Original Items: Only one Set of 5 Available. This is a very nice small USGI bring back lot, recently acquired at a military show. It contains a nice variety of items, and would be a really good way to get into collecting German WWII militaria.

This set consists of:
- One Small German WWII NSDAP Flag Measuring 7 1/2" x 13 3/4". This flag is quite small compared to most we see, and was probably made for displaying inside rooms. It is in very good condition, and double sided, with what look to be the insignia normally used on NSDAP armbands stitched onto both sides. It is named to the soldier who brought it back from Germany on the folded over header :

JIM CHAPPEL, STUTTGART GERMANY
MAY, 1945

We do not have any information about this serviceman, but there is definitely some good research potential in this very nice condition flag.

- One German WWII NSDAP Party Machine Wool & Rayon Armband with RZM Tag. This service worn condition armband definitely shows wear from service, as well as moth damage to the felt wool body, however it still retains the original paper RZM tag. It also has been re-stitched in the back, and has tan thread stitches in areas along the edges, so it looks to be an NSDAP or SA uniform cutoff example.

- One German WWII Cross of Honor of the German Mother in Bronze (3rd Class) with ribbon. Offered in very good lightly used condition, it has had clasps installed on the back so it could be more easily worn. The bronze wash on the cross is very well retained. as is the enamel.

- One German WWII Civil Service Faithful Service 2nd Class Cross for 25 Years of Service with ribbon pin. Offered in very good service used condition, this definitely looks to have been displayed for some time. There is wear to the cross, and the rayon ribbon shows staining and discoloration from dirt.

- One German WWII D.V.D. Westmark (Lothr.) Membership Pin by W. REDO of SAARLAUTERN. The Deutscher Volks Genossen Bund (German Fellow-Countrymen League) was an ethnic German organization from the Alsace-Lorraine region of France who sought unification with Germany. Lothringen is the German name for the Lorraine region.

Comes more than ready for display!

The Cross of Honour of the German Mother, referred to colloquially as the Mutterehrenkreuz (Mother’s Cross of Honor) or simply Mutterkreuz (Mother’s Cross), was a state decoration conferred by the government of the German Reich to honor a Reichsdeutsche German mother for exceptional merit to the German nation. Eligibility later extended to include Volksdeutsche (ethnic German) mothers from, for example, Austria and Sudetenland, that had earlier been incorporated into the German Reich.

The decoration was conferred from 1939 until 1945 in three classes: bronze, silver, and gold, to Reichsdeutsche mothers who exhibited probity, exemplary motherhood, and who conceived and raised at least four or more children in the role of a parent. A similar practice, that continues to this present day, was already established in France since 1920, by conferring the Médaille de la Famille française (Medal of the French Family), a tribute to the French mother who raised several children in an appropriate way.

In recognition of the substantial importance a woman's role and motherhood was in support of a strong Germany, the Cross of Honor of the German Mother was introduced by decree in Berlin on 16 December 1938 by Führer und Reichskanzler (leader and chancellor) AH. The preamble of the statutory decree declared:

As a visible sign of gratitude of the German nation to children-rich mothers I establish this Cross of Honor of the German Mother

The crosses were awarded annually on the second Sunday in May (Mothering Sunday or Mother's Day), but also extended to include other national annual occasions of celebration. So despite its institution in 1938, the first awards were rendered in May 1939.

The Mother's Cross was composed of three classes, and conferred to mothers in accordance with its statutory legislation: Verordnung des Führers und Reichskanzlers über die Stiftung des Ehrenkreuzes der Deutschen Mutter vom 16. Dezember 1938. Reichsgesetzblatt (RGBI) Teil I, 1938, Nr. 224, Seite 1923 (In English: Statutory Order of the Leader and Chancellor on the establishment of the Cross of Honor of the German Mother of 16 December 1938. Imperial-(Reichs) Law Gazette (RGBl) Part I, 1938, No. 224, Page 1923), and its stringent nomination screening protocol.

Classes
-1st class, Gold Cross: eligible mothers with eight or more children
-2nd class, Silver Cross: eligible mothers with six or seven children
-3rd class, Bronze Cross: eligible mothers with four or five children

The cross design is a slender elongated form of the Iron Cross or cross pattée and very similar in design to the Marian Cross of the Teutonic Order, enameled translucent-blue with a slim opaque-white border. Resting on the center radiant starburst rays is a metal roundel decorated with the words DER DEUTSCHEN MUTTER (in English: TO THE GERMAN MOTHER) around an enameled black straight centered "swas" symbol, infilled white enamel. Reverse of medal reads 16 December 1938, which is the date that the award was first established, along with AH's Signature.

The cross design was the creation of the established Munich-based architect and sculptor Franz Berberich. The production of the cross involved several established Präsidialkanzlei (Presidential Chancellery) approved medal makers from across the German Reich. A maker's mark was never applied to the crosses produced; though each official house of manufacture did apply their name to the dark-blue presentation case (inside cover) for the 1st Class Gold Cross and the presentation sachets (reverse side) for each of the 2nd and 3rd Class Cross.