History

The Zollgrenzschutz (Customs Border Guards) has its roots in the Grenzaufsichtsdienst (Border Surveillance Service) established in 1919. Before the First World War, every German state managed its own border units, but in the Weimar Republic this was done at the national level for the first time. The Grenzaufsichtsdienst was a subdivision of the Reichsfinanzministerium (Ministry of Finance). It is not to be conflated with the Grenzpolizei (Border Police), a subdivision of the German Police.

Initially, the organisation was tasked with preventing smuggling and illegal border crossings. This changed when its members were deployed to most of the occupied territories during the war. Border guards saw action fighting enemy military troops, especially during the final war years, as well as partisans. They were also tasked with foiling espionage.

Under Third Reich rule, not much changed in the beginning. However, SS leader Heinrich Himmler, who took control of the German Police in 1936, also tried to be placed in charge of the border guards. His advances were warded off in 1937. At the same time, the term Zollgrenzschutz was first used, and sometimes Zollgrenzdienst (Customs Border Service) as well.

1937 also brought changes to the border guards’ uniforms, which were designed in a new style more akin to the uniforms of the army. Throughout the late 1930s, personnel numbers increased in preparation for the coming war. A need was felt to watch the neighbouring countries more closely.

In order to achieve readiness, especially in the case of an armed invasion, the VGAD (Verstärkter Grenzaufsichtsdienst, Reinforced Border Surveillance Service) was trained as an auxiliary border guard force. It was made up of conscripts that had received basic military training. They were called into action during the annexation of Austria, the Sudetenland, Memel, and Czechoslovakia. During the war, the VGAD became a permanent part of the Zollgrenzschutz to the point that both names were used interchangeably.

In July 1944, after the Stauffenberg assassination attempt, Himmler finally convinced Hitler to place the Zollgrenzschutz under his control, and it was merged with the border police.

The Zollgrenzschutz dagger was introduced in August of 1937. It was worn exclusively by those of Officer-equivalent ranks. Higher leaders were distinguished by the use of gold-coloured instead of silver-coloured metal fittings.

The dagger is similar in design to the dagger of the army. It measures 405mm. The crossguard features a Zollgrenzschutz eagle emblem with up-turned wingtips.
Initially, the metal fittings were made of silver-plated steel, but this was changed after just a short time to cast aluminum.

The handle was made of wood and is covered by dark green leather or imitation leather. An aluminum or, in rarer cases, copper wire fills the grooves of the handle.

The blade is of the same design and length as that of the army dagger.

Initially, the metal fittings of the scabbard were made of silver-plated steel, which was changed briefly to a nickel plating, and then to polished aluminum. The running edges of the scabbard fittings are diagonal. The scabbard is made of steel with a dark green leather or leather imitation cover.
The two upper scabbard fittings featured a swivel ring each onto which the dagger hanger was attached.

The dagger was worn with a silver-coloured portepee measuring 420mm.

The dagger used by members of the water customs subdivision of the Zollgrenzschutz is of the same design, but with dark blue leather coverings and gold-coloured hilt and scabbard fittings.

Due to the fact that this dagger was only worn by a very small number of officials deployed to ocean-going customs vessels, the Water Customs dagger is considered the rarest of all regulation daggers of the Third Reich period.