Flags of the Third Reich

In his book Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler claims that he made the decision to use the swastika as the emblem for his fledgling movement. He was responsible for the shape the swastika finally took, and for the choice of colors used, which set the pattern for all subsequent flags of the party and its associated units. Hitler devoted almost four pages of his book to this matter. He felt that the new flag 'should prove effective as a large poster.' On 16 March 1936, in his role as supreme commander, he bestowed new colors to the Wehrmacht reinforcing this ideal. Later the Waffen-SS were equipped with flags and insignia even more redolent of Nazi ideology and many non-German volunteer contingents, variously named as 'Legions' and 'Free Corps', were raised to serve alongside the German forces, primarily on the Eastern Front, these units were also equipped with flags and insignia following Hitler's ideals, but also reflecting their own national identities. Brian Leigh Davis is one of the world's leading experts on the insignia and regalia of Nazi Germany. He lives and works in Surrey, UK. Osprey