Original Item: Only One Available. Recently purchased at a militaria show, is this genuine USGI bring back German WWII Reichsnährstand State Food Society Local Agriculture Standard Flag. This organization was responsible for all food production and agriculture in NSDAP Germany, and intended to make sure that there would be no food shortages, however in the end it almost had the opposite effect. The cartel-like price fixing and other policies resulted in many laborers leaving agriculture, and production dropped markedly during the mid-late 1930s.

The flag itself is very similar to the NSDAP standard, with a red cotton canvas background, and it is double sided, with white circles bearing sewn on black NSDAP swas (hook cross) emblems on each side. The flag measures 45" x 54" overall, and the canton bears and 8 3/4" x 11 3/4" green rectangular patch with a gold bullion border, for Bauernschaft (agriculture). It bears yellow / gold chain stitched embroidery, showing a plow in the middle, with Ortsbauernschaft (local agriculture) above, and the location of Hohenroth below. This is a rural area in the Bavarian area of Germany.

The flag is in very good condition, showing the expected age toning and light staining in areas. The canton insignia has some soiling and scattered brown spot stains overall on both sides. There are no major holes or tears on the flag, though all seven of the hanger loops on the header side have been cut through, most likely by the USGI who brought this back. Originally these were probably linked to metal or plastic rings, and used to attach it to a pole.

A very interesting example of a German WWII era Agricultural standard, ready to research and display!

The Reichsnährstand or 'State Food Society', was a government body set up in NSDAP Germany to regulate food production, officially founded by the Reichsnährstandsgesetz (decree) of 13 September 1933; it was led by R. Walther Darré.

The Reichsnährstand had legal authority over everyone involved in agricultural production and distribution. It attempted to interfere in the market for agricultural goods, using a complex system of orders, price controls, and prohibitions, through regional marketing associations. Under the “Hereditary Farm Law of 1933” (Reichsnährstandsgesetz), farmers were bound to their land since most agricultural land could not be sold. The law was enacted to protect and preserve Germany's smaller hereditary estates that were no larger than 308 acres. Below that acreage, farmlands could “not be sold, divided, mortgaged or foreclosed on for debt.” Cartel-like marketing boards fixed prices, regulated supplies and oversaw almost every facet in directing agricultural production on farmlands. Besides deciding what seeds and fertilizers were to be applied to farmlands, the Reichsnährstand secured protection from selling foreign food imports inside Germany, and placed a “moratorium on debt payments.”

As the scope and depth of the National Socialists command economy escalated, food production and rural standard of living declined. By autumn of 1936, Germany began to experience critical shortages of food and consumer goods, despite the spending of billions of Reichsmarks on price subsidies to farmers. Germans were even subjected to rationing of many major consumer goods, including “produce, butter and other consumables.” Besides food shortages, Germany began to encounter a loss of farm laborers, where up to 440,000 farmers had abandoned agriculture between 1933 and 1939.

The Reichsnährstand's argument that Germany "needed" an additional 7-8 million hectares of farmland, and that consolidation of existing farms would displace many existing farmers who would need to work new land, influenced A H's decision to invade the Soviet Union.