Early Party Pennant from Germany 3rd Reich.
This is a small, cotton, tri-Color pennant superimposed with the Reichsadler (Reich Eagle) of the 3rd Reich stamped on the center stripe. After the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP) was elected to power, they reinstated the black, white and red of Imperial Germany in March of 1933, and flew it together with the flag of their party until versions of the NSDAP flag became the national flag in 1935. During this 19-month period, red, white and black flags, pennants and decorations were abundant in Nazi Germany. In keeping with German ingenuity and thrift, this pennant was altered and reused.
The angular wings of the eagle are similar to those used on the eagle of the German wehrmacht (armed forces) uniforms. This pennant was likely altered for unofficial military decorative purposes.
After WWII, this pennant was acquired by an American serviceman, brought back to the United States and gifted to the US Army Ranger Museum of New York City. Small flags like this were highly prized as war souvenirs.
Provenance: Acquired by purchase in Hamburg, Germany, in a flea market in 1976.
ZFC Important Flag
Sources:
Reichsadler, Wikipedia, 2 May 2012, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichsadler
Reichsadler, Third Reich in Ruins, 2 May 2012, from: http://www.thirdreichruins.com/reichsadler.htm
Third Reich 1933-1945 (Germany) flags used 11th march 1933 - 15th September 1935, Flags of the World, 2 May 2012, from: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/de1933.html
Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection
