BACKGROUND: The first modern German war flag was introduced by Kaiser Wilhelm I in July 1867. The war flag went through a number of minor modifications through the years until it reached its final design format in September 1903. The 1903 version of the Kaiserliche Kriegsflagge, (Imperial War Flag), was utilized until it was abolished, on September 27^TH 1919, after Germany’s defeat in WWI. On April 11^TH 1921 a new national war flag was introduced that utilized Hohenzollern Empire tri-colors of black, white and red, with the Weimar era, (Circa 1919-1933), national tri-colors of black, red, and gold inserted into the canton, (upper left corner), with a black Iron Cross to the center. In March 1933, shortly after Hitler gained power, he abolished the Weimar era canton insert on the national war flag. The 1933 pattern national war flag was utilized until November 7^TH 1935 when Hitler introduced a new, totally redesigned, national war flag that incorporated the NSDAP’s, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party), swastika emblem. Of Note: The 1935 pattern national war flag was utilized until late 1937 or early 1938, when a slightly modified second pattern flag was introduced. The national war flag was flown on all Kriegsmarine, (Navy), warships, Luftwaffe, (Air Force), airfields and all buildings owned by the Wehrmacht, (Armed Forces). The flag was also to be hoisted daily at all occupied barracks and was also utilized at victory parades and special events along with the standard, national, swastika flag.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 36 1/2" tall, 66 1/2" long, second pattern, (Circa 1937/38-1945), single piece, dual sided, printed, cotton construction flag features a red base field with a central, white/black/white/black bordered, white disk with a black and white bordered, black, canted, swastika to the center. The flag has black vertical and horizontal bars emanating from the central disk with white/black/white borders. The canton features a white/black/white bordered, black Iron Cross. The fly edge of the flag has a dual-ply hem and eight, parallel rows of reinforcement stitching while the top and bottom edges have six, parallel, rows of reinforcement stitching and the hoist edge has a small, dual-ply, rectangular, reinforcement panel to each corner. The hoist edge is trimmed in white, tunnel looped, cotton bunting for the suspension rope. The suspension rope is absent. The bunting is well marked with the black inkstamped designation abbreviation, "Kr.Fl.", indicating, Kriegs Flagge, (War Flag), the dimensions in centimeters, "100 x 170" and the faint manufacturer’s name and location that appears to be, "Textildruck Arlt Inh. Oskar & Kurt Arlt Schonhalde/Engeb.". The flag is in overall excellent condition with minimal age and usage toning.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $548.00