BACKGROUND: In 1919 the Weimar government introduced a new flag for the Minister of National Defence consisting of three parallel horizontal bars in the national colors of black, gold, red with a white bordered black Iron Cross to the center. Shortly after Hitler became Chancellor he altered the Minister of National Defence flag, in March 1933, by making it square instead of rectangular and changed the national colors to black, white, red. This flag was utilized until July 1935 when the first pattern Third Reich flag was introduced. This first pattern flag followed the pattern of the previous flags with the addition of Wehrmacht style national eagles to each corner. In October 1935 the flag was altered yet again and took the form of the soon to be introduced War flag. This flag was considered to be the second pattern.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Loosely woven, dual sided, roughly 100cm square, printed cotton flag. Flag features a black and white striped outer border encompassing a red base field with a white/black/white/black bordered white disc with black/white bordered black swastika to centre. Black vertical and horizontal bars emanate from the central disk with the white/black/white borders. The upper left and lower right corners feature a white/black/white bordered black Iron Cross, and the upper right and lower left corners feature a white bordered black Wehrmacht style national eagle. White cotton bunting intact to hoist edge and has black inkstamped designation and size, "Standarte Reichskriegsministers 100 x 100". Bunting also appears to have a red inkstamped "eagle over M", indicating Kriegsmarine usage. Well worn and used example. On February 4TH 1938 Generalfeldmarschall Werner von Blomberg, Minister of War and Commander-in-Chief of the Wehrmacht was forced to resign during a scandal and Hitler assumed Supreme Command of the Armed Forces, at that time the Minister of War and Commander-in-Chief of the Wehrmacht flag was retired and replaced with Hitler’s personal flag the Führerstandarte. Scarce command flag.