![Title: German Red Cross (Deutsches Rotes Kreuz - SS) Silver Filigree Bowl Lebensborn](http://davids-antiques.com/cdn/shop/files/PhotoRoom-20231019_090528_1_700x700.png?v=1697720850)
Title: German Red Cross (Deutsches Rotes Kreuz - SS) Silver Filigree Bowl Lebensborn
Title: German Red Cross (Deutsches Rotes Kreuz - SS) Silver Filigree Bowl
Description: A remarkable piece of wartime memorabilia, this intricately crafted silver filigree bowl carries the emblem of the German Red Cross (Deutsches Rotes Kreuz) associated with the SS. With a generous 9.5" diameter and a depth of 2", the bowl represents a period of tumultuous history and the roles various organizations played within Nazi Germany.
Product Details:
- Material: Silver (filigree)
- Dimensions: 9.5" Diameter, 2" High
- Features: German Red Cross (Deutsches Rotes Kreuz - SS) emblem
- Condition: [You can describe its condition, e.g., "Well-preserved" or "Shows signs of age and wear"]
Brief History of the Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (SS) & Lebensborn:
The Deutsches Rotes Kreuz, or the German Red Cross, was originally founded in 1864, modeled after the International Red Cross. During the Nazi era, the organization underwent significant changes, becoming closely aligned with the Nazi Party. By 1938, it was under the control of the SS and its leader, Heinrich Himmler.
One of the most notorious aspects tied to the German Red Cross during this period was its association with Lebensborn. Lebensborn, meaning "Fount of Life," was a state-supported, SS-initiated association established to increase the Aryan birthrate. This was done through a range of measures, including supporting racially pure women to bear children and the kidnapping of children deemed racially valuable from occupied territories for adoption by German families.
The connection between the German Red Cross and Lebensborn is controversial. While the Red Cross itself was primarily involved in medical and humanitarian endeavors, its affiliation with the SS and the broader machinery of the Nazi state means it was inevitably entangled in some of the regime's more sinister operations, including Lebensborn.