Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII Kriegsmarine Reichskriegsflagge naval battle flag measuring approximately 150cm x 250cm, or 59.1" x 98.4", manufactured by Johann Liebieg & Comp. of Reichenberg in the Sudetenland. It retains its Kriegsmarine Eagle / M acceptance marking, full Kr.Fl.150 x 250 size designation, maker stamp, canvas header, upper suspension loop, and approximately 45" lower halyard. The large format, strong surviving colors, and clearly marked header make this an especially impressive naval display piece.

The Reichskriegsflagge was the German armed forces war flag and naval ensign used during the Third Reich period. Kriegsmarine examples were produced in a number of standardized sizes for use aboard different classes and sizes of naval vessels, with the dimensions selected according to the vessel and flag position.

The flag is constructed from what appears to be wool or a wool and cotton blend. The printed design has a bright red field with a large central white disc containing a black mobile swas. This is superimposed over the black and white German Naval Balkenkreuz (Beam Cross) design extending toward the edges. The upper canton contains a black Eisernes Kreuz (Iron cross) cross pattée on a white field, with contrasting black and white borders throughout the design.

The hoist has a heavy canvas header with an approximately 44" halyard at the lower end and a suspension loop at the top. The header carries a black Kriegsmarine acceptance marking consisting of the Eagle / M Marineamt proof.

The flag type and size are stamped:

Kr.Fl.150 x 250

Adjacent to this is the boxed maker marking:

Johann Liebieg & Comp.
Reichenberg Sudetenland

Reichenberg was the German name used for what is today Liberec in the Czech Republic. Johann Liebieg & Co. was one of the textile firms operating in the region during the period.

The 150cm x 250cm dimensions correspond to the standardized Kriegsmarine size designation listed in period naval flag references. The supplied research identifies this as Size 7 and associates the size with vessels in approximately the 500 to 1,500 ton class. This would make it suitable for small to medium naval vessels rather than a U-boat. Torpedo boats fall within the general displacement range cited for this flag size, although there is no provenance establishing the exact vessel on which this particular flag was used.

Overall condition is very good and suggests comparatively light wartime use. The red, white, and black colors remain strong with only minor age toning and no significant staining observed. The primary condition issue is scattered moth damage, which has produced numerous small holes and localized losses across the fabric. Despite this, the flag remains visually striking and substantially complete.

With its large 150cm x 250cm format, Kriegsmarine Eagle / M acceptance stamp, clear Kr.Fl.150 x 250 designation, Johann Liebieg & Comp. maker marking, original canvas header, suspension loop, and surviving halyard, this is a particularly attractive example of a German WWII naval Reichskriegsflagge. The scattered moth holes, localized fabric losses, and minor age toning are fully disclosed. It would display especially well in a Kriegsmarine, German naval flag, WWII naval vessel, Sudetenland textile maker, or advanced military flag collection.

Designed personally by Adolf AH, this flag served the Heer and the Luftwaffe as their War Flag, and the Kriegsmarine as its War Ensign (the National Flag serving as Jack). This flag was hoisted daily in barracks operated by units of the Wehrmacht combined German military forces, and it had to be flown from a pole positioned near the barracks entrance, or failing this, near the guard room or staff building. New recruits in the latter part of World War II were sworn in on this flag (one recruit holding the flag and taking the oath on behalf of the entire recruit class with the recruits looking on as witnesses - before, this was done on the regimental colors).

The flag had to be formally hoisted every morning and lowered every evening. These hoisting and lowering ceremonies took the form of either an ordinary or a ceremonial flag parade. At the ordinary raising, the party consisted of the Orderly Officer of the Day, the guard, and one musician. At the ceremonial raising, one officer, one platoon of soldiers with rifles, the guard, the regimental band, and the corps of drums were all present.

The proportions of the flag are 3:5. Fusing elements of the NSDAP German Flag (swas and red background) with that of the old Imperial Reich War Flag (four arms emanating from off-center circle and Iron Cross in the canton), these flags were uniformly produced as a printed design on bunting.

Raised for the first time at the Bendlerstraße Building (Wehrmacht Headquarters) in Berlin on November 7, 1935, It was taken down for the last time by British occupation forces after the arrest of the Dönitz Government at the Naval Academy Mürwik in Flensburg-Mürwik, Germany, on May 23, 1945.

In his book, Inside the Third Reich, Albert Speer states that "in only two other designs did he (Adolf AH) execute the same care as he did his Obersalzberg house: that of the Reich War Flag and his own standard of Chief of State."