BACKGROUND: Following an age old military tradition the German armed forces of the Third Reich utilized a wide variety of identifying flags and pennants including assorted command flags and pennants and a variety of semaphore and victory pennants that were introduced through-out the war. The War Merit Pennant was originally established on May 16^TH 1941 with the regulatory orders being issued on July 24^TH 1941. The War Merit Pennant was introduced for award to captains of any Kriegsmarine vessels which were not permitted to fly the National war flag, (merchant, sailing, vessels etc.), for acknowledgment of outstanding merit in the conduct of the war. The introductory regulations were enacted by Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine und Großadmiral, (Commander in Chief of the Navy and Grand Admiral), Erich Raeder and the official description, dimension and bestowal regulations of the pennant was released on a Reichsgesetzblatt, (National Regulations Sheet), on August 12^TH 1941. When bestowed the War Merit Pennant was accompanied by an official award document.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The document consists of three, roughly, 11 5/8" x 8 1/4", dual-sided, light weight paper sheets with black printed Gothic script. The script includes the heading, "Reichsgesetzblatt", (National Regulations Sheet), with the date, "12. August 1941", followed by, "Ausführungsbestimmungen zur Verordnung über den Kriegsverdienstwimpels", (Defined description regarding regulations of the War Merit Pennant). The script continues with eight, numbered regulations describing the award eligibility, criteria and exact dimensions of the pennant. One page is an example of the official award document while another is a full color example of the pennant with dimensions. Interestingly the final page of the document is related to administrative regulations regarding the State Forestry Service. All three documents have dual holes punched in the left hand edge for inclusion in a binder. The documents are in overall good condition with light age yellowing.

GRADE ***3/4                             PRICE $90.00