Condition: Excellent
Base Material: Cotton
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Product Description: This is a great example of a desirable German State Service Flag (Reichsdienstflage). These were used on government buildings during the Third Reich, and are quite a bit more scarce than the standard national flags. This one is a very displayable size, measuring 85 cm x 150 cm (33 1/2 in X 59 in). It is made of a thin, cotton fabric, and is typical a printed type, with the printed image visible on both sides. The white header is complete with its original hanging rope and loop, stitched into place. There is a lot of variation in the graphics on these, and this one is an attractive example, with a particularly bold look to the printed national eagle and swastika emblem. The red and black printed colors remain very bold, with no discoloration, and the white fabric shows only slight, typical age toning, with some extremely light soiling to the white header. The only marking is the stamped “85X150” size mark in black ink. There are no tears, holes or other damage to this striking German State Service Flag. It remains in a strong excellent condition overall.
Historical Description: The red flag with white central disk and black swastika was introduced by Hitler in the 1920s as the flag of the National Socialist political party. In 1933, shortly after the Nazis took power, this party flag was recognized alongside the black-white-red Imperial tricolor as one of Germany’s national flags. In 1935, the use of the tricolor flag was discontinued, and between September 1935 and May 8, 1945, the Nazi party flag was the sole national flag of Germany. From its creation in the 1920s through the end of the war, this swastika flag was made and used in endless variations, from the massive banners hung at Party Day rallies to small pennants, bunting flags, and hand-held paper flags distributed along parade routes. These flags, banners and pennants flew from ships, were hung from official and private buildings, and were displayed outside business and private homes. At the end of WWII, the Allied military governments abolished the use of all Nazi symbols, including the national flag. Most Third Reich era German national flags were simply destroyed.
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