BACKGROUND: The DRK, "Deutsches Rotes Kreuz" (German Red Cross), a voluntary civil assistance organization originally instituted in 1864, was officially acknowledged by the Geneva Convention in 1929. In December 1937 it gained status as a legally recognized organization by the NSDAP. As with other essential services in Third Reich Germany, it came under control of the Nazi Party in late 1938 under the auspices of the Ministry of the Interior’s Social Welfare Organization.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: An alloy pennant, 13 3/4" across with a 10" tall hoist edge, to each of whose corners are riveted leather straps which are then wrapped around the interior bars of its enclosing, metal frame. To both sides of the pennant are printed, against a white background, the DRK emblem of a black eagle with down-swept wings and a white, mobile swastika to its breast, clutching a red Balkan cross in its talons. The white fields are bordered in grey, and then white, and then grey. Against the upper white border to one of its sides has been handwritten, in pencil, "1939 DRK Hauptf. H. Schmidt." The vertical portion of its enclosing frame has squared ends to both its top and bottom. Overall excellent condition.. very hard to find in nice untouched complete condition like this example. Nice!

GRADE ***3/4                             PRICE $868.00