Troop flag (Wehrmacht)
The troop flags of the Wehrmacht were the standard donated to the associations of the German Wehrmacht from 1936 . Its introduction meant a revival of the tradition of German troop flags after the First World War , after the Reichswehr no longer carried its own troop flags. Basically only battalions and independent units (companies etc.) carried their own flags .
Emergence
During the time of National Socialism , the troop flags and standards of the German Empire still used by many troop units were abolished. After the swastika flag was established as the only valid national flag with the Reichsflaggengesetz of September 15, 1935 , a decree of March 16, 1936 ordered the reintroduction of newly created troop flags. Most of these troop flags were officially handed over in 1936 and 1937 and it can be assumed that all existing units had been equipped with appropriate flags by the start of the war in 1939.
No new troop flags were distributed to the units during the Second World War . Just a few individual associations, such as B. the so-called Führer Accompanying Battalion received the flags after September 1, 1939, because these units had been "set up" before the outbreak of war.
It was intended that after a victorious end of the war, special regulations would be issued, which should contain precise regulations on the troop flags of the military units. Up to this point, however, it was ordered that each unit had to keep its originally assigned troop flag until the end of the war, regardless of whether units were disbanded and reassigned to others or new ones were set up. This was true even if the unit switched from the army to the air force .
Flag parade
On January 1, 1937, the Army High Command issued a regulation regulating the display and parading of troop flags and standards. After that, this was only allowed on certain events.
1. Unrolled flags and standards were to be presented on the following occasions:
- a) For honorary parades, such as on the birthday of the Führer and Commander-in-Chief of the Wehrmacht, provided that troops of at least battalion strength or a strength of at least 3 platoons with weapons took part in this event.
- b) With companies of honor or honorary platoons that were called up for the Führer.
- c) With honor batteries for the Führer, if they took part in a march past.
- d) The oath of oath of new recruits
- e) For solemn events, special inspections, ceremonial appointments, etc., if troops of at least battalion strength or a strength of at least 3 platoons with arms participated.
- f) At funeral ceremonies, if troops at least in battalion strength or in a strength of at least 3 platoons with weapons participated.
2. Troop units that marched to or from their training camp had to transport the flags and standards rolled up and in their protective cover.
3. It was forbidden to present flags and standards on the following occasions:
- a) During maneuvers in the field
- b) For general maneuvers by the Wehrmacht, however, with the following exception:
4. At a field parade after the maneuver has been completed. The flags and standards had to be brought into the maneuvering area on special orders and were only allowed to be unfurled during the parade. During the march back from the maneuvering area, all flags and standards had to be rolled up and transported protected, provided they were completely dry.
The same rules applied to the display of flags from land-based naval associations and schools with the following exceptions:
1. Point 1.c) was omitted
2. When new recruits took oath of oath, naval troops had to be present at least in battalion strength or in a strength of at least 3 platoons in arms.
3. The presentation of unfurled flags also took place at special ceremonial events of the Navy, such as the launching of warships.
Flag detachments
In practice, troop flags and standards were carried by a non-commissioned officer who was accompanied by two officers from the lower ranks . The smallest possible flag command consisted of three soldiers, a flag or standard bearer and two flag or standard officers. Even flags that were carried in large numbers in a row or in a block were generally only accompanied by two officers.
Cavalry units proceeded in the same way , except that in this case the soldiers rode on horseback.
Standard bearers from motorized units, on the other hand, sat next to the driver in the front seat, while the officers accompanying them sat in the back seat of the open vehicle.
Associations of the armored forces were allowed to fix their standards on the vehicles in the entry tower. As far as spatially possible, a total of three armored vehicles were lined up in a row, the middle one carrying the standard with the standard bearer and the two outer ones carrying the officers accompanying them, all of whom were standing upright in the open tower hatch.
Flag days
During the “Third Reich”, flags were issued in the Wehrmacht on certain days. Altogether there were ten events at which either the Reich war flag was hoisted or the parade of the troop flags was ordered or both procedures were ordered at the same time. In detail, this happened on the following days:
- On New Years Day , January 1st
- On the founding day of the Reich , January 18th
- On " National Survey Day ", January 30th
- On " Heroes' Remembrance Day ", the third Sunday in March (flags at half mast)
- On the birthday of the "Führer" on April 20th
- On " Air Force Day ", April 21st
- On “ National Labor Day ”, May 1st
- On " Navy Day ", May 31st
- On " Army Day ", August 29th
- On " Thanksgiving Day ", the first Sunday after Michaelmas Day (September 29th)
Oath ceremonies
The oath of the flag has a long tradition in German military history. The soldier's oath on the flag was the basis of an indissoluble connection with which he made himself available with his life to the respective leader of the state, whether king, emperor or prince. Until about the middle of the 17th century, it was a tradition for a newly formed military force to be “consecrated” by festively nailing the flag to the flagpole. In the opposite case, namely the disbandment of the troops, the flag was released from the pole and distributed among the soldiers who belonged to it, each taking a small piece of the cloth in possession. The flag bearer, however, received the specially decorated part of the flag tip. As long as the flag fluttered in the wind, however, the soldier belonged with body and life to the "warlord" on whom the oath of the flag was taken.
Even in more modern times, the oath of the flag was seen as a solemn event and was just as binding.
Before August 2, 1934, all soldiers in the armed forces in Germany took oath of flag on their state. When the incumbent Reich President , General Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg, died that day, Adolf Hitler took the opportunity to announce that the offices of Reich Chancellor and Reich President will be combined and exercised by himself with immediate effect. At the same time he also took over the function of commander in chief of the Wehrmacht. An oath of oath drafted by Hitler himself and tailored to his needs replaced the old wording, to which all members of the Wehrmacht were sworn in on the same day:
"I swear to God this holy oath that I will obey the leader of the German Reich and the people, Adolf Hitler, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, unconditionally and, as a brave soldier, I will be ready to give my life for this oath at any time."
This was the first time since the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II that members of the armed forces took their oath of allegiance to an individual.
A new recruit who joined the Wehrmacht took his oath in a special ceremony from August 1934. On this occasion, the unrolled troop flag was presented in the presence of the men and officers. As a rule, four new recruits came up to the troop flag in front of the soldiers who stood, placed their left hand on it and spoke the oath with a raised right hand . By order of the High Command of the Wehrmacht of February 28, 1944, which came into force on April 20, 1944, an amendment to the swearing-in regulations was ordered in the troops:
- (103. Swearing in) Amending contrary regulations it is determined: All soldiers of the army and the air force are to be sworn in on the Reich war flag , as in the navy . This must be affixed at the swearing-in in front of the middle of the troop to be sworn in. Troop flags / standards are not carried.
