Original Item: Only One Available. The Nationalpolitische Erziehungsanstalten (National Political Educational Institutes) were SS-run organizations established for the purpose of training future leaders for the Reich. Officially abbreviated NPEA, and commonly abbreviated to Napola for Nationalpolitische Lehranstalt (National Political Teaching Institute), they were secondary boarding schools in Germany founded as ‘community education sites’ after the NSDAP seizure of power in 1933. A number of NPEA schools were set-up throughout Germany and many of its occupied countries, with most leaders and instructors coming from the SS. The organizations motto was Mehr Sein als Scheinen ("Be More Than You Appear").

The main task of the NPEA was the "education of National Socialists, efficient in body and soul for the service to the people and the state". The pupils attending these schools were meant to become the future leadership of Germany – political, administrative, and military. Until the beginning of World War II on 1 September 1939, the Napolas served as strong politically-accentuated elite preparatory schools within the framework of the general higher education system. During the war, they increasingly developed into preparatory schools for entry into the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS. In keeping with their unique nature, Napola schools operated separate from all other German secondary schools.

The organization developed its own insignia, somewhat based on the HJ National Youth organization: a white diamond with a swas (hook cross) inside on a red field, with horizontal lines meeting the ends of the diamond. This was used on the organizations armbands as well as their flags.

This is a very nice example of a rarely seen NPEA National Political Educational Institute Flag, measuring 45" in hoist and 54" in fly. It is of multi-piece construction, featuring a red wool body with cotton insignia and bars sewn to it. It also has lovely silver bullion fringes on three of four sides, with the hanging side bare. It is double sided so that the insignia appear correct from either direction. Condition is very good, with some age toning to the white areas, and there are definitely some areas of water staining, probably from exposure to the elements after capture. The red field shows mothing in areas, very common with wool flags.

This particular flag was captured by members of the 282nd Engineer Combat Battalion, part of XII Corps, which was one of the components of George S. Patton's Third United States Army. The 282nd ECB landed in France December 24, 1944, and was deployed during the Battle of the Bulge in mid-January 1945. Many members of the Battalion signed the flag along with their addresses, added after it was captured during the war. These signatures look to have been written by several different people, and the flag came with a printout with the names on the flag, which reads as follows:

- Vincent Furia
- Donald W. Warner
- Albert P. Babisch
- Frank H. Sheely
- Irvin Dzierzawski
- Curt B. Howerton
- Carter Shisler
- Albert L. Barnett
- John Patterson
- Douglas S. Gordon
- Warren Zitzner
- William J. Perkins
- O.O. Berridge (full name Orrie O. Berridge)
- Randolph A. Pasen
- John Armes
- Thomas Perez
- Henry Rigelhof
- John J. Lang
- Elza Berry

A very nice USGI bring back NPEA fringed flag, a great research project which would also make a great part of a WWII wall display.