Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good condition multi-piece construction German WWII Swas (hook cross) identification flag used for Panzer tanks and other vehicles. It measures approximately 30 ½” x 38 inches and has the standard NSDAP Swas (Hook Cross) dyed onto a circular white field. This was then sewn onto the red cotton body of the flag. It shows no evidence of having been issued in the field, however it does show staining from long storage, including some water stains. It looks like it may have had tape applied to portions of the reverse at some point. Interestingly, there is the marking TeT. (Shield) 36 on the corner, which could be a maker marking with a date, This marking is folded over the side, so it is from before the edges of the flag were stitched over.
This flag features multi-piece construction and is single sided with brass plated steel 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 directly removed from tanks by USGIs in the field.
Comes ready to display on your Panzers!