As a result, new recruits were no longer sworn in to their troop standards as they had been up to then, but their own weapon and the presence of the Imperial War flag were sufficient.
A further expansion of the use of the Reich war flag took place through an order issued by Adolf Hitler on August 28, 1944, that instead of the flags and standards of the individual troops that had been used up until then, only the Reich war flag was to be used: (1.) Instead of the troop flags and standards enters the imperial war flag in the future. This order was published on September 16, 1944. The flags and standards used before were brought to museums in Berlin, Dresden, Munich and Vienna. The reason for this arrangement can be assumed that conquering these flags should be avoided during the course of the fight. Another explanation could be the waning confidence that Hitler felt in the Wehrmacht. This would be particularly understandable given the impression of the attack on Hitler's person on July 20, 1944.
Manufacturing
The decision of 1936 to introduce new troop flags presented those responsible with considerable problems. No such flags have been produced since the beginning of World War I in 1914. The then well-known painter and illustrator Paul Casberg was commissioned to create the design for the new flags and standards. Casberg was faced with major problems when trying to get experienced and skilled workers to do the complicated, necessary embroidery work. Women who were still able to carry out such extensive work in 1914 could no longer be found in sufficient numbers in 1936. Knowledge of this craft was largely lost.
Casberg's first task was therefore to find the few experts in this field who, in turn, could train new staff. In order to optimize the durability of the flags and standards, it was unavoidable to embroider them on both sides with great effort. In practice, all elements were first sketched out on the cloth and then the silk flag cloth was stretched vertically on a wooden frame. The cloth was then worked on both sides by two embroiderers at the same time. The embroidery was meticulously worked from top to bottom. After completing a section, the flag was wrapped around a roll of flag in the upper part in order to keep the cloth constantly taut and thus avoid any distortion of the ornamentation.
Despite the introduction of new National Socialist symbols, the roots of many features of the new flags and standards stretched far back into German military history. Not only the size of the flag, but also the choice of colors was influenced by older models. The flagpole, the flag tip, the banderoles, the 74 nails to attach the flag to the pole and much more had their origins in historical models.
Gun colors
In contrast to the very differently manufactured flags and standards of earlier German armies, which were composed of many different emblems, colors and patterns, those of the “Third Reich” showed a relatively uniform basic pattern.
In order to be able to differentiate between the different branches of the army and also the air force, certain colors were chosen as means of distinction. These colors were used as the background color for the troop flags and corresponded to the respective " weapon colors ". This differentiation procedure had its roots in the First World War, was also continued in the Reichswehr and finally culminated in its very complex form within the Wehrmacht .
The German army had the following weapon colors, which were used on the respective troop flags and standards: white, carmine red, golden yellow, lemon yellow, bordeaux red, light blue, light green, black and old pink. The use of standards in the color meadow green and unlikely those in the color copper brown is not entirely certain.
- See also
The German Air Force distinguished among other things the weapon colors golden yellow, carmine red and golden brown.
- See also
Navy land units and naval schools did not distinguish between weapon colors. Your flags were generally made on medium blue cloth.
There were only a few exceptions to this system, such as the standard of the so-called “Führer Accompanying Battalion” and the flags of the “State Police Groups”, which were used by various army and paratrooper associations and by the “General Göring” regiment.
symbolism
Eagle
.svg)
The National Socialists continued the centuries-old tradition of the eagle as a German heraldic animal , but had it hold a wreath made of oak leaves in its claws , which contained the swastika - the party symbol of the NSDAP . This combination, consisting of an eagle and a swastika, formed the official state symbol of the “Third Reich”.
The shape of the eagle in the army and navy of the Wehrmacht ("Wehrmacht eagle") differed somewhat from the "party eagle" in that it was presented with lowered wings. The Luftwaffe, under the influence of its boss Hermann Göring, also used a modified form of the eagle that was supposed to combine traditional elements with those of the new political movement.
In one form or another, the eagle was shown on almost all military flags during the time of the “Third Reich”.
Iron Cross
From 1819 the Iron Cross was shown on various Prussian war and service flags. From 1867 it was placed in the war flag of the North German Confederation and in the imperial war flag of 1871. Its traditional use was continued first during the Weimar Republic and then during the "Third Reich" both as a military decoration and as a symbol on the flags and standards of the German Wehrmacht.
Swastika
The historically very old symbol of the swastika was chosen personally as the badge of National Socialism by Adolf Hitler . In connection with the eagle it can be found on almost all military flags and standards of the "Third Reich".
Oak leaves
The best-known property of oak is the hard wood that the trunk provides. Because of its ability to reach old age and its general strength, this tree traditionally symbolized positive properties that were particularly valued by armies. A wreath made of oak leaves represents strength and therefore it was used on all flags and standards of the "Third Reich". From an ideological point of view, the oak was also the sacred tree of the Teutons and the German national tree .
Laurel leaves
A laurel wreath was used as a sign of victory in ancient Greece . While the flags and standards of the army and navy only showed wreaths of oak leaves, the German Air Force also used laurel wreaths as symbols.
army
Non-motorized units of the pioneers , infantry and hunter and mountain troop units did not receive any standards, but flags made of a square silk cloth with a width of 125 cm on the sides. The standards for motorized units and cavalry units , on the other hand, had a length of 75 cm and a height of 51 cm and had a 25 cm deep, "V-shaped" cutout at the "flying end", the so-called " hussar cut ". Both flags and standards were "stitched through" so that the "mirrored" image of the front could be seen on the back.
What all troop flags and standards had in common was the design. The center of the scarf showed a brown "Wehrmacht eagle" sitting on an inverted swastika. This was set in a white field, which was surrounded by a silver-colored garland of oak leaves. This garland was underlaid by a black iron cross that filled almost the entire cloth. In each of the four outer corners of the cloth there was a swastika placed on its tip.
The troop flags or standards were decorated on three sides with a double-stitched border made of silver-colored aluminum threads. These had a width of 4.5 cm.
The three meter long flagpole was made of a piece of oak that was painted black and then polished. The top of the flag was crowned by a silver-colored "Wehrmacht eagle" emblem.
The length of the standard pole was 2.85 meters. This was decorated with silver-colored standard strips.
Below the top of the flag was a 172 cm long flag or standard banderole made of silver-colored, braided aluminum threads. This was 4.6 cm wide and bordered on both sides from the outside inwards in black, silver and red. At each end of the band there was a 18.2 cm long, silver-colored tassel. Above each of these tassels was a metal plaque on which a "Wehrmacht eagle" in relief, an oak leaf ornament and the date March 16, 1935 could be seen.
