Born in 1892 in what is now the Czech Republic, Arthur Seyss-Inquart studied law in Vienna, Austria and received a commission with the Tyrolean Kaiserjaegers during World War One, completing his doctoral work from a hospital bed in 1917. After the war, he established his law practice in Austria and started a political career; though he wouldn't join the Austrian National Socialists until 1938 he already had connections with the German Nazi Party, in particular with Heinrich Himmler. Serving as the Minister of the Interior, Seyss-Inquart became the Chancellor of Austria when his superior resigned under threat of invasion by Hitler, and a day later on March 12, 1938 sent the telegram inviting the German Army into Austria, officially triggering the Anschluss. Officially joining the Nazi Party, Seyss-Inquart would hold 4 major posts with the Nazis; first, governor of the newly-annexed "Ostmark", second, deputy to the Governor General of occupied Poland, third, Reichskommissar for the Netherlands, and finally the Foreign Minister of the post-Hitler government of Admiral Doenitz, a post he held for less than a month before surrendering to the Western Allies. Placed on trial at Nuremberg, he was declared innocent of the Conspiracy charge but found guilty for waging a war of aggression, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, and sentenced to death, which was carried out on October 16, 1946. Documentation included with the sword indicates that the sword, along with other artifacts, was secured from Seyss-Inquart's former residence in Holland by members of A Company, 1st Battalion of the Canadian Scottish Regiment, particularly one Private Eugene Dubreuil, a Saskatchewan man who came over to Continental Europe during the Normandy Invasion, was awarded the France and Germany Star and the Defense Medal, and returned to Canada with this sword, Seyss-Inquart's cap, and a young war bride he met on the Isle of Wight. The Diplomatic Sword is one of the signature sidearms of the National Socialist Diplomatic Corps, which was responsible for both conventional diplomats and administrators of occupied territory. A semi-custom item that would be made to the specifications of the purchaser, this particular sword measures 36 inches overall, with a 31 inch straight single fuller blade, decorated on each side with a 13 1/4 inch panel of etched scrollwork and bearing the Alcoso logo on the left ricasso. The hilt is finished in silver, with a left-facing Diplomatic Corps Nazi eagle on the obverse side of the guard, a horizontally grooved ferrule above the smooth mother of pearl grip panels, stylized borderlines on the grip and the knuckleguard, and a sharply angular Diplomatic Corps-style eagle on the pommel. With a golden portapee and matching solid acorn hanging from the guard and a black leather sheath, outfitted with a silver finished throat, tip, and oak leaf engraved frog stud.

Extremely fine, with a superb original patina on the silver components showing only light handling, and 98% plus original polish on the excellent blade with sharply executed etching. The portapee shows a bit of darkening appropriate to age, but is solid with no visible fraying. The leather of the sheath shows minor cracking and fading appropriate to use and wear, and the silver is a fine match in color to the hilt. A top-rank example of the National Socialist Diplomatic Sword, with physical condition, historical connections and provenance that would be difficult to beat.