Banners of the German Police

A little over a year after being placed under the control of the SS, the German Police was finally considered ideologically pure enough to fully participate in the Reichsparteitag (Reichs Party Day) 1937. Only a year before, a small contingent of police marched in the parade at Nurnberg and even those men were only Blood Order and Golden Party Badge recipients. But at the Reichs Party Day 1937 festivities, the German Police were honored with a special ceremony during the Tag der Politischen Leiters on Friday, September 10, 1937 at which they received new Party-style flags for their troops, with a Deutschland Erwache Standarte to be consecrated and presented to them the following Sunday.

During the Friday event, speeches by Himmler and Hitler noted that the awarding of flags and the Standarte symbolized the philosophical union, a living connection, of the national police with the NSDAP, which had occurred since the merger of the police into the SS in June 1936. After the speeches, twenty-three Fahnen (flags) for Police garrisons across Germany were presented after consecration with the Blood Flag. To receive these flags, all the Inspectors of the Ordnungspolizei (senior SS/Police commanders within the Wehrkreis) were present at the ceremony. These flags were called Standartfahen and described as being identical to the Allegemeine-SS Sturmbannfahnen (General SS battalion flags) with the exception of the police insignia on the corner black square instead of the SS identification. Each flag was finished with a spike-type finial as used by the SS. In the months following the Reichs Party Day, these twenty-three flags were distributed to police garrisons across Germany in elaborate ceremonies for use in future parades and events such as the swearing-in of police recruits.

The Polizei Deutschland Erwache Standarte was discussed in Ulric of England's superlative work "Deutschland Elwache." The Polizei Standarte was consecrated and presented to the Police on Sunday, September 12 1937 along with Standarten for other Party formations. The construction was identical to those Standarten of the Allgemeine-SS, except for the placement of the police insignia and swastikas on the black front panel of the Standarte box. The rear was identical: the letters NSDAP in silver color, contrasting the black.The German Police were an integral part of the Reichs Party Day in 1938, though they were not honored with a special ceremony. The Ordnungspolizei received an additional thirty-eight more flags consecrated with the Blood Flag by Hitler on September 11, 1938. The September 20, 1938 edition of the magazine "Die Deutsche Polizei" described the ceremony and enumerated the flags as "...35 neue Standortfahnen und drei Stander der Motorisierte Gendarmerie..." (35 new garrison flags and three Stander of the motorized Rural Police). The term Stander is an unusual term and translates literally as a pennant. As used in the "Organizationsbuch d. NSDAP," the NSKK Sturm-Stander was a pennant flag awarded to NSKK companies. The pictures with the article in the police magazine were nothing other than the garrison flags.

The presentation of these three banners was recognized in an article on the Police Standarte and flags in a 1970 dated collector's magazine "Militaria," which noted that "Units of the NSKK and Motorized Police had a like banner (SA-Standarte) but with a different pole and hanging arrangement." The authors evidently had both written and photographic references but confused the design of the Stander with that of the Standarten of mounted and motorized units. Brian Davis in his book "Flags of the Third Reich: Party & Police Flags," notes that besides the DE Standarte, the police were presented fifty-eight different colors and three cavalry standards for the Motorized Gendarmerie. Davis evidently used only textual references in his book, as his description of the police banners evidences a mistranslation of the German text. He has no pictorial references to substantiate the description of "cavalry standards." In "Deutschland Erwache," Ulric describes an "Intermediate-Standard" of the police which was presented at the 1938 Reichsparteitag. A photo of this standard during presentation and a photo of one known in a private collection were included in the book.

From additional information found in issues of the police magazine, "Die Deutsche Polizei" and from private photographs of the Reichsparteitag parade of the police DE and flags and a Munich celebration, an explanation of this Police Stander can be made. Shown in the accompanying photo of the 1938 Reichsparteitag parade are three horizontally affixed flags leading the block of Police flag-bearers, but behind at some distance from the Police DE Standard. These must be the three Stander (Pennants) of the Motorized Gendarmerie mentioned in the article. They were equivalent to the Standortfahnen as they are paraded in the same group. While the configuration is similar to the standards of the motorized/cavalry SS, SA and NSKK units, the pennants can in no way be considered standards, Intermediate or otherwise as written by other authors. The Police Stander do not contain the magic words "Deutschland Erwache" as do the standards of motorized/cavalry units of the SS, SA and NSKK. The Stander was not surmounted with the Party eagle and was not paraded with the same seniority of the Police DE standard.