Flags
Battalion flags
- Battalion flags of non-motorized units (overview)
infantry
Hunter and mountain hunters
Pioneers
- Weapon colors of the flags
Army flags existed in three different weapon colors:
| Infantry units | White | |
| Hunter and mountain hunter associations | Medium green | |
| Pioneer associations | black |
Grenadier Regiment 134 flag
In the course of the "annexation" of Austria to the German Reich in March 1938, their armed forces were quickly integrated into the Wehrmacht. The Infantry Regiment No. 134 was allowed to use the so-called " Hoch- und Deutschmeister " flag, an old traditional flag of the Imperial Austrian Army , in addition to the usual white-grounded infantry flag . This flag was shown by the Hoch- und Deutschmeister-Regiment Nr. 4 since 1868. The flag used by Infantry Regiment No. 134 was based on this historical model. Only the color of the "edge of the flame" has been changed. In the old traditional flag, this consisted of triangles in the colors yellow, red, white and black.
The flag consisted of a rectangular golden yellow cloth, which showed the same pattern on both sides.
In the center of the flag was a double-headed eagle, the symbol of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. The edge of the flag was bordered on three sides with a 10 cm wide border. This consisted of a series of 69 alternating black-white-red colored flame-like triangles.
The flagpole, which was presumably made of oak, was colored along its entire length with diagonal and spiraling ribbons in the colors yellow, red, white and black. The tip of the flag consisted of a gold-colored, not further decorated spearhead.
Although the original imperial "Hoch- und Deutschmeister" flag had banderoles in light blue color, these were not used on the new flag.
Flag III. (Hunter) Battalion Infantry Regiment 92
In order to strengthen the traditionally good connections to the Finnish Army , it was decided on November 17, 1941 by the Army High Command that the III. Battalion of the 92nd Infantry Regiment from this point on the title III. (Jäger) battalion or Jäger battalion "Finland" was allowed to lead. With this title, it should follow in the historical footsteps of the former 27th Royal Prussian Jäger Battalion (Finnish Jäger).
An allegedly manufactured troop flag should essentially correspond to the version used by hunter and mountain hunter associations on light green cloth, but had the following differences:
Instead of the four swastikas usually placed in the corners of the flag, there were four Finnish badges. In the lower left and upper right corners, the Finnish national coat of arms was shown surrounded by pine branches. In the upper left and lower right corner there was a representation of the so-called “Finnish Jäger Cross”, an award from the former Reserve Jäger Battalion No. 27 of the First World War.
Such a flag was found in 1945 by English associations in western Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. An official award can not be proven in German sources, rather it seems to be proven that the flag from a private (Finnish?) Side for the III. (Jäger) Battalion IR 92 was made and had no official character. This is also confirmed by the dimensions of the flag that differ from official regulations.
Flag of the former police group "General Göring"
According to the articles of the Versailles Treaty , a demilitarized zone was established along the Rhine in 1919 . The entire area of the German Empire west of the Rhine, as well as a 50-kilometer-wide strip east of it, was declared a "demilitarized zone". After that, German armed forces were not allowed to station troops in this area or even to enter the area. However, this restriction did not apply to police regiments. In order to circumvent the Versailles Treaty, several police groups were stationed in Düsseldorf, Cologne, Duisburg, Koblenz and several other places in this zone from 1935 onwards.
After German troops occupied the demilitarized zone on March 7, 1936, several state police departments were converted into infantry battalions. As a reminder of their previous status as a police unit, several newly created battalions were allowed to carry their old state police flags. In detail, this special regulation affected the following associations:
- the 1st Battalion of the 77-80 Infantry Regiments
- the 2nd Battalion of Infantry Regiments 37 and 81
- the III. Battalion of the 78th and 79th Infantry Regiments
The troop flag consisted of a square silk scarf that had a side length of 126 cm and was primed dark green. The back of the flag was identical to the front. The eagle also looked at the flagpole.
In the center of the flag, on a white, circular field, was a black, Prussian eagle, which was holding a sword and 3 lightning bolts in its claws. The Latin motto “Pro Gloria et Patria” (For fame and fatherland) was placed in a banner above the eagle. The white field was framed by a silver-colored laurel wreath. A large white swastika that encompassed the entire cloth and stood on top was deposited on it. This was bordered narrow black on the edge. The legs of the swastika were shortened towards the edge of the flag. In each of the four corners of the flag there was a silver-colored representation of a burning grenade.
The flagpole and top corresponded to the designs that were generally used in the army.
Below the top of the flag was a 172 cm long flag banderole made of silver-colored aluminum threads. This was bordered by dark green stripes. Another was in the center of the 4.6 cm wide banderole, at the ends of which there was a tassel framed in silver and dark green stripes. In contrast to the usual army banderoles, no plaque was attached above the tassel.
Standards
Battalion Standards
- Battalion standards of motorized units and of cavalry units (overview)
artillery
infantry
Hunter and mountain hunters
cavalry
News troops
Fog troops
Armored troops
Pioneers
Rifle associations in general
Transport and supply associations
- Weapon colors of the standards
Standards for motorized units of the army existed until the end of the war in nine (probably eleven at times) different weapon colors:
| Artillery units | deep red | |
| Reconnaissance units and motorcyclists | copper colored | |
| Infantry units | White | |
| Hunter and mountain hunter associations | medium green | |
| Cavalry associations | golden yellow | |
| News troops | lemon yellow | |
| Fog troop | burgundy | |
| Armored force | dusky pink | |
| Pioneer associations | black | |
| Shooting associations | meadow green | |
| Transport and supply associations | Light Blue |
Standard rifle and motorcycle rifle associations
The weapon color meadow green was used by the rifle and motorcycle rifle associations until the beginning of the war, when this color was abolished. At this time, the associations were assigned to other branches of service. Since the 1st Battalion of Rifle Regiment 1 was assigned a new standard for troops on September 14, 1936, it can be assumed that this battalion received a standard in the basic color of meadow green , which was discarded at the beginning of the war.
Standard reconnaissance groups
A standard allegedly produced for reconnaissance associations in the basic color of copper or light brown was probably never issued. These associations usually received standards that corresponded to the weapon color of their unit. So received z. B. Reconnaissance units of armored troops a standard in dusky pink and those of infantry units one in white.
Standard "Führer Accompanying Battalion"
- Standard of the leader escort battalion
right side
Left side
The task of protecting the person of Adolf Hitler was originally reserved for members of the army. In addition, there was a mobilization-dependent security company from 1938 , which was expanded in the autumn of 1939 to become the “Führer Accompanying Battalion ”. In the beginning, Major General Erwin Rommel was in command of the Fuehrer's headquarters and also in command of the battalion .
On September 30, 1939, the battalion was presented with a unique troop standard. During a ceremony in the barracks area of the "General Göring" regiment in Berlin - Reinickendorf , Hitler personally presented his newly created escort battalion with the new troop standard. In its general appearance it had the shape of an army standard, but on its right side it combined the design of the so-called "Führer standard" with the exterior of an artillery standard on the left.
It should be mentioned that this standard was the only exception to the rule that the weapon color of the unit was also adopted as the basic color for the standard. The crimson base color did not mean that the “Führer Companion Battalion” was an artillery unit, but rather white was the weapon color assigned to the battalion as an infantry unit. It can therefore be assumed that the designer of the standard chose the color carmine red in order to better match the bright red on the right-hand side ("Führer standard").
The left-hand side of the standard corresponded in all respects to the standard of the troops used by artillery units and was primed carmine red.
The right side of the standard was modeled on the so-called "Führer Standard", that is, the standard used personally by Adolf Hitler. A black, upright swastika was placed on a circular field primed with white. A garland of golden oak leaves was attached to this field. In each of the four corners of the standard there were two gold-colored "Wehrmacht eagles" or two gold-colored eagles in the shape of the NSDAP party eagle. The right side was primed carmine red like the left.
All other features of the standard corresponded to those of the general army standards.
Standard Infantry Regiment 271
The SA standard "Feldherrnhalle" was one of the elite units of the SA before the war. In addition to her many special activities, she also had the task of providing the honor guard in front of the Feldherrnhalle building in Munich . Due to this fact, this standard was personally awarded the title “Feldherrnhalle” in September 1936 by Adolf Hitler. From January 1937 the SA standard was handed over to the control of the Luftwaffe with its boss Hermann Göring (who also held the SA rank of Obergruppenführer ). When the war broke out in September 1939, the unit was transferred to both regular units of the Luftwaffe and the Army Infantry Regiment 271. As a reminder of their membership of the SA, which had been valid until then, the units of this regiment were allowed to use the original standard of the SA in addition to their regular white-primed infantry battalion flag.
The standard (the expression is not to be equated with the general standards of the army, but here refers to the types of flags used specifically in the SA and SS ), consisted of a rectangular, 70 × 60 cm large, red-primed cloth.
On the front there was an upright black swastika in a white, circular field. Above and below the field, the words "DEUTSCHLAND ERWACHE" were applied in white silk embroidery.
The back was identical to the front, but the words there were “NAT.SOZ. GERMAN WORKERS PARTY "or" STURMABTEILUNG ".
The flag was provided on three sides with a black, white and red border made of wool. On the upper, unframed side, a short, wooden rod was led through a loop, each of which was thickened with a wooden acorn at each end. The "freely hanging" flag was attached to the name tag with two silk cords.
The 230 cm high standard pole was crowned by a gold-colored eagle, which sat on a plaited wreath of laurel branches. Inside the laurel wreath was an upright black swastika.
air force
As with the Army, the Air Force troop flags - with a few exceptions - were produced according to a common model.
The square flag had a side length of 126 cm and was decorated on three sides with silver-colored aluminum threads.
In the center of the left side of the flag was a black iron cross, which was set on a white field. A garland of silver-colored oak leaves was placed in a circle around this field. At its base, this garland was held together with silver-colored ribbons. Starting from the four corners of the flag, four white, stylized propeller blades, which were still edged in black, extended to the garland. Each of these propeller blades had a black, upright swastika in its outer corner.
The right side corresponded to the left with the following exceptions: Instead of the iron cross, the center of the flag was the “Luftwaffe eagle” in silver, which sat on an upside-down, also silver-colored swastika. The garland was made of bay leaves rather than oak.
The three meter long flagpole was made of a piece of oak that was painted black and then polished. The top of the flag was crowned with a silver-colored "Luftwaffe eagle" emblem.
The flag band attached below the top of the flag corresponded in all respects to the design that was also used in the army. Unlike this one, however, no metal plaque was attached above the tassels.
Flag flying associations, technical schools and air war schools
The flag for these associations was primed golden yellow .
Flag anti-aircraft artillery units and schools
The flag for these associations was primed carmine red .
Flag of Air Force News Associations and Schools
The flag for these associations was primed golden brown .
Flag III. Battalion of the 1st Paratrooper Regiment
There are both written and oral reports that this battalion was equipped with a flag in the primary color green .
Since both the 1st and 2nd Battalion were allowed to carry special flags or standards in this regiment (see below), this regulation could also apply to the III. Battalion applied and a green primed Luftwaffe flag was needed. In the "normal case" a flag with a golden yellow primer would have to be carried.
- Flags of the Air Force (right and left side)
Flying bandages
Anti-aircraft artillery
News organizations
III. Battalion FJR 1
Flag of the 1st Battalion of the "General Göring" regiment
The origins of the “General Göring” regiment go back to 1933 and the then Prussian Interior Minister Hermann Göring . In the course of special operations of all kinds, a special police force, the so-called "air supervisor", was called in, which was especially trained for parachute operations. In the following years, this force was greatly expanded and given the name "State Police Group General Göring" until it was finally set up on April 1, 1935 as the regular air force regiment "General Göring".
Contrary to the general decree of April 21, 1936, according to which all air force units were to receive new troop flags, this regiment was allowed to continue to use their original state police group flags.
The flag of the 1st battalion corresponded in all respects to the former flag of the "Landespolizeigruppe General Göring" (see above) carried by some army battalions with the following exceptions:
The top of the flag consisted of a silver-colored Prussian police star, in the middle of which there was a swastika on the top.
Directly below the silver-colored bow of the laurel wreath was a small shield , which was decorated with the emblem "Southern Cross". This shield was bordered in black and quartered by a black cross. In the upper left field there was an arrangement of five white stars primed in red, which should represent the “Southern Cross”. The shield was modeled on the so-called Petersflagge , the flag of the German-East African Society .
Flag II. And III. Battalion of the "General Göring" regiment
The flags from II. And III. Battalion corresponded to that of the 1st Battalion with the following exceptions:
The top of the flag consisted of the "Luftwaffe eagle" commonly used in the Air Force.
The flag did not contain the "Southern Cross" emblem.
Flag of the 1st Battalion of the 1st Paratrooper Regiment
The flags of this battalion corresponded to those of the II. And III. Battalion of the "General Göring" regiment used with the following exception:
The top of the flag consisted of the Prussian police chief.
Standard 2nd Battalion of the Paratrooper Regiment 1
When the first paratrooper unit was set up in 1936, it consisted of volunteers who came exclusively from army units. On November 4, 1938, the Army Parachute Rifle Battalion IV was presented with an Army Standard for motorized infantry units. When the unit switched from the Army to the Air Force on January 1, 1939 and became the 2nd Battalion of Paratrooper Regiment 1, the battalion was allowed to continue to use the original Army Infantry Standard.
