Germany 3rd Reich, Mannerchor Minfeld Choral Society, GI Capture with unit signatures.
This is not a military or a national flag, but rather the flag of men's singing group formed in Minfeld, Pfalz in 1934. Minefeld was taken by element of the 14th Armored Division, "The Liberators" in the spring of 1945. In Germany, during the Third Reich (1933 to 1945), wide use was made of flags, and the swastika became the ubiquitous symbol of this era and flags bearing its symbol permeated every facet of public life. Flags were plentiful in a vanquished Germany and this exquisite example was taken as a war trophy by 16 of the GIs who liberated the town took the time to inscribe this banner with their names and hometowns.
Little is known about the history of this German Mens Choir Flag. It is not a military flag, but rather is apparently that of a men's singing group formed in Pfalz in 1934 before World War II. It is autographed by sixteen GIs, presumably the soldiers who captured or seized this flag.
Bob Workman, Wilm., Dela.
Wm R. Craig, Buffalo, N.Y.
E.J .Paiz, San Antonio, Tex
V .Hagenstad, Montevedeo,Minnesota
Warren Lash, Brooklyn, NYC, NY
Vergil McGargell, Orasngeville, PA "Schnapps"
"Moe" Holtmeyer, Washington, MO.
JFS Fellner, Devenport, IA
Tomie Gage, Brawley, Calif
Frank Fahrig, West Alton, MO.
Joe Lopez, Stafford, Texas
Chuch Pezzuto, Chicago, ILL.
Joe Chancellor, Dallas, Texas
E.G. Cook, Sneath, MO.
Raymond Fadel, Niagars Falls,New York
"Joe" Hegenbart, Souix City, Iowa
This flag is a GI bring-back
From the Louise Veninga Collection.
ZFC Significant Flag
Sources:
Männerchor (Mens Chior), Wikipedia, 15 November 2011, from: http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%25C3%25A4nnerchor&ei=5WHETrT3JeOOiAKr7IW7BQ&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CD4Q7gEwAg&prev=/search%3Fq%3DMannerchor%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3Dd3W%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D857%26prmd%3Dimvns
War Trophy, Wikipedia, 15 November 2011, from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_trophy
Third Reich 1933-1945 (German), Flags of the World, 15 November 2011, from: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/de193345.html
Minfeld, Wikipedia, 15 November 2011, from:
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minfeld&ei=HWXETpXnLIqRiQK93rTQBQ&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCsQ7gEwAQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3DMinfeld,%2BPfalz%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3DcbC%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26prmd%3Dimvns
Rhineland-Palatinate, Wikipedia, 15 November 2011, from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhineland-Palatinate
Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection
