These two flags came in the shop in a bulk buy. Do any of you have a clue to what they are? Please only respond with an educated answer. Flag One: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-i4h2C_gfzaTzNXWGhDVWU0cWM Flag Two: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-i4h2C_gfzaUmtDbXpra0hCNkk
Odd combination, the red one with the swastika, Star of David, and Hitler spellen around it. Suspect that one will have a bizarre story attached to it. I'M wondering if the blue and white flag is some kind of naval pennant? SIgnalling?
The blue flag looks to be the standard of commander of the Imperial Japanese Navy. However, it would have to be red and not blue.But I am only guessing
Yes, the Japanese version is red, and the heading line is nothing like those shown in the picture. I have a real one on the top shelf of my closet, came off the Nagato in 1945. No idea what that design in blue is for; it is not a standard signal flag/pennant. The second flag looks like someone's fantasy. There are people who, for a price, will turn out a very professional looking job, whatever you want, no questions asked.
Actually, there's an enormous variety of private signal flags in use by each navy in the world, all distinct from the standard maritime flags used by merchant fleets, and distinct from each other. If these are fairly modern pennants you might find a makers mark which could narrow down the search. If they are older, then they were sewn by the quartermasters or signalmen on the vessels and are unmarked.
I'll take a look. We have used a small UV light to determine if there are synthetic fibers use and it came up negative. So they are at least not synthetic. Update 1: The stitching definitely looks to be hand sewn on the white and blue flag. The stitching isn't consistent. Here's a link to the stitching: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-i4h2C_gfzaX3d5QjFtdVV1ejA ALSO, here's a link to the end of the rope going through the flag. If you look in the main picture, you can see a small rope sticking out the sides running through the edge of the flag. https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-i4h2C_gfzadTBNNmlsUXhXWmc On the "Nazi" flag, the stitching appears to be machine sewn. The stitching is very consistent and tight and looks like a stitch on my mother's machine. Here's a link to the stiching: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-i4h2C_gfzaYW4tOGF2U1g1RG8
The White swallow tail, blue sun with two lines, horizontal and vertical, are indeed IJN, indicating "Navigation leader". The second, I believe may be a copy of a flag from the early 1930's of "Der Deutsche Vortrupp" or "The German Vanguard" a small group of German Jews under the leadership of Hans-Joachim Schoeps a German Jewish professor of religious history that tried to gain favour with Nazism and Hitler. But I'm not at all certain; I say, may, because it (along with other Jewish organiastions) was banned already in 1935, Hans fled to Sweden in 1938 before the pogroms got really bad, and there are almost no articles in English on this topic. With all Nazi symbols banned in Germany, it is incredibly difficult to track down a flag used by an organisation consisting of, at most, 160 individuals. There was also the "Verband nationaldeutscher Juden" or the Association of German National Jews", lead by Max Naumann, advocated assimilation, opposed Zionism, and Eastern Jews, and ended up ultimately supporting HItler before it's dissolution in 1935. Max died of cancer in May 1939. I have seen it or something very similar in this context, but tracking down where is currently eluding me.
This is extremely helpful. I appreciate you looking into it. Hopefully we can sell at least the Japanese flag with the correct information. If any of you are interested in one of these flags, I may be able to work something out.