Standard of Honor "Legion Condor"
- Standard of honor of the "Legion Condor" (without banderoles)
right side
Left side
The " Legion Condor " was a formation on Hitler's orders from 1936, which consisted of units of the active air force and was supplemented by independent units of the Wehrmacht (tank, intelligence, transport units, naval, training units) to include general To support Franco in the Spanish Civil War and to try new weapons and methods of combat in combat.
The Legion did not fly any particular flag during its entire period in Spain. During the Victory Parade in Barajas in April 1939 , General Franco presented German unity with a special standard that had been specially made in Spain for this purpose. When the Condor Legion returned to Germany, this "standard of honor" was also presented at victory parades in Hamburg and Berlin . After the Legion was disbanded, the standard was finally exhibited in the so-called “Standartenhalle” of the Reich Aviation Ministry in Berlin. With the fall of Berlin in May 1945, the “ Red Army ” captured the “ Honor Standard” of the “Condor Legion”, along with many other Wehrmacht flags and standards, where it can still be seen today in the Central Museum of the Russian Armed Forces in Moscow .
The standard silk cloth, on which the Spanish colors red and yellow, understandably predominated, had a width of 53 cm and a height of 52 cm. Three sides of the standard were decorated with fringes dyed golden yellow.
In the center of the left side of the standard was an iron cross on which a German “Luftwaffe eagle” was attached. Behind the iron cross was a yellow diagonal cross, which was supposed to represent four stylized propeller blades. There were four different emblems in the corners of the standard cloth:
- a silver-colored "Luftwaffe eagle"
- the national coat of arms of Spain in the version from 1938
- the silver-colored letters LC, which stood for " Legion Condor "
- the symbol of the Spanish Falange party in the form of five red arrows held by a yoke .
The right side of the standard was identical to a Spanish regimental flag and showed the Spanish national flag in the colors red-yellow-red on which the state coat of arms in the form of 1938 was located in the center. Since the flag was manufactured in Spain as a special flag, German production regulations, e.g. "Direction of view of the eagle to the pole" ignored.
The standard cloth was attached to the brown standard pole with five cloth loops, each 6 cm wide. A bronze-colored “Luftwaffe eagle” was attached to the tip of the pole, 12.5 cm high and 24 cm wide.
Below the top were two standard bands fastened with yellow strings. On the one hand, one in the Spanish colors of red-yellow-red, and another in yellow-white-red-yellow-red-white-yellow colored banderole, which corresponded to the strap of the "Spanish military medal". This silver medal was also attached to the end of the second banderole.
marine
- Flag for land-based naval units
right side
Left side
The first troops flag that was awarded to a land-based naval unit in the "Third Reich", was handed on 14 September 1936 during the 8th Nazi Party Rally in Nuremberg the corresponding unit. Such naval troop flags were handed over at various times to units of naval artillery battalions, land-based naval tribal units and various naval schools.
The flags consisted of a medium blue square silk cloth with a side length of 126 cm. They were decorated on three sides with gold-colored fringes, which had a width of 4.5 cm.
In the center of the left side of the flag was a black swastika on the tip. This was surrounded by a gold-colored garland of oak leaves. Starting from the four corners of the flag, there were four white, gold-edged, stylized propeller blades that extended to the edge of the garland. There were four badges in the four outer corners of the cloth. A gold-colored anchor was depicted in the upper left and lower right corners, while the remaining corners were each decorated with an iron cross.
The right side of the flag corresponded to the left with the following exceptions:
In the center of the cloth there was an iron cross instead of a swastika.
In two of the corners of the flag there was a gold-colored "Wehrmacht eagle" instead of the iron cross.
The three-meter-long flagpole was made of oak, was painted black and then polished. The top of the flag consisted of a Wehrmacht eagle made of brass, which was gold-plated.
The flag banderole attached below the top of the flag corresponded to the designs that were also used in the army. However, the metal plaque above the tassels was shown in a gold-colored version. The shorter end of the banderole was marked March 16, 1936, while the longer end was dated March 16, 1935.
The back of the plaques, on which no symbols or inscriptions could be seen, were allowed to be engraved by naval officers who commanded larger units during the war. There important data of these associations, z. B. of naval battles registered.
Armed SS
See main article: Troop flag (Waffen-SS)
Foreign volunteer legions
French Legion
Regimental flags
The Legion des Volontaires Francais contre le Bolchevisme (LVF) was founded on July 7th 1941 during a special meeting of leaders of French right-wing parties at the Hotel Majestic in Paris . The call for the French contribution to the German-Soviet War was followed by around 13,400 French people, of whom around 3,000 volunteered in the first three months. The unit was allowed to wear French uniforms on French soil, while they had to fight in Wehrmacht uniform during their frontline deployment. Adolf Hitler disapproved of this French unit because it was under French command and consequently it was disbanded on December 28, 1942. Soon, however, a new LVF was set up, which was initially used in the fight against partisans . In June 1944 she had to fight heavy combat during the Soviet summer offensive. On September 1, 1944, the members of the LVF were finally completely transferred to the French Waffen-SS and the Legion ceased to exist.
During its existence, the LVF had two different troop flags. The first model looked like a French regimental flag on the surface, but did not correspond to the official regulations in the French army. On both sides of the flag was a representation of the French tricolor in the colors blue-white-red. The words “LEGION DES VOLONTAIRES” and the words “HONNEUR ET PATRIE” could be read on the front and in the center. This text could also be read on all French regimental flags. The flag was decorated on three sides with a gold-colored border made of fringes. In contrast to French regimental flags, the flagpole was painted black and not blue. The cloth was attached to this with 16 gold-plated nails. The flagpole ended in a spearhead, below which, tied in a bow, was attached a flag banderole in the French colors. This ended with gold-colored fringes on both sides. Contemporary photographs show that this troop flag was also used on the Eastern Front .
The second model was presented to the French Volunteer Legion on August 27, 1943 on the occasion of its two-year anniversary. During a ceremony in the Hôtel des Invalides in Paris , the French Secretary of State, General Bridoux, presented the commander of the LVF with a flag that - apart from small modifications - complied with the regulations of the French army of 1879. From this it can be concluded that the French government regarded the LVF as part of the French army.
