Posted 10 years ago
baileybailey
(3 items)
I found the same Nazi flag on the Eisenhower National Historic Site! It was in my dad's box of WWII items.
I copied and pasted the following information
Pennant
1945
This Nazi pennant was taken by GIs towards the end of the war. It has a handwritten note, "Germany Feb. 25, 1945," with the name and signatures of twelve GIs.
The situation for Nazi Germany worsened considerably in the winter of 1945. Warsaw, Poland, fell to the Soviet Army on January 17. While the Russians attacked from the east, on the western front the Allies began making major incursions into Germany itself.
Under cover of darkness, in the early hours of February 23, 1945, six American infantry divisions forced a crossing of the Roer River in Operation Grenade. As a result, a large area of Germany west of the Rhine was occupied. Two days into this advance, some of the victorious GIs autographed this Nazi pennant taken as a war trophy. The pennant is of the type used on German military vehicles in World War II.
With the 9th Armored Division’s chance capture of a bridge spanning the Rhine River at Remagen, March 7, 1945, the way was clear for the final battles. Private Alexander Drabik, a member of Company A, 27th Armored Infantry Battalion, and a native of Toledo, Ohio, was the first American foot soldier to reach the opposite side of the Rhine. For his bravery under fire, Drabik received a promotion to sergeant as well as the Distinguished Service Cross. The Rhine River was considered the last major natural obstacle preventing Eisenhower’s advance into Germany’s heartland.
Cotton. H 34.9, L 39.0 cm
Eisenhower National Historic Site, EISE 9581.
It feels strange to 'like' or even 'love' such a thing - but I appreciate that it is an interesting object, seen from a historical point of view (and in your case, also personal)
jensen
I agree! I don't "like" what it represented, but I am learning a lot of history that is going along with items I am finding!
I have such a thing but I can't display it because people think I am a Nazi. It's just another piece like my American bayonets but people do not understand.
The same Nazi flag on the Eisenhower National Historic Site!
The men and women who were in WWII who fought for this country, including my FATHER was not a Nazi! My dad, and all of his brothers were in WWII. One of my uncles lost both his legs in a tank that went over a mine in Germany. I would be insulted if someone thought I was a Nazi, because my dad brought home these items as many as the men and women who were in the war. That is an insult to them , too. It is history PERIOD!
I agree BB. There are lots of collectors of these things & never known one who had any Nazi leanings. Just history.
Yes it history that can never be forgotten. For the brave men that fought for it, and the ones who opposed it. Third Reich memorable is highly collectible. Plus you learn so much history in the process. It's weird how it works. Japan, who was once our enemy is collecting anything that is American ww2. Just like Amercans collecting German ww2.
They are Mike? that's interesting.
Actually, I had a string of 4 of these back in the 50's - 60's & they were strung up across streets etc..