Original Item: Only One Available. Heavily embroidered double sided vehicle pennant for an NSDAP Kreisleiter. This is the final version with block letters "KL" rather than the Gothic style. Metal frame with RZM 3/45 marking. Attached to the metal frame is the original RZM marked paper tag, indicating that this pennant was never issued or used! Measures approximately 11 12 x 11 1/2 inches. Some staining from rust on the internal frame but overall very good condition.

In 1928, a mid-level official known as a Kreisleiter (district leader) was introduced as an intermediary between the Gauleiter and the political leaders. In 1930, as the NSDAPs attempted to organize on a national level, Gauleiter were themselves subordinated to a new official known as a Landesinspektor, in charge of all NSDAP Gaus in a particular German state. The Gauleiter had authority over the district leaders (kreisleiter), who in turn directed chapter leaders (Ortsgruppenleiter). An Ortsgruppe (chapter) encompassed 1500 households, usually a city suburb or a few villages. Chapter leaders directed cell leaders (Zellenleiter), responsible for 160 to 480 households. Zellenleiter had control over the lowest local leaders, Blockleiter, each of whom had charge of one block consisting of 40 to 60 households. The cell and block leaders at the bottom of the hierarchy gave the party a strong hold on the civilian populace.

Highly impressive and loaded with eye appeal, this is sure to make a great addition to any collection!

During the Third Reich and WWII, a wide variety of flags and pennants were used on German cars and vehicles. In the military, vehicle flags and pennants were used to indicate branch or rank, or specific command roles. The various civilian organizations also had vehicle flags and pennants for members of their organization or to denote the vehicles of officers, leaders or people in specific roles. Even political leaders had their own flags which were often rank specific. Some of the flags, especially military ones, were simply printed, and some were machine woven or stitched, while the flags for political leaders and the highest ranking military personnel were more decorative and often elaborately hand embroidered in bullion wire. Some vehicle flags were mass produced, including simple national flag type swas emblem pennants that could have been bought by any patriotic supporter. Others were unique. These flags were attractive souvenirs for GI troops at the end of the war, and are eagerly collected today.