BACKGROUND: The first modern German war flag was introduced by Kaiser Wilhelm I in July 1867. The war flag went through a number of minor modifications through the years until it reached its final design format in September 1903. The 1903 version of the Kaiserliche Kriegsflagge, (Imperial war Flag), was utilized until it was abolished after Germany’s defeat in WWI on September 27TH 1919. On April 11TH 1921 a new national war flag was introduced that utilized Hohenzollern Empire tri-colors of black, white and red, with the Weimar era national tri-colors of black, red, and gold inserted into the canton, (upper left corner), with a black Iron Cross to the center. In March 1933, shortly after Hitler gained power, he abolished the Weimar era canton insert on the national war flag. The 1933 pattern national war flag was utilized until November 7TH 1935 when Hitler introduced a new, totally redesigned, national war flag that incorporated the NSDAP’s, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party), swastika emblem. Of Note: The 1935 pattern national war flag was utilized until late 1937 or early 1938, when a slightly modified second pattern flag was introduced. The national war flag was flown on all Kriegsmarine, (Navy), warships, Luftwaffe, (Air Force), airfields and all buildings owned by the Wehrmacht, (Armed Forces). The flag was also to be hoisted daily at all occupied barracks and was also utilized at victory parades and special events along with the standard national swastika flag.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly,160cm X 95cm, 1933 pattern, (circa 1933-1935), dual sided, printed cotton construction flag features three horizontal bars in the national colors of black, white and red, with a black and white bordered black Iron cross to the center. One small tear to the edge, buth otherwise near mint. Seldom encountered, short lived, altered 1921/1933 pattern flag.