Original Item: Only One Available. The SS (Schutzstaffel - 'Protection Squadron') was originally formed in 1925, ostensibly to act as a small, loyal bodyguard unit to protect the Führer, Adolf AH. Under the direction of the Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler, the SS grew to be the most ruthless and feared organization of the 20th century. They were the vanguard of NSDAPsm and eventually controlled nearly every function of German life and much of Occupied Europe.

This a beautiful example of a WWII German SS Car / Automobile / Vehicle Rigid Steel Wimpel (Pennant) or Flag, made by Max Knobloch GmBH of Döbeln, Germany. These would be flown on a small staff attached to the fender of the automobile or other vehicle it was attached to. It is double sided and is of steel construction, with a painted emblem and border. Design is the standard black field with a white circle surrounding the SS double ᛋᛋ "Sig" symbol, often called "Lightning Bolts". The pennant measures approximately 8 1/2 inches in hoist and 12 3/4 inches in fly, with nickel plated brass attachment fittings on the header. The lower fitting of the pennant is stamped with an (RZM) circle next to code M3/61.

The Reichszeugmeisterei, or RZM, was  based at the Brown house in Munich and NSDAP party headquarters in Berlin. The RZM ensured that the manufacturers of military items were consistent in design, quality of materials and other characteristics of the items. It also defined standards of design, manufacturing and quality and published an authoritative color chart for textiles. The M3 in the code stands for Party Emblems & Flag Rings, with Max Knobloch being contractor number 61.

Condition is very good, with a nice gently aged patina, and with the paint in very good condition. There is a bit of paint flaking and oxidation, but that is to be expected for an item now over 75 years in age.

Highly impressive and loaded with eye appeal, this is sure to make a great addition to any collection!

The Allgemeine-SS, (General-SS), was originally formed in May 1923 as the Stosstrupp Adolf AH, (Shock Troops Adolf AH), and was redesignated Schutzstaffel, (Protection Squad), in April 1925 with the official acceptance of the name verified on the second anniversary of the failed Munich "Beer-Hall" Putsch on November 9TH 1925. On January 6TH 1929 Heinrich Himmler was appointed as Reichsführer-SS, (National Leader {of the} SS), and on July 20TH 1934 shortly after the, June 30TH 1934, purge of the SA, Sturm Abteilung, (Storm Troopers) on the "Night of the Long Knives", the SS was rewarded by AH by being granted the status of an independent organization under direct control of the NSDAP, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party).

The SS developed the distinctive SS style cap skull and cross bones on October 6TH 1934 and introduced the SS pattern national cap eagle in February 1936. After their introductions the skull and eagle were to be worn on all forms of SS headgear. In 1944 the SS developed a single piece of cap insignia which incorporated both the skull and eagle on a one piece trapezoid base for wear on the M43 field cap. Originally these trapezoidal pieces of insignia were produced in a machine woven version until a final, embroidered version was introduced in late 1944. The first versions of the trapezoidal cap insignia featured dual rows of teeth in the skull while later versions only had a single row of teeth. Panzer personnel’s cap trapezoids were produced with a black base to match the color of the cap it was to be worn on.