Thursday, April 03, 2008
A standard for the 1st Battalion of the 71st Artillery Regiment.
Bright red silk cloth. Hand-embroidered black army eagle on both sides set off with brown feathers, and beak and claws in gold trim embroidery on a field of cream-coloured silk, surrounded by an embroidered silver oak leaf wreath on an iron cross. Four appliqué swastikas in the corners. Silver fringe on three sides. Ca. 51 x 69 cm.
The 48 attachment nails (worn by polishing) are backed by silver lace. Black polished wooden staff, complete with a light metal, tear-drop finial bearing an army eagle and a circular scroll, six nickel-silver longitudinal metal bars, and a removable nickel-silver shoe. Silver-plated brass battalion ring (one nail missing) with the appropriate engraving. Interwoven black-white-red banderol with clasps "16 März 1935" and "16 März 1936" respectively). Total height 285 cm.
Clear, vivid colours, the sleeve has a small tear due to age, the staff has defects in the lacquer and can be separated under the battalion ring.
A rarity, as not only are the standards for mechanized artillery regiments already rare, but scarcely any staffs or battalion rings survived the war.
The 1st Battalion consisted of three batteries and was raised on 6 October 1936 in Heilbronn and attached to the 35th Infantry Division, their colours were awarded to them by the Reich's Minister of War on 26 October 1937 during festive ceremonies in the Wiesbaden Spa Hall. When mobilised, the original battalion was assigned to the 35th Artillery Regiment. It saw action in France, on the Belgian canal coast, at Smolensk, Moscow, Gzhatsk, Mogilew, Bobruisk, Modlin, and in West Prussia. Destroyed in April 1945 in Danzig and on Hela.
鄧尼茲元帥旗Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz - a Grand Admiral's flag
White cotton linen, both sides imprinted in colour with an iron cross, on which are crossed Grand Admiral's batons with applied eagle. Stamped "Flg. Grossadmiral 1,0 x 1,0" and naval acceptance stamp. With a burn hole and other small holes, otherwise well preserved with vivid colours.
隆梅爾元帥權仗Field Marshal Erwin Rommel (1891 - 1944) - a marshal's baton
A jeweller made reproduction of his marshal's baton, awarded on 22 June 1942, one day after the battle of Tobruk. Silver, gold-plated in places, good craftsmanship. The shaft is covered with red velvet with superimposed national eagles and iron crosses. Gold-plated finial knobs with bound oak leaves, decorated with an iron cross and with the national eagle. Surrounded by the dedication in gothic letters "Der Führer dem Generalfeldmarschall Rommel" (The Führer to Field Marshal Rommel) and "Zum Freiheitskampf des deutschen Volkes 22. Juni. 1942." (For the German People's War of Liberation, 22 June 1942). Length 49.5 cm.