The flag was square and had a side length of 90 cm. The border of gold-colored fringes was 5 cm wide and consisted of exactly 320 threads. On both sides the flag showed the French tricolor in the colors blue-white-red. The gold-colored inscriptions on the cloth were hand-painted and shaded in dark brown. In each of the four corners there was a hand-embroidered wreath of oak and bay leaves, which was open in the upper part. This wreath usually contained the number of the French regiment, but in the case of the LVF it was released. The words "LA FRANCE au 1er REGIMENT DE LA LEGION DES VOLONTAIRES FRANCAIS" could be read on the front of the flag and in the center. The reverse showed the text “HONNEUR ET PATRIE” and below it the places and dates of the important battles of the Legion: “1941–1942 DJUKOWO ” and “1942–1943 BERESINA ”. The flag was attached to a blue painted flagpole with three gold-plated nails. This ended in a 38 cm high spearhead below which the LVF emblem, two crossed cannon barrels, was. Attached to the top was a flag banderole designed in the French national colors, which had a total length of 100 cm, ended with golden fringes and, in contrast to French regimental flags, did not have a regimental number.
Battalion Standards
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Each of the three battalions of the LVF had its own battalion standard. Little is known about these standards, but it can be assumed that they were presented together with the regimental flag.
It is known about the standard of the first battalion that it showed the coat of arms of the Isle-de-France , which corresponded to the coat of arms of Saint Denis , a district of Paris , on the obverse . Presumably the cloth was primed blue. The reverse showed the inscription "LEGION DES VOLONTAIRES FRANCAIS CONTRE LE BOLCHEVISME", which was attached in an arc shape over a central emblem. This emblem contained the blossoms of a blue cornflower, a white edelweiss and a red poppy flower. Below the emblem was the name of the battalion "1er BATAILLON".
The standard of the second battalion is known to have the motto “MARCHE OU CREVE” (march or die) on the back. The front showed the text "2eme COMPAGNIE" below which the word "BRAVOURE" (bravery) and in the upper left corner the letters "LVF" attached diagonally.
The front of the third battalion showed the text "3eme COMPAGNIE" and above it the word "QUANDMEME" (anyway). The letters "LVF" were also affixed in the upper left corner. Nothing is known about the design of the back, nor about the colors of the basic field of the standards of the second or third battalion.
Standard Ecole des Cadres
- LVF Ecole des Cadres
right side
Left side
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The LVF military school, the Ecole des Cadres , had a special standard. This was given to Monsieur de Brinon , the ambassador of the Vichy government in occupied Paris, by supporters of the LVF. The ceremony took place on July 17, 1943 at Place Stanislas in Nancy .
The front had a pale blue basic field on which the coat of arms of Joan of Arc was. This consisted of a short sword, the point of which was pointing upwards and wore a gold-colored crown. To the left and right of it there was also a golden fleur-de-lis . This coat of arms was granted to the brothers of Joan of Arc by Charles VII in 1429 .
The reverse, also primed pale blue, showed an eagle with lowered wings, which presented a shield in the French colors on its chest. This sign was crowned by the word "FRANCE". Four lightning bolts protruded from below the shield, their tips pointing downwards.
The flag was attached to a black lacquered pole that ended in a gold-colored spearhead.
Indian Legion
When the lawyer and well-known Indian nationalist leader Subhash Chandra Bose came to Berlin in 1941 , he had just escaped from British house arrest in India. With the blessing of the German military leadership, he quickly began to build a military unit with mostly Indian soldiers captured in North Africa who had to fight for the British army.
The first contingent of volunteers, which consisted of both prisoners of war Indians and some Indian civilians who lived in Germany, left Berlin on Christmas Day 1941 for Frankenberg near Chemnitz . In December 1942, the Legion was finally divided into four battalions with 3,500 ready-to- serve soldiers and initially sent to Holland , where they served for five months. Later deployments in France followed the withdrawal to Germany, where the members of the Legion were taken prisoners of war.
The Indian Legion was directly subordinate to the Wehrmacht, but was transferred to the Waffen-SS towards the end of 1944.
The exact date when the Indian Legion received its troop flag is not known. However, it can be assumed that it was introduced as early as around September 1942 when Indian troops took their oath of oath to Adolf Hitler and Subhash Chandra Bose.
The flag, which was presumably made in Germany, had a rectangular circumference, and was slightly higher than it was wide. The central motif consisted of a leaping Bengal tiger in natural colors, which was located in a white field. In the upper orange field was the word "AZAD", in the lower green field the word "HIND". Taken together, this translated means "Free India". The flag was decorated on three sides with a gold-colored border made of fringes. The fourth side was attached to the pole with 40 nails, which ended in a simple spearhead. A gold-colored flag cord was attached below the tip and ended with two tassels.
Croatian Legion
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By order of March 13, 1943 (the legal decree dated May 4, 1943), the newly formed Infantry Regiment 369 , which was mainly composed of Croatian crew and German support personnel, was given a flag by the Croatian leader Ante Pavelić in Zagreb . It was 120 cm wide and 84 cm high.
The obverse was horizontally striped in red, white and blue and had the national coat of arms in the middle. The 25 checkerboard squares of the coat of arms were alternately silver and red and lined with a golden cord 3 mm thick. The coat of arms was roughly square and 12.5 cm wide, while the blue upper sign was 7.5 cm wide and high. The U for Ustasha is 2.5 cm high, which is made of 3 mm thick golden cord. In the circle around the state coat of arms there is an inscription in gold letters, which was different for each unit. For the newly established 369 Infantry Regiment, the inscription reads: ŠTO BOG DA I SREĆA JUNAČKA (WHAT GOD GIVES AND THE HAPPINESS OF HEROES); the motto of the Croatian ban and general Jelačić . The center of the lettering circle is in the middle of the cloth with an outer diameter of 56 cm. The name of the regiment is always in the upper left corner with characters 3.5 cm high and 2.5 cm wide, which start 5 cm from the top edge and the flagpole.
The lapel, the basic cloth of which was made of silver-white brocade, showed Ante Pavelić's monogram in the center of interlaced letters. The name abbreviation is embroidered in dark red and is 21 cm high. As on the obverse of the flag, there is a golden embroidered inscription on the lapel in the same design, which reads: ZA POGLAVNIKA I ZA DOM (FOR LEADERS AND FATHERLAND).
Both sides were provided with a silver border, which was set off from the actual cloth by a 5 mm wide braid . The band was studded with blue-white-red triangular flames.
The flagpole was 230 cm long and made of natural colored hardwood with a diameter of 35 mm. The bronze tip was 18 cm long and 7 cm wide. It showed a badge within the border, which was decorated with the old Croatian triple braid, which was different for each unit. For the 369th Infantry Regiment, the badge is a symbolic devil, namely a fire-breathing, three-tailed billy goat with a trident in its claws, looking to the left and walking upright . The flag included a 10 cm wide ribbon in the color of the weapon tied around the tip. The place and date of the battle, in the course of which the regiment had been able to distinguish itself, was embroidered with gold thread.
