Dutch M1912 dress sword (wandelsabel) and handbook Dutch SS officer

Dutch M1912 dress sword (wandelsabel) and officer handbook belonging to a Dutch SS reserve officer.

This sword and KMA handbook (Handboek voor den Reserve-officier der Koninklijke Landmacht / Handbook for the Reserve Officer of the Royal Netherlands Army) belonged to Jan van Lith.

Van Lith was a reserve officer in the Royal Netherlands Army and later became a member of the Germaansche SS. He subsequently joined the Waffen-SS division "Das Reich" (3rd Company, Flak Detachment).

He was killed in action on November 28, 1941, near Nikolskoye south of Leningrad, holding the rank of SS-Untersturmführer. Van Lith was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class and the Infantry Assault Badge.

It is noteworthy that Van Lith served with the "Das Reich" division, whereas many Dutch volunteers served with the "Wiking" division or the SS-Freiwilligen-Legion Niederlande.