Rare German Priest SS Crucifix

German military priest pectoral crucifix cross, made of wood painted black and a silver toned metal. This cross features above the skull and crossed bones the "SS" symbol for the German paramilitary organization under Himmler. 2-½"x5-¼". Fine condition. The SS (Schutzstaffel) was an elite Nazi organization founded as a bodyguard unit for Adolf Hitler and later expanded under the leadership of Heinrich Himmler into one of the most powerful institutions in Nazi Germany. The SS included the Waffen-SS, which served as a combat force alongside the German Army during World War II, as well as units responsible for intelligence, internal security, concentration camps, and the enforcement of Nazi racial policies. Its members were selected for their loyalty to the Nazi regime and played a major role in both military operations and the persecution of civilians. After the war, the SS was declared a criminal organization at the Nuremberg Trials because of its involvement in war crimes and crimes against humanity.