The flag of the 369th Infantry Regiment is now in the Croatian History Museum in Zagreb.
Spanish Legion
Between 1941 and 1945, Spain put together a total of two military groups of volunteers who were supposed to support the Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front. The first contingent, which was called División Española de Voluntarios in Spanish or "Spanish Volunteer Division" in German, consisted of four infantry regiments, which were reduced to a total of three regiments after their training in Germany. One of these regiments was Infantry Regiment No. 262, which was originally named Regimiento Pimentel . The first Spanish volunteer contingent was withdrawn from the front line in October 1943 and disbanded again.
Almost at the same time as the first Spanish Legion was dissolved, a new, smaller unit of volunteers was set up, bearing the Spanish name Legión Española de Voluntarios . Colloquially, however, it was already known as Legión Azul ("Blue Legion"), as it was before . This unit fought on the German side until April 1944, when the now hopeless military situation caused the Spanish government to recall the legion to Spain and disband it.
Each of the Spanish battalions had the right to fly its own troop flag. All were individually designed and were usually donated by the cities where the Legionaries originally gathered.
The flag of the 2nd Battalion of the 262nd Infantry Regiment (Pimentel) showed the Spanish national coat of arms in the version from 1938 on a yellow background . Above the coat of arms, the words "DIVISION ESPAÑOLA DE VOLUNTARIOS" were attached in an arc. The words "REGIMIENTO PIMENTEL II BATALLON" could be seen below the coat of arms. The flag was attached to the flagpole with five cloth loops. This culminated in a representation of the symbol of the “ Falange Party”, five arrows that were stuck under a yoke. Below the symbol was a banderole in the Spanish national colors, which was tied in a bow.
The flag of the III. The battalion of the Spanish Volunteer Legion showed three stripes on the front in the colors red-black-red, the colors of the “Falange Party”, with the middle one being somewhat wider. In the center there was a sign in the Spanish national colors red-yellow-red. This was also worn in the same form on the left uniform sleeve of the members of the Spanish Legion. Above the sign were the words "3ª BANDERA". "Bandera" (literally "flag") is the Spanish association name for the battalion (German " Fähnlein ").
The back of the flag showed the Spanish colors in a horizontal arrangement, which centered a collection of weapons, crossed rifles with bayonets and a halberd presented.
Flag and standard tips
The flag or standard tips were designed fairly uniformly in the Wehrmacht. A distinction was made between the following:
- In the army, the height of the point, including the shaft, was 28.6 cm. The tip was made of light, silver-colored, ground and polished aluminum. It had a maximum width of 11.5 cm. The shaft had a height of 7.6 cm, a largest diameter of 4 cm and was slightly conical in shape. The silver-colored Wehrmacht eagle within the pointed frame had a height of 11.7 cm and a wingspan of 8.6 cm. The swastika on the tip below the eagle had a side length of 3.1 cm. As usual with all troop flags and standards, the eagle always looked forward.
- The top of the flag in the Luftwaffe was also made of a silver-colored aluminum alloy. Unlike the army and navy, however, this one had the three-dimensional shape of a flying eagle with outstretched wings. In its claws the eagle held a small silver-colored swastika that rested between two oak leaves.
- The appearance of the flag tip in the navy corresponded to that of the army. However, it was made of gold-plated brass.
- The top of the flag of the 1st Battalion of the "General Göring" regiment and the 1st battalion of the Paratrooper Regiment 1 consisted of the Prussian State Police star originally attached to the flag of the "State Police Group General Göring", in which a small swastika was placed.
- The tip of the traditional flag of regiment 134 "Hoch- und Deutschmeister" had the shape of a gold-colored, broadly shaped spear tip that was not further decorated.
- The tip of the flag of the “Legion Condor” standard consisted of a bronze-colored “Luftwaffe eagle” that was in flight. It was 12.5 cm high and had a wingspan of 24 cm. In his claws he held a bronze-colored swastika that rested between two oak leaves.
Flag and standard bearers
Breast and sleeve shields
As early as 1806, it had been customary in the German army for those soldiers who were considered particularly brave and courageous to have the honor of carrying the unit's troop flag. Before 1898, these standard-bearers had no special badges, but the “Highest Cabinet Order” of June 15, 1898 ordered that from now on the army standard-bearers should wear special decorations. These decorations consisted of a woolen sleeve badge that was attached to the right upper arm of the uniform and a metal breastplate that was hung around the neck. This practice was maintained until 1919, when the license plates were abolished in the Weimar Republic .
However, the National Socialists reintroduced the old tradition in 1933, and for the first three years standard bearers were reassigned the old imperial insignia. With the “Flag Decree” of August 4, 1936, new symbols were introduced for flag bearers, but these continued the old tradition. The marks consisted of a metal ring collar that was attached to a necklace (exception: standard bearers of naval associations that did not wear a ring collar) and a sleeve shield made of cloth on which a special design was embroidered. While the breast shield was only put on when a flag was worn, the arm shields were firmly attached to the uniforms of the flag bearers. Basically, the image of the respective troop flag with the corresponding weapon color could be seen on them.
Carrying sashes
The first carrying sash introduced for the German Army dates from 1901 and was ordered by a personal decree of the German Emperor. Each of the sashes was individually matched in color to the color of the respective uniform buttons and had a carrying cup made of red Russian leather at the bottom.
Different sashes were used in the Wehrmacht:
- The army made a distinction between sashes for cavalry units and those for "unmounted troops", ie the majority of the army. The real difference between these sashes was the additional snap hooks attached to the cavalry sash in the lower part. These were connected with a special leather strip on which a carrying cup and a carrying ring were attached.
- All sashes were made of saffiano leather and had a 4 cm wide decoration made of silver-colored aluminum threads on both sides. The color of the strip of fabric in the middle corresponded to the weapon color of the respective unit. B. Infantry units have a median in white, while fog troops have one in burgundy. At the bottom of the sash was a 24 cm long black leather strip on which a 7 cm long mug was attached. This carried the lower end of the flag pole or standard pole.
- The sashes of the Luftwaffe corresponded in every way to those of the army, but the lower leather strip and the cup were colored brown.
- The navy sashes came in two designs. The "normal" version corresponded to the sashes of the army, but the aluminum decorations were applied in a gold-colored version. The strip of fabric in the middle was basically medium blue in color. The "simple" version consisted of a simple brown or black leather strip that had no color-contrasting central strip and aluminum decorations.
- The sashes of the “General Göring” regiment and those units that were allowed to carry the former flag of the “General Göring Police Group” corresponded to those of the Luftwaffe, but the middle strip of fabric was colored dark green.
