{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-42nd-infantry-division-anti-tank-platoon-222nd-infantry-usgi-captured-signed-nsdap-double-sided-political-banner-flag-with-provenance-research-unit-history-47-x-110","title":"Original German WWII 42nd Infantry Division Anti-Tank Platoon 222nd Infantry USGI Captured \u0026 Signed NSDAP Double Sided Political Banner Flag with Provenance Research \u0026 Unit History - 47 x 110”","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: One-of-a-Kind. This is a very nice condition WWII German National Banner Flag, which measures a staggering 47 x 110”. These were used inside buildings, or possibly on podiums during speeches. It is of all cotton construction, and is double sided with a single piece cotton white circles with dyed black Swasses (Hook Crosses) sewn onto both sides.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition is very good, but does show wear from use in service and possibly afterwards, with some tears, small holes, and other condition issues. The colors are very well retained, with light age toning to the white circles, and a vibrant red field. No maker markings are visible, and it features a folded over header sleeve for hanging the banner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe most notable aspect of this flag are the USGI names on the flag, added after it was captured during the war. This example was signed by 26 Members of the Anti-Tank Platoon, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 222nd Infantry Regiment, 42nd Infantry Division. The flag comes with some research paperwork which actually contains an account of Private First Class Rethel William Flatt, a gunner in the Anti-Tank platoon. On February 18th, 2014, Flatt wrote the following account of how the flag came into his possession:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"It was April 3, 1945 and after chasing the German Army for the past month, fighting small battles when they needed relief from the constant pursuit, our Regiment, the 222 Infantry of the 42nd Rainbow Division, was relieved and assigned a rest period in a small town about ten miles south of Wurzburg Germany. Sometime around 6:00 pm on the same day our platoon leader told us that the Germans had decided to defend the city of Wurzburg and that our tanks were stalled and wanted infantry to cross the river ahead of them.. When we arrived at the southern side of the Main River the tanks were lined up waiting to cross. They were receiving heavy fire from the buildings on the north side of the river. The buildings were about three stories high and I believe every window contained a machine gun or 20mm cannon. We moved in front of the tanks and were positioning our truck to cross the bridge when the Germans blew it up. Shortly after the bridge was blown, the engineers moved in and proceeded to put down a Bailey Bridge that would allow the tanks to cross. In the meantime, the engineers put our  truck and 57mm Anti Tank gun on a raft and we crossed the river under a hail of German Machine gun and anti aircraft 20mm fire. We followed a rifle company that crossed in row boats ahead of us; although they took heavy casualties they cleared out the buildings and forced the Germans to withdraw. The river is about ten feet below the street level and I believe that fact alone allowed us to cross without any of our ten squad members getting hit. I don't know what time it was but it had to be at least midnight when we placed our gun in a defensive position outside the German headquarters building. About two hours later, a German patrol attacked our position with about 10 to 15 soldiers and we repelled them without any casualties. The Germans retreated leaving three dead men in the street in front of our gun position. It was fairly quiet the rest of the night and we ate cookies and drank snaps while trying to stay alert. The cookies and snaps came from the German Headquarters building located on the corner where our gun was placed. There was a room in the basement just full of all kinds of wine, whiskey, brandy and snaps. By morning the Germans had vacated the center of the city and we moved out of our position and started chasing Germans again. Before leaving the defensive position we occupied all night, \u003cstrong\u003etwo of us cut down the banner flags hanging from the building. The next day I asked all of the men in our platoon, that would sign the flag, to put his name and hometown on the white part of the swas.\u003c\/strong\u003e\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe following is a complete list of the 26 men who signed the flag. A few parts of signatures or home towns are illegible. No doubt this is a near complete list of the soldiers of the Anti Tank Platoon. Most did not indicate their rank, so it may be that their Platoon leader is not included in the list.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA. E. Morlok 1210 - 10th St. Columbus Nebr.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAnthony Rubano Bronx NY\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ. E. Eakin Dover Arkansas\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn Chelarin Cleveland Ohio\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVester O. Cruse Route 4 Box 505B Phoenix, Ariz Estill Smith R.R. #1 Copley Ohio Eugene Silvas, Burbank California\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eC. E. Shiel, Froest St 20, Hazlehurst, Miss\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJ. C. Davis, Jackson TN\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJoseph S. Letavish 406 e. 66 St. New Youk City New York (Manhattan)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCharles K. Williams Sheffield Ala.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKell W. Gaskins Dyersburg Tenn.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePFC Floyd Harris 203 Lett?? St. ?????? Lowa P.F.C. Richard C. L??? RT. 2 Box 71 ?????\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWayne Stienbarger Fort Wayne Indiana\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn B. Krieter, Crown Point Indiana Paul Parent, Argyle Minn\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrank Williams Crestline Ohio\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eM. J. Manuel, Mason City Iowa\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKeith E. Davis Diagonal lowa\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClair Schwendeman, Howell Ohio\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePermanant PFC Rene C. Jacobs Long Beach Calif.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eH. H. Hicks Cookville Tennessee Simon B. Clifton Culver Indiana\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRoy D. Steele N. J.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJack Day, Anamosa lowa\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe flag also comes with a copy of the 42nd Infantry Division history from World War II, which has some damage but is a nice example overall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a tremendous signed flag with great provenance, ready for further research and display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 222nd was one of the Infantry Regiments of the 42nd Infantry Division that fought in the ETO during WW2. Each of its three battalions had an organic anti tank platoon with a mix of AT weapons. This particular unit was equipped with the towed 57mm AT gun pulled by a ¾ Ton Dodge WC51.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAccording to FM 7-35, Antitank Company, Infantry Regiment and Antitank Platoon, Infantry Battalion dated 15 March 1944, the Antitank Platoon of 1st Battalion, 222nd Infantry Regiment was composed of a command group and three squads. The command group consists of the platoon leader, the platoon sergeant and a messenger. Each squad crewed a 57mm antitank gun which was towed by a prime mover, and in the case of the 22nd, they employed the WC51. The AT Platoon was the organic AT force of the infantry battalion and its platoon leader served as the Battalion AT officer, planning and executing the battalion AT defense. Each AT Squad consisted of a squad leader, four gunners, three ammunition bearers and one truck driver for a total of nine members. The platoon therefore consisted of 27 squad members, three headquarters members for a total of 31 soldiers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42502358368325,"sku":"ONSV25SSOS142","price":1695.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV25SSOS142__01.jpg?v=1741803065","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-42nd-infantry-division-anti-tank-platoon-222nd-infantry-usgi-captured-signed-nsdap-double-sided-political-banner-flag-with-provenance-research-unit-history-47-x-110","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}