Early SS Trumpet Banner

[Max Hansen]

Hi,
My banner really is in excellent condition for its age; no rips or tears, just some smudging on one rune, and it is the real deal! The description below was taken from a website when I was searching Google for images, and there it was! Mine is actually in better condition then the one being described, and the pics posted are from mine.

Enjoy! Max

Silver fringe

The skull tradition


SS Trumpet Banner for the Totenkopf Verbande (Item FLAG 3-10, SS 35-24)
DESCRIPTION: This is a very early trumpet banner of the Death's Head Standard. It is measured at 23 x 18 ½ inches not counting the fringe on the three sides; this silver bullion fringe is about 2 inches long. Also there are three cloth loops at the top that are about 1 ¼ inches long. These are for fastening the banner to the trumpet. The item has been black lighted and passes the tests. The piece was from the estate of PFC James D. Lund, U.S. Army 2679032 who was attached to the U.S. lst Armored Division. To see more about the Totenkopf Verbande go to our site in the Allgemeine SS section listings and go to page four and to SS 4-5. The skull on this banner is probably the ugliest I have ever seen but it must be kept in mind that in the earliest days of the NSDAP there was no issue of such things and it was pretty much go it on your own as far as such individual trappings were constructed. Much of the items like the banner would be pretty much left to the imagination of men in the units and perhaps their wives who did the sewing. The banner is certainly in keeping with the Esprit d’Corp of this unit of steel hard troopers. Later trumpet banners after 1934 were rather more artistically manufactured in a more professional manner. This however is much more rare in that it is a Kampzeit item (Time of Struggle). If it isn’t pretty it is strongly suggestive of power (Starke Macht!) These troops were not anyone that the Commie street hoodlums wanted to tangle with. They were tough and unrelenting.

The material is a heavy grade wool that has a natural stiffness to it, not at all light or flimsy. The wool has the same weave pattern as some of the NSDAP banners. The skull being jawless is much like the Hussar skulls on the busbies of those stalwart elite horsemen of old. The SS runes and skull are fashioned from a high grade linen and are applied by way of heavy machine stitching in an overlapped (V) pattern. Both display dye bleed into them from the black wool base. They have brown age discoloring in areas. There is one area where the weave has been slightly broken on one rune where this was folded onto itself. The bullion has a cotton base that has age where it is exposed to a camel brown color and the bullion itself has an age patina that is exactly like other flags that we have acquired from veterans. So, we are quite content that this banner is 100% original and extremely rare.

Enjoy!

Max

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Guys, any opinions on this item given it is now for sale in the classified ads?

Early SS Trumpet Banner - Militaria Collectibles buy - sell at War Relics

An identical example was listed here:

Third Reich; Flags, Banners, and Miscellaneous Cloths

Cheers, Ade.

[big ned]

The vendors in the link supplied have a certain 'Je ne se quoi' about them which is a tad worrying. The description that describes it as 'a thing of it's time' and implies that it was homemade in a time of struggle suggests to me that it is supposedly a one off, ; it would therefore have to be unique. But the banner Max has is identical in the cut of the runes and the dog ugly skull.

All other early SS trumpet banners I have seen are of a far superior quality to this one, hence the description of the above type, trying too hard to convince it was hand cut and made by the horny hands of these earliest of SS members. No two would be alike; yet these are the same...Too much the same for my mind.

I am troubled by the fact that Max's is 99% identical, it may even be the same one.

Where did you get it Max?

Regards, Ned.

[Max Hansen]

Hi Ned,
I didn't buy it from that site, I was just looking for one and found that info. The dimensions on mine are not quite the same in length and width. I will say where I did get it if I get permission from the private collector.

Thanks, Max

[big ned]

Hi Max,thanks for the reply.

I have to say I'm having a hard time believing what is being said by G.I regarding this banner design. They are suggesting that it's 'naive' appearance is down to it being handmade by the wives of storm troopers in there own homes, and as such would be individual. But these two different banners are NOT individual, they ARE indivisible, and that cannot be right according to the flowery description given above.

I'm sorry to go on Max, but I think it's a nasty piece of 4th Reich tat. I really hope I'm proven wrong my friend.

Regards, Ned.

[Max Hansen]

Hi Ned,
Well, I know only what I read and see and everyone has an opinion. But '4th Reich tat' is a bit much.

Max

[Dimas]

To me is suspicious materials, and not similar to the original, IMO is not good

[Max Hansen]

Thanks, it's what I suspected.

[Woolgar]

Max, you are having some bad luck with your SS collection, have you used a particular dealer?

Nick

[big ned]

Hi Ned,
Well, I know only what I read and see and everyone has an opinion. But '4th Reich tat' is a bit much.

Max

Sorry Max, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, on reflection you're right and I apologise mate.

Regards, Ned.