BACKGROUND: On March 16TH 1936, one year to the day, after the reintroduction of conscription Adolf Hitler announced the revival of the Imperial German Army’s tradition of bestowing unit Standards, (Colors), as a symbol to perpetuate the lineage of the newly forming Wehrmacht with that of the Imperial German Army. Most of the new Standards were designed by the renown German artist Paul Casberg who incorporated many of the Imperial Standards emblems with the inclusion of the NSDAP’s swastika and the branch of service base coloration. The first Standards were bestowed by Generaloberst Hermann Göring to twelve Luftwaffe units on April 21ST 1936. On September 14TH 1936 at the Reichsparteitage, (National Party Day), held in Nürnberg the first army unit Standards were bestowed by Generaloberst und Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres Werner Freiherr von Fritsch to sixteen assorted army units. Further bestowal of unit Standards continued through-out the pre-war years but they were discontinued, with a few exceptions, after the outbreak of the war.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The Standard features a central, Wehrmacht style eagle with down swept wings facing the staff, (facing towards the enemy), encompassed by a circular oak-leaf wreath which is superimposed on a large Iron Cross. The central motif is flanked at all four corners by an embossed, canted swastika. Painted alloy/tin construction. Flag measures approximately 3.5cm x 4cm. Complete with its original 10.5cm metal flag pole.