- The sash of the "Legion Condor" was only used for a short time during the victory parades in Spain and Germany and was mainly in the "Spanish" colors of yellow and red.
- It should be mentioned that the flag bearers of Grenadier Regiment 134 "Hoch- und Deutschmeister" carried the flags without the aid of a sash. They also had no ring collars or arm shields. This was due to historical models of the Imperial Austrian Army.
Carrying sash for land-based naval units ("normal" version)
Carrying sash for land-based naval units ("simple" version)
Carrying sash of the "General Göring" regiment and some other associations (see article)
Projected commemorative bands
During 1939, Adolf Hitler ordered that those associations that had participated in certain military operations should be provided with special commemorative banners. This concerned the "invasions" to Austria , the Sudetenland , Bohemia and Moravia and the Memel region . Although the high command of the Wehrmacht issued exact regulations on the planned award of these banderoles after the end of the war, none were produced any more. Even so, the exact specifications were announced.
The length of all banderoles for Wehrmacht flags should be 100 cm with a width of 15 cm, while standards should be equipped with 60 cm long or 10 cm wide banderoles.
For the connection of Austria, the banderole was supposed to show the colors of the lanyard of the commemorative medal of March 13, 1938, a wide red band that was bordered on both sides in the colors white, black and white. This was a combination of the colors of Germany and Austria. A white inscription on the banderole should show the date March 13, 1938.
For the "annexation" of the Sudetenland, the banderole was supposed to show the colors of the ribbon of the commemorative medal of October 1, 1938, a ribbon in the colors black-red-black, which was bordered in white on both sides. The colors black, red and black were the colors of the Sudetenland. An inscription on the banderole should read "Sudetenland October 1, 1938".
In memory of the complete occupation of Czechoslovakia , a band of the same color was planned. In order to be able to distinguish this from the "Sudetenland banderole", a bronze-colored clip should be attached to the lower end of the banderole, which should show an image of the " Prague Castle" ( Hradschin ). A label was not planned.
The annexation of the Memel area of Lithuania was credited to the German Navy as "particularly honorable behavior". To commemorate the landing and the invasion of the Memel area, a banderole was planned, which should show the colors of the strap of the commemorative medal of March 22, 1939. A central green band was bordered on both sides by a white and red one. This was closed again at the edges with a narrow white ribbon. The banderole should bear the gold-colored inscription "Memel March 22, 1939".
Red Army Victory Parade
When the Red Army troops stormed the German capital in the Battle of Berlin in April 1945 , they also captured the exhibits from various state museums in the destroyed city. These included many of the German troop flags and standards that had been there since September 1944, survived the Allied bombardment unscathed and were finally brought to the Soviet capital.
On June 23, 1945, an order from Stalin ordered a victory parade for the following day. On the morning of June 24, 1945, the troops gathered in Red Square . After Marshal Zhukov and Marshal Rokossovsky inspected the assembled forces , the two-hour parade began with 40,000 participating soldiers and 1,850 military vehicles. Finally, after a drum roll, 200 Russian soldiers appeared at 9.55 a.m. local time, carrying a total of 200 captured German troop flags and standards, as well as flags from National Socialist organizations. These were soon presented in a line and then lowered so that the flag tips and the cloth touched the ground. In the first place (but without the cloth) was the standard of the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler with its eye-catching nameplate. The official spokesman for the Red Army announced that the banners carried there appear to be sweeping Red Square with their flagpoles lowered and the silk cloth now touching the ground. This is the political execution of fascism .
Later, as documented by footage, the flags were thrown "into the dust" by their bearers with a deliberately contemptuous gesture in front of the Lenin mausoleum on Red Square. The photographer Yevgeny Chaldej writes in his war diary :
“That was a sight, indescribable. There was no one on the square who didn't have tears in their eyes. "
At the end of the event, this area of Red Square was specially cleaned and disinfected in a demonstrative way.
After the Victory Parade ended, the flags were moved to the flag hall of the Central Museum of the Russian Armed Forces , where they are still on display today.
Legal notices
In Germany, the distribution and display of symbols of the “Third Reich” is punishable under Sections 86, 86a of the Criminal Code.
It is forbidden to disseminate the mentioned marks, to use them in public or to use them in a meeting (Paragraph 1 No. 1). Corresponding preparatory actions, in particular the production, keeping in stock and importing and exporting are also punishable (Paragraph 1 No. 2).
Excluded from this are acts of civic education, the defense against unconstitutional efforts, art or science, research or teaching, reporting on current events or history or similar purposes (para. 3 in conjunction with § 86 para 3 StGB).
See also
literature
- Brian Leigh Davis: Flags & Standards of the Third Reich. Army, Navy, & Air Force, 1933-1945. Macdonald & Jane's, London 1975, ISBN 0-356-04879-9 .
- Brian L. Davis: Flags of the Third Reich. Volume 1: Wehrmacht (= Men-at-Arms Series. No. 270). Color plates by Malcolm McGregor. Osprey Military, London et al. 1994, ISBN 1-85532-446-6 .
- Gerhard Rüddenklau, Heinz Guenther: The flags and standards of the German army 1936-1944. A military documentation. Druffel & Vowinckel, Stegen am Ammersee 2005, ISBN 3-8061-1166-9 .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Army Ordinance Sheet , 16th edition of March 27, 1944, Part B, Sheet 7.
- ^ Letter from the Chief of Army Armaments and Commander of the Replacement Army from September 16, 1944.
- ^ Davis: Flags of the Third Reich. Volume 1. 1994, p. 17.
- ^ Rüddenklau, Guenther: The flags and standards of the German army 1936–1944. 2005, pp. 106-107.
- ↑ a b c Detailed description of the Croatian troop flag. In: Uniforms Market . Born 1943, issue 7.
- ↑ Description of the flag in the detailed report. In: Uniforms Market. Born 1944, issue 4, p. 7.
- ↑ Description with photographs. In: Jelena Borošak-Marijanović: Zastave kroz stoljeća. Zbirka zastava i zastavnih vrpca Hrvatskoga Povijesnog Muzeja (= Hrvatski Povijesni Muzej. Catalog muzejskih zbirki. 27). Hrvatski Povijesni Muzej, Zagreb 1996, ISBN 953-604607-5 , p. 128 f.
- ^ J. Chaldej: War diary. Berlin 2011. p. 216.
- ^ German-Russian Museum Berlin-Karlshorst: Our Russians - Our Germans. Pictures from the other 1800 to 2000 . Ch. Links Verlag, Berlin 2007, ISBN 3-86153-460-6 , p. 224-225 .