In the months following the Reichsparteitag 1938, the police magazine reported the consecration and transfer of two of these Standers to the Motorized Gendarmerie commands in Austria and Potsdam. On November 9, 1938, the Inspector of the Order Police for the Province of Brandenburg officiated the transfer ceremony of one of the Standers of the Reichsparteitag 1938 to the Motorized Gendarmerie Detachment Potsdam. A photo included in the article shows the Stander being carried in one of the unit's cars. In a February 1939 issue of "Die Deutsche Polizei," a photo and summary described the transfer of another of the Stander from the 1938 Reichsparteitag to the Motorized Gendarmerie of Ostmark. The Stander was received by the detachment in Purkersdorf. From an album in a private collection, the following photo of Freiherr v. Eberstein, Police President of Munich was taken in Munich in late 1938 and shows the presentation ceremony of the third 1938 Reichsparteitag Police Stander to the Motorized Gendarmerie detachment in Munich. The Standers were transferred to Motorized Gendarmerie garrisons responsible for the counties surrounding three major population centers: Berlin, Vienna and Munich. It is not known if any more of the Standers were created for other Motorized Gendarmerie units. No evidence has been found in subsequent issues of "Die Deutsche Polizei."

But according to Ulric's book, a similar Stander was made and presented in 1935, three years before the police version. Ulric also describes this flag as an Intermediate-Standard for the Signals Battalion of the SS- VT. Andrew Mollo published a drawing of the flag in his Vol. III of the "Uniforms of the SS" series some thirty years ago. The pictured flag was described as a standard of the SS Signals Sturmbann (Battalion) of the SS- Velfiigungstruppe. Now it is obvious that the construction of the Police Stander is identical to the earlier SS "Intermediate-Standard." Numerous collectors refer to it as the SS-Signals Standarte. But like the later Polizei Stander, it does not have the magic words "Deutschland Erwache". Nor is it surmounted with the Party eagle. Even the NSFK Standartes that were awarded in 1938, but lacked the words "Deutschland Erwache," were surmounted by the Party eagle. So why consider either the Police Stander or the identical SS flag the equivalent of a Deutschland Erwache Standarte?

From what we know of the Signals detachment of the SS- Verfiigungstruppe, it was established on March I, 1935 from SS trainees who had completed a two-month course in communication skills. In addition, the trainees learned military equestrian techniques in February 1935 at an old Police barracks in Berlin as was required at that time by signals troops. The battalion established in 1935 contained two companies of both motorized and horse-drawn platoons. The SS signals unit was intended to be mobile, as were military communications troops at the time. Thus, the banner given to the Signals Battalion would have been appropriate for mounted units and the Stander was created for that unit, suitable for carry on horse or in a vehicle. The cloth was fixed to a horizontal pole to prevent excessive movement and the entire arrangment was smaller in size than the normal Sturmbann Fahne to facilitate handling on horse or in a vehicle. Thus, a Stander instead of a Polizei Standortfahne was presented to a motorized Police unit of battalion size, like the Mot. Gendarmerie Abteilung.

Joseph Wotka, "Flags and Banners of the German Police 1933-1945 (The Banner of the SS-Signals Batallion of the SS-VT)", The Military Advisor, 2003

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The German Eagle

EMBLEMS: THE GERMAN EAGLE

The origin of the German eagle, the national emblem of Germany can be traced back to the ninth century and Charlemagne. Crowned emperor in Rome on Christmas Day in the year AD 800 Charlemagne claimed to be the successor of the Roman emperors.Because it was the emblem, the 'standard' carried by the Legions, he adopted the Roman eagle as his ensign and had it placed conspicuously on his palace at Aachen.

The German spread-eagle can be traced back to about AD 1100, the period of Hohenstaufen. The spread-eagle of the Holy Roman Empire was borne by successive German emperors in the attitude known as 'displayed', that is with the eagle's body upright, the wings on either side raised to the level of the head and the legs extended beneath them. An example of this type of displayed eagle is to be found enamelled on the hil t of the ceremonial sword which once belonged to Charlemagne and is now preserved in the Imperial Treasury in the Burg at Vienna. A distinction was later made between the spread-eagle with one head, and the double-headed eagle, the latter symbolizing both royal and imperial dignity.

The revolutionaries of 1848, the German II Reich of 1871 and the Weimar Republic dating from 1919 all adopted the earlier singleheaded spread-eagle symbol.

