Original German WWII Battlefield Pickup Tank Identification Flag – 36″ x 30″ Original Items

Original Item: One-of-a-kind. Picked up off of the battlefield after the fighting was over, battlefield pickup items always have a mystique that makes them special. No two are the same, because the weather, damage, and amount of time spent are unique.

This a very nice “Battlfield Pickup” condition cotton multi-piece construction German WWII Panzer tank identification flag. It measures approximately 36 x 30 inches, and has the standard NSDAP Swas (Hook Cross or Swas) dyed onto a circular white field. This was then sewn onto the red body of the flag.  This cotton flag features multi-piece construction and is single sided, originally with grommets located in each corner. These grommets were secured to tension lines that secured the flag to the back of the tank laying flat. Thereby the flag was only visible to persons located above the tank. Generally these flags were intended to be seen by German airplanes so as not to be struck by friendly fire.

Most German tanks were destroyed during combat, so very few of these flags remained at the end of the war and most known examples were taken directly removed from tanks by USGIs in the field.  This one was taken, either from a tank or from the ground, but after some time had passed, so it has stains, holes, and rust on the grommets from exposure to weather. Only two of the grommets remain, and those are quite rusted, and also have left stains from when the flag was folded up. Please see the pictures for further details and condition issues.

A very nice one of a kind battlefield pickup tank ID flag, ready to display!