Nazi flag with a swastika and a Galgenhof district patch taken by a US soldier
Extent and Medium
a: Height: 51.500 inches (130.81 cm) | Width: 53.250 inches (135.255 cm)
b: Height: 0.375 inches (0.953 cm) | Diameter: 1.500 inches (3.81 cm)
Creator(s)
- Paul M. Carey (Subject)
Biographical History
Paul Moseley Carey was born on February 28, 1924, in Washington, DC. After graduating high school, he joined the United States Army. He was assigned to the 831 Quartermaster Gas Supply Co. as a Private First Class and served on the front lines in Europe during World War II. In the spring of 1945, Paul was on detachment with the 3rd US Infantry and the 45th US Infantry divisions, which were assigned to the XV Corps. On April 16, 1945, these and other US Army units reached Nuremberg, Germany. After four days of heavy fighting against a well entrenched and motivated enemy, the city was captured by American forces on April 20th. Germany surrendered on May 7th, 1945. Paul was one of the first 200 US servicemen sent home after the war based on service points. Troop demobilization followed a plan whereby individual soldiers were assigned points for length of service, time overseas, time in combat, number of wounds, and number of children at home. Paul married Sally in 1952 and they settled in Virginia and had four children. Paul passed away, age 84, on September 15, 2008.
Archival History
The Nazi flag was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2005 by Melissa Carey-Lopez, the daughter of Paul M. Carey.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Melissa Carey-Lopez
Scope and Content
Nazi flag and flag ring taken by Paul Carey, 21, an American soldier, from a flag pole with an NSBO flag topper (2005.561.2) in Nuremberg Stadium after the city fell to Allied forces on April 20, 1945. The flag represented Galgenhof, a district of Nuremberg. Carey was a member of the 831 Quartermaster Gas Supply Co. on detachment with the 3rd and 45th Infantry. His unit arrived in Nuremberg on April 16, 1945. After four days of fierce fighting, the heavily defended city was captured. Carey was among the first group of soldiers to return home after the war ended on May 7, 1945.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
a. Double-sided, rectangular red cloth flag. Both sides of the flag have a black swastika within a white circle machine sewn to the center. A black rectangular cloth patch with a heavy white cord piping border is attached on both sides in the upper-corner, hoist side. German text is chain stitched with white thread within the patch. A metal clip is attached to the hoist edge and 5 metal rings are attached along the side of the hoist edge by cloth loops. The second ring (2005.561.1b) from the bottom is not attached. Silverish metallic fringe is attached to 3 sides of the flag. b. Circular, silver colored plain metal ring, detached from the hoist side of the flag.
a. front, hoist edge, upper corner, inside patch, chain stitched, white thread : Nbg- / Galgenhof / 8 [Nuremberg- / Galgenhof / 8] a. back, hoist edge, upper corner, inside patch, chain stitched, white thread : Nbg- / Galgenhof / 8 [Nuremberg- / Galgenhof / 8]
Corporate Bodies
- Nazi Party
Subjects
- World War 1929-1945--Personal narratives, American.
- World War 1939-1945--Europe--End.
- World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Western Front.
- Soldiers--United States--Biography.
- World War, 1939-1945--Germany--Nuremberg.
Genre
- Identifying Artifacts
- Object