Reichs War Flag: A third pattern?

by Claude Langlois

In Die Kriegsmarine by Angolia and Schlicht, volume 3, pages 324-332, the authors elaborate on the Reich War flag. For the purpose of this article, I will concentrate on the 1935 Reich War flag and the 1937/38 pattern.

In my possession is a Reich War flag that differs slightly from the two patterns mentioned in Die Kriegsmarine. Three photographs are attached so the readers can see the differences.

The first picture illustrates the 1935 pattern. The second photo shows the 1937/38 pattern as depicted in Die Kriegsmarine

The third flag (shown at the top of the article), poses some questions. The difference from this pattern and the 1935 and 1937/38 patterns is that the bars of the center cross touch the outter ring. In addition, there are no interruptions or spaces between the circle and the center cross. Furthermore, the arms of the swastika touch the inner circle.

My question is: Do these differences constitute a third pattern of the Reichs War flag?

This flag illustrated (top) was a veteran-acquired item. It is marked with a Kriegsmarine eagle, “Kr Fl. 150 x 250” and the maker ‘s name, “WITTE K.G. MÜNCHEN.”

Therefore, readers, if you have any information or theories about this pattern, send them to Military Trader.