In the years between 1933 and 1945 the eagle was featured clutching in its talons a garland of oak leaves containing the swastika (Hakenkreuz), the emblem of the National Socialist Workers Party of Germany. This combination of eagle and swastika constituted the official emblem of the Third Reich.

A distinction was made between the form of the German eagle used by the armed forces (Army and Navy) and the Party with its multitude of political formations. Because it was the youngest of the three fighting services the new German Air Force, brought into being under the National Socialist regime, and from the outset strongly influenced and controlled in its development by Hermann Goring, chose a style of eagle that was in a sense a compromise between the traditional military forces and the new political movement. The German eagle with outstretched wings in an attitude of flight was featured on the new regimental flags of the Luftwaffe.

The Army and Navy used the displayed style of eagle known as the 'Wehrmachtalder, the armed forces eagle. This too was featured as part of the design used on their flags and standards. On the standard for the Fuhrer Escort Battalion the armed forces eagle and the political form of the eagle were used in combination.

In one form or another the German eagle was used on almost every military flag during the period of the Third Reich.

Brian Leigh Davis: "Flags & Standards of the Third Reich - Army,Navy & Air Force" Arco Publishing, 1975

Flag Terminology

When describing the details of a flag it is assumed that the flag to be described is flying from a staff held in the right hand of a bearer who is facing the observer with the flag flying over the head of the bearer towards his left. The side of the flag which faces the observer is called the 'obverse' and the other side 'reverse'. (Fig. A).

However, it should be noted that this method employed to 'read' a flag does not apply in the case of regimental flags and standards used by the German armed forces. Traditionally the German military have always referred to the obverse and reverse of their colours as the 'left side' and the 'right side'. This practice is the result of the position in which the flag or standard is held in relation to the bearer.

For the purpose of describing either face of a German military flag or standard it is assumed that the staff is held in front of the bearer with the flag flying over his head towards the rear. The right side of the flag (normally referred to as the reverse) is on the bearer's right side, and the flag's left side (the obverse) is on the bearer's left side.

Throughout this book all German unit flags and standards-which were those carried by a bearer-will be referred to, in keeping with the German practice, by either their right or left sides. Those flags which were normally flown from a flag pole, on a ship or building will be referred to in the accepted manner as having an obverse and a reverse.

It should be further noted that on the colour plates in this book illustrating regimental flags and standards the emblem (the finial) on top of the staff faces either towards or away from the observer depending on whether the left or the right side of the flag or standard is being shown. This is deliberate. It was considered important to show these items in detail and to their best advantage. This method corresponds to that used in official German military handbooks which feature flags and standards of this type.

In practice these emblems faced forward away from the flag itself. When the flag or standard was viewed from either the left or right side the emblem on top of the staff was only seen from its left or right side, and in many cases if illustrated in this way only a very narrow side view of the emblem would be visible.

Streamers were normally illustrated in official German handbooks as lying against the left side of the flag or standard. in many cases this practice has been continued throughout this book.

Below are listed some of the more commonplace terms, with explanations, employed in the language of flags. Although they apply primarily to describing flags in the English language they can be used even when describing German national and military flags.

Active; Normally refers to the rays of a star or sun symbol, the rays of which are illustrated with undulating curves in an 'active' fashion (see also 'inactive'), Refer to 'Flag for Navy land units and Schools'.

Banner; By definition a banner is a square or rectangular heraldic flag with a design usually painted or embroidered; it is carried suspended from a cross bar flxed to an upright pole. Originally used as a standard in time of war. No banners were used in the German armed forces. Refer to 'The political-SA 'Feldherrnhalle' Standard for use by Army Infantry Regiment 271' as the nearest equivalent to a banner.

Canton; The portion of a flag, generally rectangular in shape, occupying the upper corner nearest the hoist. The canton often, but not necessarily, covered an area a quarter of the flag's size (see also 'in-canton ').
Refer to 'The National War Flag' and 'The Reich Service Flag'.

Charge; An heraldic term meaning to superimpose a device, emblem, badge etc. on a fleld of a flag.

Charged with; Means 'having placed upon it',

Collar; Thc neck chain of an order. When depicted on a flag it is often used to encircle the shield of a coat-of-arms. Refer to 'The Austrian "Hoch-und Deutschmeister" Flag for Grenadier-Regiment 134.'

Colour(s); In its singular or collective sense refers to the ceremonial flags and standards of the armed forces. In the plural can also signify the whole suite of flags worn by a ship or warship's 'Colours' are its ensign, jack and pennant. Not to be confused with colour as primary and secondary hues such as red, green, yellow, blue etc.

