Flags of the Reich Association of German Hunters
The flags of the Reichsbund Deutsche Jägerschaft were the flags and pennants used by the unified organization of German hunters during the Nazi era .
The German hunters
The German hunters were not spared the goal of centralizing all private associations during the Nazi era. All civil-legal hunting associations were dissolved and brought under the control of the Reich Association of German Hunters, founded on July 3, 1934. As elsewhere during this period, the hunters' body founded as a public corporation was organized according to the leader principle . The so-called Reichsjägermeister in the person of Hermann Göring was at the helm . In descending order of the hierarchy, state, district and district hunter masters were introduced. The Reichsbund Deutsche Jägerschaft was dissolved on October 12, 1945.
Flags of the German hunters
The deer antler symbol traditionally used by the General German Hunting Protection Association as a hunting trophy continued to be shown by the German hunters. After the National Socialists came to power in 1933, it was nazified by adding a swastika . In the early years there were no precise provisions on the appearance of symbols or flags of the hunters. Therefore these were designed quite freely and there were numerous variations. Hermann Göring, as Reichsjägermeister , laid down the flags of the German hunters' association in November 1937. Legalized flags and pennants were thus also granted to this organization. Thus, in particular, the people of the hunters in motor vehicles should be directly identifiable. All flags were made of reseda green cloth and carried the badge of the German Hunters' Association. This was colored light gray, had black contours, with the underlying band being held in a darker gray. The swastika and the letters "DJ" were filled in black. Members of the top management showed a stylistically modified badge without the letters "DJ". This was kept entirely gold. Although flags and pennants had been set by law since 1937, there were apparently numerous fancy flags even after that time. So one did not adhere to the described colors of the badge, the pennant or flag edges or the stylistic design of the trophy. This fact is even pointed out in the Uniforms Market of 1942, in which it is stated that there are numerous own creations of flags and pennants, although the official regulations remain valid. Apparently, however, no official measures were taken to force standardization.
Official motor vehicle flags since 1937
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1 = Reichsjägermeister, 25 × 25 cm, surrounded by an approximately 1.5 cm wide, gold-colored border. Gold-colored inscription in fracture: "Der Reichsjägermeister"
2 = staff of the Reichsjägermeister, pennant 20 × 30 cm, surrounded by a 1 cm wide, gold-colored border. Gold-colored, two-line inscription in Fraktur: “Stab Reichsjägermeister”
3 = members of the Reichsjagdrats , 20 × 33.5 cm, bordered on three sides by a 4 mm wide gold-colored cord
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4th
1 = Landesjägermeister, 20 × 33.5 cm, bordered on three sides with a 4 mm wide aluminum-colored cord, 5 mm away from the outer edge, a 10 mm wide aluminum-colored border, attached on four sides
2 = Gaujägermeister, pennant 20 × 30 cm, along the long sides a 4 mm wide aluminum-colored cord, 5 mm away from the outer edge, a 10 mm wide, aluminum-colored border, attached on three sides.
3 = Kreisjägermeister, pennants like Gaujägermeister, but without the 10 mm wide border
4 = Members of the German Hunters Association , pennants like Kreisjägermeister, but without the 4 mm wide aluminum-colored cord.
Unofficial flags (examples)
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1 = stand of a Gaujägermeister (after 1937). Although this position was officially only entitled to a pennant, stands were obviously also tolerated, and they were also provided with gold-colored symbols or inscriptions. Additional information, such as the naming of the district, could also be seen.
2 = pennant, (period of use unknown). The pennant, possibly also used by a Gaujägermeister, showed gold-colored borders or symbols, which officially only occurred with pennants on the staff of the Reichsjägermeister .
3 = hanging banner, (period of use unknown). The symbol of the German hunters is shown here in a simplified form, and the color of the ribbon or the swastika has been changed compared to the official version.
literature
- Andreas Herzfeld: The Rimann Collection of German Car Flags and Vehicle Stands , Volume 1, Berlin 2013, ISBN 978-3-935131-08-7