Large Nazi National War flag acquired by a US soldier
Extent and Medium
Height: 57.874 inches (147 cm) | Width: 94.488 inches (240 cm)
Creator(s)
- Kriegsmarine (Issuer)
- Don Stanton (Subject)
- Plutzar & Brüll KG., Bielitz (Manufacturer)
Archival History
The Nazi flag was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2010 by Trudy Stanton, the widow of Don Stanton.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Trudy Stanton
Scope and Content
Large Nazi National War flag, or Reichskriegsflagge, brought back to the United States around 1945 by Don Stanton (1924-1995), a soldier in the United States Army serving in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. The flag bears a canted swastika at the center and a black Iron Cross in the canton or top left quadrant. On the back of the flag, a marking with a Nazi eagle over a capital M indicates the flag was Kriegsmarine, or German War Navy, approved. Additional markings indicate the flag was manufactured in occupied Bielitz (now Bielsko-Biała, Poland) at the siezed textile factory Plutzar & Brüll KG., Bielitz.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Large, rectangular, plain weave, wool bunting flag with a red field bearing printed black-and-white, second pattern designs. Just left of center is a canted, black swastika in a white circle with a black border, centered on a black Nordic Cross. The cross arms have a border of three alternating stripes, white-black-white, on each side that continue to form the border around the circle. A black Iron Cross is in the canton or top left quadrant. The cross and swastika are bordered by narrow black and white bands. Near the swastika, “Don Stant” has been written in black ink. A thick, white, cotton channel with an attached 44-inch halyard rope is sewn along the hoist end. On the back of the channel there is a black ink stamp containing German manufacturing information and a Reichsadler with an M stamped below. There is some insect damage throughout.
People
- Stanton, Don.
Subjects
- Soldiers--United States.
- Flags--German--1940-1950.
- Souvenirs (Keepsakes)--Soldiers--United States.
- Bielsko-Biała (Poland)
Genre
- Object
- Identifying Artifacts
- Flags.