Overview
- Brief Narrative
- 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.
- Date
-
acquired:
approximately 1945
manufacture: approximately 1938-1945
- Geography
-
manufacture:
Bielsko-Biała (Poland)
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Trudy Stanton
- Markings
- back, top, on channel, stamped, black ink : [eagle clutching swastika symbol] / M [Reichsadler / Reichszeugmeisterei Imperial Eagle / Quartermaster’s Office]
back, top, on channel, stamped, black ink : [REICHSKRIEGSFLG ; 7 ; 150 x 250 ; Plutzar & Brüll KG., Bielitz 0/S]
front, near swastika, black ink : Don Stant - Contributor
-
Manufacturer:
Plutzar & Brüll KG., Bielitz
Subject: Don Stanton
Issuer: Kriegsmarine
Physical Details
- Language
- German
- Classification
-
Identifying Artifacts
- Category
-
Flags
- Object Type
-
Flags (lcsh)
- Genre/Form
- Flags.
- Physical Description
- 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.
- Dimensions
- Height: 57.874 inches (147 cm) | Width: 94.488 inches (240 cm)
- Materials
- overall : wool, cotton, thread, ink, bast
Rights & Restrictions
- Conditions on Access
- No restrictions on access
- Conditions on Use
- No restrictions on use
Keywords & Subjects
- Topical Term
- Soldiers--United States. Souvenirs (Keepsakes)--Soldiers--United States. Flags--German--1940-1950.
- Geographic Name
- Bielsko-Biała (Poland)
- Personal Name
- Stanton, Don.
Administrative Notes
- Legal Status
- Permanent Collection
- Provenance
- The Nazi flag was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2010 by Trudy Stanton, the widow of Don Stanton.
- Record last modified:
- 2022-10-17 08:37:14
- This page:
- https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn47896
Also in Don Stanton collection
The collection consists of artifacts relating to the experiences of Don Stanton as a soldier in the United States Army serving in the European Theater of Operations during World War II.
Date: approximately 1945
German wooden ammunition box acquired by a US soldier
Object
German ammunition box brought back to the United States by Don Stanton.
German military dagger and sheath acquired by a US soldier
Object
Nazi knife and sheath brought back to the United States by Don Stanton.
Metal swastika shaped pin acquired by a US soldier
Object
Silver metal pin with swastika brought back to the United States by Don Stanton.
German medal with Reichsadler
Object
Nazi eagle with swastika clutched in talons with oak wreath brought back to the United States by Don Stanton.
Medal and chain acquired by a US soldier
Object
Nazi medal and chain brought back to the United States by Don Stanton.
Military cap acquired by a US soldier
Object
Military cap brought back to the United States by Don Stanton.
Nazi armband acquired by a US soldier
Object
Nazi armband brought back to the United States by Don Stanton.
Nazi armband acquired by a US soldier
Object
Nazi armband brought back to the United States by Don Stanton.
Nazi armband acquired by a US soldier
Object
Nazi armband brought back to the United States by Don Stanton.
Japanese flag signed by US soldiers
Object
Japanese flag brought back to the United States by Don Stanton.
Nazi Party badge acquired by a US soldier
Object
Nazi badge brought back to the United States by Don Stanton.
Badge embroidered with blue and white arrows acquired by a US soldier
Object
Badge brought back to the United States by Don Stanton.
Badge with a gold 7 on a red and white star acquired by a US soldier
Object
Badge brought back to the United States by Don Stanton.
Square black patch with an embroidered blue star acquired by a US soldier
Object
Small star badge brought back to the United States by Don Stanton.
