Korsun encirclement. (Cherkassy pocket)
After things in Bukrin went in nowhere, the SS
division "Viking" re-deployed some 70 kms on south and took part in the battle called
Korsun, which became known as "little Stalingrad on the Dnepr
river"
The name, because a strategic importance and situation itself
reminded a situation with 6th Army, which was surrounded and destroyed
at Stalingrad.
At this point German army has been forced off from Dnepr river
everywhere, except for a Korsun region and it formed some sort of a
bulge in the German line. Soviets launched attacks and closed a ring
around two German army corps. This battle was a complete disaster for a
Germans resulting in their surrender. The map shows the last
maneuver of SS "Viking". This division died in Korsun. I believe, three
dozen of Vikingers got out of encirclement. They returned to Berlin,
kept spirit of fighters and Hitler awarded them.
Speaking of SS awards. I don't know, which one
was the highest award, but I know which is the most valuable on a black
market this days.
It is “Death’s Head” silver SS ring, we call them a dead head rings.
Chances to find “Death’s Head” not big. Himmler himself awarded
SS soldiers with them and each ring was engraved on the inside of
the band with Himmlers signature and after one died the search group have
been deployed to find the soldier with rings, all death's heads should
be returned to Himmler. He eventually got back only 70% of rings that
were given, the rest 30% lost, many in WW2 trenches.
Gimmler kept SS rings in a Wewelsburg castle which was the
temple of SS order. He kept them in a special um that symbolized
connection between alive and dead. I also, read somewhere that Himmler
was doing some other mystical manipulations with those rings, but I
don't know what exactly and I doubt Himmler himself knew what he was
doing.
The ring on photo is not real, it just a copy. If I was lucky
with finding a real SS “Death’s Head” ring, then you wouldn't see me
riding scooturo on the trenches, I'd already ride a new ninja bike on
highway. Collectors pay a big bucks for original rings
I have got a copy, because I don't want to miss a real ring when I find it. 
also, I spared a bottle of wine to celebrate it.
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