#50487 Available
ULTRA RARE Nazi flag made in TEXAS U.S.A 1930's
Category:
€ 1.995,00
In the 1930s, the Nazi flag (the swastika) in the United States was both an officially recognized symbol of a foreign power and a widely used emblem by local pro-Nazi organizations. Although many flags were imported directly from Germany as propaganda, Nazi symbols were also manufactured locally in the US by and for American sympathizers: German American Bund (Amerikadeutscher Volksbund): This organization, founded in 1936, was the most influential pro-Nazi group in the US. They used flags that combined Nazi symbolism with American elements to emphasize their "patriotism." Historical collections contain items such as Nazi rayon table flags manufactured in the US for Bund rallies. Madison Square Garden Rally (1939): During this infamous rally, massive Nazi flags hung alongside American flags and a portrait of George Washington. Many of the decorations and uniforms used for such large-scale events were provided by local branches of the Bund. Recognition by the US government: In September 1935, US Secretary of State Cordell Hull informed the governors that the swastika flag had become the official national flag of Germany. From that moment on, the flag was present at all official functions in the US involving the German government. The flag officially flew at the German embassy in Washington and various consulates until the declaration of war in December 1941. When the US declared war on the Axis powers in 1941, the German American Bund was banned. The FBI carried out numerous raids in which large quantities of Nazi material, including flags and swastika decorations, were seized. Many of these "US-made" flags from that era are now located in archives such as the National Archives.
This item:
This is an extremely rare flag manufactured in the 1930s in the United States. In my opinion, this flag was not used by the German embassy or consulate in the U.S., as German-produced flags were used there. That leaves two options regarding the existence of this flag: Die Deutsche Bund (Nazi sympathizers in the U.S.). I was also reminded of a photo I once had of the coffins lined up after the Hindeburg disaster in 1937. It is clearly visible there that every coffin was draped with the German flag, with coffins covered with the American flag in between. It is a flag manufactured according to typical American standards. German flags were fitted with a hem containing a rope. American flags are fitted with brass rings. The flag is beautifully stamped by the manufacturer, and the dimensions are displayed in inches instead of centimeters. I will try to explain how this flag is constructed: German flags are generally made of wool; this one is made of cotton, which was naturally readily available in the U.S. German flags were often printed in the colors black and red. Early variants were manufactured using a so-called "multi-layer" construction, for example by sewing the white disc onto the fabric and then placing the swastika on top of that. This American-produced flag is incredibly complex in its construction and, in my opinion, must have been very labor-intensive. The flag consists of two horizontal panels sewn together. Subsequently, the disc was cut out (which, incidentally, is not centered, which is also striking). Both panels were then dyed, and the white panel was sewn back in. The swastika in the center of the disc was first cut out and then sewn back in using a different black fabric. This results in a double-sided outcome, yet it is only correctly displayed on one side. Finally, the whole piece is finished with a hem on the mast side, which is then fitted with brass rings. Then, the flag is reinforced on the other side by multiple seams. It must have been a very labor-intensive job. You can see that this is a very different construction from the flags manufactured in Germany. After the dissolution of the Deutsche Bund by the government, the manufacture and possession of this flag were prohibited. It would truly be nonsense to think that this flag is a post-war production because: a) it is prohibited, and b) enormous numbers of German flags were taken by veterans; to this day, they are still regularly offered for sale. This is truly a flag of great historical value. Something that has virtually never appeared on the market.