Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is a wonderful condition original German WW2 Balkan Cross Panzer tank identification flag that is framed and measures approximately 30 x 31.

The most interesting features of this flag are the 30+ signatures of USGIs who were all members of the same infantry rifle squad they read as follows (names in bold are unique and identically matched in the WW2 archive registry, plenty of research potential here!):

• John Simmons
• Anthony J. Connor (?)
• Edward M. Boog
• Nick Nirosky
• William Sibert
• Joseph M. Colacino
• James Ramage
• K.S. Richardson
• C.W. Chiles
• Bunny Burt
• George Riess
• Ted Mrowczynski
• EM Demisom
• Lt. R.K. Cain
• Frank DiPrima
• Lt. L.E. Apt
• Lt. B Husch
• Captain Robert E Manniko
• ED Tiffany
• Fred Lescher
• Herb Rubin
• Norm Enger
• Pete Waydyup
• Oscar W. Seyer
• Alvin Mosher
• Harold E. Green
• John Denato
• Paul Hamlin
• Foster Stanbary

Loads of research potential here: we have confirmed the enlistment records of Edward M. Boog, James Ramage,Ted Mrowczynski,Lt. R.K. Cain,Captain Robert E Manniko, Foster Stanbary but have been unable to identify an Army Division for this squad. Anyone with a bit of time should be able to fully research this group who certainly saw service in occupied Europe during WW2.

Some history we did find is that Lt. Cain may have been later married Manniko’s sister. As found in this obituary:

Robert K. Cain
Bob entered the United States draft in November of 1940 and it was delayed for Christmas, Bob was called to service on Jan. 5, 1941. Bob reported for duty for one year at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas to Company M 23rd Infantry Regiment 2nd Division after Pearl Harbor in on Dec. 7, 1941 and the balance extended from one year to the duration of World War II. He was selected for OCS at Fort Benning, Ga. and 2nd Lt. Commission in 1942. Bob married Hester M. (Campbell) Cain on graduation and was assigned to the Company M 2nd BN 310 Infantry 78th Division of Camp Butner, N.C. for training cadre of enlisted men for their unit. After 13 weeks of unit training, the United States Army shipped enlisted personnel overseas, then assigned two more cadre units for training and deployed them. Bob asked for overseas assignment and the United States Army sent him to Fort Belvoir, Va. Engineering School for change of branch of service, from Infantry Commission to Corp of Engineer Commission and was assigned overseas to Corps of Engineers Co A 2nd Platoon 299th Engr. Combat Battalion 7th Corp. on May 8, 1944, European Theater. Bob returned to the United States in 1945 into the United States Reserves with 11 awards, including Presidential Unit Citation, Purple Heart, French Croix de Guerre with Bronze Star, Commendation Ribbon and the remainder Theater Ribbons, European Ribbon with five battle stars plus arrowhead.

This is a wonderful genuine and truly fascinating piece that has a story to tell to someone with the time and dedication to discover it. It’s also a very rare tank ID flag! What a piece of history.