. The dagger completes with thick black leather belt, part of the Brannik uniform. The belt buckle is large and heavy; it bears the Brannik sign - the letter “B” in a shield.
3. In 1942 Georgi Georgiev was nominated for banner bearer of the section. Three years after that the Brannik banners being symbols of the Nazism, have been destroyed by the communists in public. However Georgi hide and preserved the banner’s top. An extremely rare, unique antique.
The flag top is bronze made, features the symbol of Bulgarian royal army - the dressed lion, below whose paw is the red Brannik shield with the letter “B”. Height : 20,7 cm/ 8,2” (without the pike) Authentic condition ! We find such item for very first time!
4. The family archives keep also the Branik Identity card issued to Penka Georgieva with a picture of her. She entered member of the organisation on May 31st 1944. At that time Penka was 18th years old. Again very rare document, a real find!
At the end: two other interesting documents related to Brannik. These are two small books – first one: “A Handbook of the young Brannik” has many photographs showing the life of the organisation, and giving information on members, structure, and some propaganda as well. One of the books was issued in 1942 began with photo of King Boris III, the prime minister and the Brannik chief director. The other book starts with photo of the regents after the death of Boris III in 1943 and photo of the organisation’s leader at that time. Both books are in very good preserved condition. They are very rare to find as well.
This precious ensemble of Brannik related items is intended for advanced collectors of the German Junger Nazi organizations. This is part of the young men’s life, part of the history,
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