HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: The design of the circa World War Two Third Reich National War Flag (1935-1945), in German called the Reichskriegsflaggen, was derived from the World War One Imperial German Battle Ensign (1870-1918). During the Third Reich the new red field War Flag was used by the German Navy, Army, and Air Force. The first (two unbroken center ring) pattern of the flag was first flown on 9 November 1935, a second (single unbroken center ring) pattern came into use at the beginning of the Second World War (1939). The War Flag uses varied from being flown by ships at sea, to use as a podium banner during award ceremonies, to being the flag trooped on parade, to use as a soldier's coffin cover, or state armed forces emblem for the swearing of the German Soldier's Oath to their leader Adolf Hitler. This flag came in eight sizes, and in two material weights (heavy wool & lighter cotton) depending on the type of weather the flag was to be flown in? The naval version contained extra reinforcing stitching done in an attempt to delay the inevitable shredding effects of the high winds experienced at sea - a special eagle over a large naval (Kriegsmarine) "M" marking applied to the header denoted that the flag was rated for "sea service". Non-marked and reinforced examples were flown on land at military forts and troop garrisons.
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