Original Item: Only One Available. During the NSDAP period A H and the military leadership believed in the morale-improving effects of music, and military bands were in use from units as small as a battalion up to entire branches. These of course would need someone to bear the new Troop Colors flags introduced in 1936, which were identical except for the background color of the flag, which matched the Waffenfarbe (Corps Color) of the unit. The flags had a background Iron Cross emblem with a wreathed closed-wing wehrmachtadler (Armed Forces Eagle) in the center, and swas's in the corner.

While after 1939 structure changes made less units permitted to maintain a band, they were still maintained by many units. It then became customary for the unit commander to appoint an NCO as the standard bearer, and they would often wear a chained gorget when on parade as a sign of their special position. They also had an insignia worn on the right sleeve, the Abzeichen der Fahnen-und Standartenträger (Badge for Flag and Standard Bearers). These were BeVo machine embroidered on a field gray background using aluminum flat wire thread, as well as black and a third color that matched the units corps color. The design has a central closed-wing Wehrmachtadler with standard flags on either side, over a spray of oak leaves.

This is a superb BeVo-style embroidered German WWII Heer (Army) Cavalry Standard Bearer's Sleeve patch, which were worn by the official flag bearers of the unit. WWII was really the end of traditional Cavalry, and even in WWII most of the Cavalry units were later converted into other types of units during the war, so these patches are extremely rare.

These were originally machine embroidered onto a large roll, and cut off into rectangular sections. However, this example was cut off a uniform, so the original background fabric is now missing. It measures about 4 1/2"H x 4"W, and is very good condition, though it does show wear. The background is the correct Feldgrau (Field gray) color, with silver, black, and white thread used in the design. It shows a central Reichsadler (National Eagle) over oak leaves, with flags to either side. These have Gold-gelb (Golden Yellow) on the corners, the Waffenfabre (Corps Color) for Cavalry units in the German army.

The condition is quite good, though the more fragile Golden yellow threads have unfortunately worn off a lot on the front of the badge, though they are still clearly shown on the rear.

A very rare Sleeve patch, ready to add to your collection and display!