Colour pike; Short staff used to carry a personal field standard. Refer to 'Personal Standard for Hermann Goring as Reichsmarschall of the Greater German Reich (1st pattern)'.

Command flags; These were used by the German military in all three branches of the armed forces. In varying regulated sizes they were used on road vehicles, aircraft, ships, buildings and as field emblems to indicate the presence of scnior officers.

Device; An emblematic or heraldic drawing, design or figure.

Emblem; State or national. A design of heraldic or other symbols used by some States or nations to fulfil the function of a coat-of-arms, i.e. to epitomise the spirit or individuality of the State and to distinguish it from others. Refer to 'The National and Mercantile Flag.'

Ensign; The principal flag in a warship's suite of Colours. Flown from the ensign staff at the stern of the vessel, or when at sea from the gaff or other part of the after rigging. Sometimes refers to a personal flag or standard used as a mark of office.

Escutcheon; A shield with armorial bearings.
Refer to 'The Austrian "Hoch-und Deutschmeister" flag for Grenadier-Regiment 134' and 'The Honour Standard of the Legion Condor.'

Ferrule; A metal cap or shoe fitted over the lower end of a staff to strengthen or protect it.

Field; The basic area of a flag. It also applies to the basic colour of a flag.

Finial; A special cast or carved ornament, such as a spearhead, placed at the top of a staff.

Flag; In general any piece of cloth attached along one side to a staff or halyard, intended to fly freely in the wind and, by displaying its colours or the insignia on it, to act as a rallying-point, mark of identity, or signal. Flags are divided by their shape into several categories: rectangular or square flags, swallow-tailed, triangular flags, pennants. Flags which are intended for general use in all weathers are made of bunting which originally was a loose woven, light woollen cloth (now usually re-inforced with manmade flbre). Unit flags-and standards-intended for ceremonial use are generally made of silk. The proportions of a flag are described as the ratio of the length to the breadth; for German flags whose length was twice the breadth it was shown as I :2. In German military usage unit flags (Fahnen) were square in shape and were in general carried by foot troops.

Fly, the; The part of a flag farthest from the flag mast.

Hoist, the; The part of the flag nearest to the flag mast as opposed to the fly.

Inactive; The rays of a star or sun symbol illustrated in a stiff and inactive manner (see also 'active'). Refer to 'Command Flag for the Reich Minister for Air Travel (1st and 2nd patterns)' as well as Luftwaffe unit flags.

In Canton; Means 'in the top left-hand corner' of a flag or shield (see also 'Canton').
Refer to 'Southern Cross Emblem'.

Inescutcheon; Smaller type of heraldic shield superimposed in the centre of the fleld.
An heraldic term.

Jack; The flag flown on the jackstaff in the bows of a naval vessel. Used in this role only when the ship is at anchor or in port. In some countries it is also flown by merchant vessels. The German word for Jack is 'Gosch'.

Motto; A word or a phrase, sometimes in a classical language, inscribed on a scroll accompanying a coat-of-arms or State emblem, expressing an appropriate sentiment. Has the same purpose as a'legend'. Refer to 'Land Police Group "General Goring" Flags' and 'The Honour Standard of the Legion Condor'.

Pole, flag; A wooden or metal upright to which is attached, or from which is flown, a flag. Term used in this work to refer to non-portable flag poles.

Scroll; A long narrow riband normally displayed above or below an emblem and inscribed with a motto, slogan, legend or sentiment (see also 'Motto').

Staff, flag or standard; A wooden upright to which is attached the flag- or standardcloth. Term used in this work to refer to a portable item.

Standard; Strictly speaking a standard is a flag which 'stands by itself'. In modern usage standard has come to mean practically the same as 'banner'. In German Army usage a standard (Standarte) referred to the swallow-tailed flag carried by cavalry and motorized troops and certain motorized detachments of foot troops. The SA formation 'Standarte' is what would normally be referred to in English as a banner.

Swallow-tailed flags; Flags which have a triangular section cut out of the fly in order to make them 'forked'. Can be referred to as a 'burgee'. German Army standards had a 25cm-deep section cut out of the fly of the standard-cloth in a special shape known as a 'hussar cut'.

Truck; The disc or knob at the top of a flag pole containing the pulley over which the halyard passes allowing the flag to be raised or lowered.

Brian Leigh Davis: "Flags & Standards of the Third Reich - Army,Navy & Air Force" Arco Publishing, 1975