Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fantastic USGI captured and documented German WWII Reichskriegsflagge (Imperial War Flag), which was the official name of the war flag and war ensign used by the German armed forces from 1933 to 1945. These are without a doubt the most impressive battle flag design of the German WWII era, and it is in a nice large size. It measures 78.7" x 131.9", or 200cm x 335cm. This larger size indicates it would have been used on a sizable ship.

The flag is constructed of wool fabric, with a red field (background) bearing the black & white German Naval Balkenkreuz (Beam Cross) design going to the edges. There is a large white central circle displaying a large Swas (hook cross) in black. In the top corner (Canton) is a black on white Eisernes Kreuz (Iron cross) cross pattée design. It features a canvas header, with with an integral halyard terminating in loops on either end.

The flag is definitely in worn and faded condition, as it was a valued trophy of war that we assume was on display for decades in a VFW hall or basement. It has the wear and discoloration to prove it, as well as some tearing and other issues. However the flag is still faintly marked on the header with the original capture markings, which read:

CAPTURE BY SGT. WALLY WASZAK IN BATTLE SEPT 1944

Walter R. Waszak ASN 20653742 was born during 1921 in Wisconsin, and enlisted October 15, 1940 in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, more than a year before the U.S. entered WWII. We are not sure of his exact service history, however he was eventually assigned to Battery C of the 734th Field Artillery Battalion, which functioned as part of XX corps while in Europe. This battle grouping became operational in France as part of Lieutenant General George S. Patton's U.S. Third Army on 1 August 1944. The corps quickly moved and liberated multiple locations in France during August.

We were able to locate the specific Tour of Duty that Battery C took during September 1944, and when this flag was captured, battery C was in Rancourt (Revigny), Reims, and Toul France. We were even able to locate period photographs of Waszak, as well as a period photo of THIS VERY FLAG, taken in the field with what are presumably members of the Battalion in front of it. We very rarely get items such such great documentation as this. For further pictures, research, and just about anything you might want to know about the service of the 734th Field Artillery Battalion, please see the page documenting the history of the XX Corps during WWII: 734TH FA.

The Naval battle flag itself is totally original and is marked on the header with the Eagle / M indicating German Kriegsmarine (Navy) acceptance. The header is also stamped on the right hand side with the flag type designation:

This size flag is an "8", as noted in the Kriegsmarine Flaggenbuch (Navy Flag Book), which would be for a ship 1500 to 10K tons, such as a destroyer or light cruiser. Due to the size, we were unfortunately not able to get an accurate full size shot with our photo facilities.

This is a fantastic USGI Captured and Documented example of this classic Third Reich Naval Battle flag. Ready to research and display!

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."