German WW2 Kriegsmarine Officer’s Vehicle Service Pennant
(Kriegsmarine Wimpel).
A very well-preserved Kriegsmarine Officer’s vehicle service pennant, constructed of a dark navy blue cotton twill base, with two edges reinforced by a layer of golden-yellow cotton twill, the house edge reinforced with a dark blue cotton twill layer featuring a hollow channel through which is looped a drawstring, each end of the drawstring completing in a functional magnetic metal spring clip for suspension.
The pennant featuring a double-sided insignia in the form of a hand-embroidered golden-yellow Kriegsmarine eagle with featuring and details highlighted in black threading.
Size roughly 325 mm (w) x 215 mm (h).
Excellent ++ condition. No damages.
HISTORY:
The Kriegsmarine introduced new command flags and pennants for high-ranking naval personnel in 1934, including assorted vehicle pennants. Along with the new command flags was the vehicle service pennant which was introduced on November 20th 1934 and was officially designated, "Hoheitszeichen", (National Insignia).
The vehicle service pennant was authorized to be flown from the left front fender of a Kriegsmarine staff or service vehicle when a uniformed officer or official, without a specific rank or command pennant, was present in the vehicle. The introductory order also stipulated that the vehicle service pennant could be flown on the left front fender by all ranks on personally owned vehicles.
Regulations in November 1936 modified the pennant with the addition of yellow edge trim and further regulations of May 1938 changed the designation from, "Hoheitszeichen" to, "Dienstwimpel", (Service Pennant), and authorization for use on privately owned vehicles stipulated the vehicle must be of German manufacture and in good condition. Considering that the Kriegsmarine was the smallest of the three branches of service, being allotted only 9% of available recruits annually and that roughly only 2% of the general German population owned a vehicle, the vehicle service pennant must be relatively scarce.
