SS Flag

[DannyD1199]

I recently came into possession of a few of my uncle's things he brought home from the war. Among the most interesting pieces is an SS flag. Its all black, with the SS lightning bolts. On one of the bolts are a bunch of signatures, I'm assuming from the members of his squad. Here's a picture of it:




I'd never sell it, since it's a piece of family history. Just curious about the value of this item, if anyone has any input.

Thanks in advance.

Edit: Also have some original photos (with negatives). A few of FW-190 fighters with him sitting in the cockpit, or standing next to it. Also, a knocked out tiger tank. Unfortunately there's no side view of the tiger, so no number ID. Are these worth anything?

2nd Edit: Looked through some papers that were with the pictures, found out he was in the 533rd AA BN. Served in North Africa, France and Germany. About half the signatures on the flag correspond with the names of a personnel list I have for that unit. Very cool stuff.

[John G.]

ORIGINAL SS Rune flags are highly cherished......without knowing the size, markings, condition, etc. I'll only give you an estimate range.....but assuming (BIG ASSUMPTION) everything is "good".....probably between $1000.00 to $2.500.00 Retail.....possibly more in the right auction setting.....(dealers usually pay "half").....

To some, the GI signatures are a plus......and to some collectors a minus.....I'd find room for it, somehow!!!!!

The flag would still have to be closely inspected etc. for originality.....there are fakes with added signatures all correctly taken from unit histories, etc.....since this was your uncles, that shouldn't be a problem. Nice heirloom!
John G.

[DannyD1199]

Thanks. I also have a mauser rifle cleaning kit and bayonet, what looks to be a web belt buckle that says 'Gott Mit Uns' on it.

The flag is in excellent condition, no holes or tears. Just a bit of what looks like water damage on one of the bolts (you can see it at the top of the picture). It's a full size flag, double sided.

Thanks for your info, John.

[Mark in Cleveland, Tn.]

this on WAF about a month ago?

[DannyD1199]

this on WAF about a month ago?

WAF? Sorry, don't know what that is.


For the last 15 years or so it's been in my cousin's basement. She's moving, wanted to clean out the stuff she moved from my Aunt/Uncles house, so she called me to see if I wanted the stuff.

It's never been for sale or probably even seen since he died.

[Mark in Cleveland, Tn.]

I went over to WAF, could not find it, I just have the notion I have seen this pic before somewhere. Take a pic of the whole flag and post it.

[DannyD1199]

Just took another picture with my cell phone, waiting for it to get to my email so I can transfer it to photobucket. This thing is big, like 6x4. Is that a normal size?

Sorry, have no experience with this sort of stuff.



No sheets on my bed, they are in the dryer yet.

[John G.]

DannyD1199,
The size is alittle unusual.....has it been trimmed?, what does the "halyard" or Hem (where it would attach, mount, hang, slide through, etc.) look like and is it marked?.
Post much better pictures, including the other stuff.....all of which is "good" but nothing super duper unless you missed something....The Flag is the true "prize" ....
John G.

[DannyD1199]

I'll take some pictures of that stuff.

As for the flag, it doesn't seem to be trimmed. The Hem looks like it's ripped or it was cut to get off the pole. My uncle told me the story about 5 years before he died, said he climbed up the pole under fire to get it, but I think he was pulling my leg lol, especially since he was in an AA unit.

Any other parts of the flag I should photo? Like corners, etc?

[John G.]

DannyD1199,
You can show us the "other side" and the other items if you wish.....but there's not much more "we" can tell from photos alone....this has to be handled and examined under "magnification"....can't do that from a photo. The fact that the "hoist" has been cut off is VERY DEPRIMENTAL.....under most circumstances there would be NO NEED to "rip" a flag down....and the "hoist end" is critical on proving the flags authenticity....so it effects the value greatly!

Adding names from a well known unit to a repro. flag is nothing new, so without the hoist, it boils down to whether/how much someone believes the "story"....and what they're willing to pay.

I do also recall seeing this flag's "TWIN BROTHER" listed from the same AAA unit....possibly WAF or one of the "auction sites"....so only you know if the "Uncle story" is true. I'd say realistically....without the hoist end, if it does prove to be original, probably in the $650./1200.00. Down considerably from what it would be worth with the hoist end intact.

Of course, it is SS so it could go crazy in a "good" auction setting. (Assuming...again.)
IMO, of course!
John G.

[DannyD1199]

Here's the top view of the cleaning kit:



I'll upload more photos of the contents and some other stuff as my phone sends them. I'ts being slow today lol, 4g my butt.



Inside:



The lower left hand corner is a cricket thing, it was in the bottom little case of the cleaning kit.

Bayonet:



Is it noteworthy that the bayonet is unsharpened?


Edit: I have the picture of the knocked out tiger tank. Is it safe to post here? Will it be stolen or? I've never published original pictures on the net. Have 2 of him in a 190 fighter too.

[John G.]

The cleaning kit is "nice", complete, but pretty common. The bayonet appears to be a typical "Service" bayonet....the blade is NOT SUPPOSED TO BE SHARPENED! (it's a stabbing impliment, not a "cutting" blade). There are numbers on the bayonet itself and on the sheath (probably covered by the frog)....if they match that's a big plus. The frog (the leather belt hanger) has had the grip straps cut off....was often done...but is alittle deprimental.

The bayonet & cleaning kit are both common....value for the cleaning kit probably $25.00-$40.00, and the bayonet is probably $75.00-100.00 (non-matching) or $100.00-150.00 if matching (more if rare maker, rare marks, etc.).
John G.

Bayonets were often sharpened "in the field"....but this was against regulations.

[DannyD1199]

Ahh...Never knew that about bayonets.

I checked the numbers, and they don't match.

What about photos? I have several, but am hesitant to post them as I don't know if other people will try and sell em lol.

[DannyD1199]

this on WAF about a month ago?

I just found out it MIGHT be the flag you saw.

I had just gotten this from my cousin, who is moving. She's had it since my uncle died. I had dinner with her yesterday, and she said she did try to sell it. I didnt ask for details, but it could be the flag you saw.

Anyway, I have it now, and it's not for sale Just love having a piece of my uncle's history.

[William Kramer]

Hello there,

Is this of multi-piece construction or are the runes printed?

William Kramer