Reichskriegsflagge – Kriegsmarine Version (50 × 85 cm)

Full view of the 50 × 85 cm Reichskriegsflagge, showing vivid colours and correct proportions. The hoist is visible at left.

🇩🇪 Reichskriegsflagge – Kriegsmarine Version (50 × 85 cm)

This original Reichskriegsflagge is a 50 × 85 cm naval ensign from Nazi Germany, bearing clear wartime markings and strong provenance. It was recovered in the town of Sønderborg, Denmark, immediately following the German surrender in 1945.

Historical Context

The flag is marked “Reichskriegsflagge” along the hoist, with size “50 × 85” and the designation “3”. The manufacturer stamp reads: Plutzar & Brüll K.G., Bielitz O/S – a documented wartime textile supplier located in Upper Silesia (now Bielsko-Biała, Poland).

The size and construction correspond to a small Kriegsmarine ensign, likely used for guard posts, small naval craft, or harbour offices. The wool fabric, reinforced hoist, and corner stitching all confirm it as an official military-grade issue from the 1938–1945 period.

Provenance

The flag was found hanging on the wall of a small building on the harbour front in Sønderborg just after the German capitulation. The building was taken over by a Danish saddler who rented the premises after the war. His grandson confirmed that the flag had been left in place by the previous (German) occupants. The current owner acquired the flag directly from that family, making this a reliable second-hand account dating back to 1945.

The building once stood at Nørrebro 1A / Nørre Havnegade 1. It has since been demolished and replaced with a parking lot. The adjacent larger building still exists and now serves as a harbour office.

Military Use and Significance

While no surviving documents confirm direct German use of this exact structure, photographic evidence confirms that the entire harbour area in Sønderborg was under German naval control in 1945. German ships, transport vessels, and military logistics operated extensively along the waterfront.

It is therefore highly likely that this small building served some military function—possibly a signal hut, supply room, or office. The presence of an official Kriegsmarine flag on its wall aligns perfectly with such use.

Size and Intended Use

This 50 × 85 cm flag corresponds to “Größe 3” in the 1939 Kriegsmarine flag size chart. It was authorised for use on:

• Small naval craft and auxiliary vessels
• Harbour offices, signal stations, and land-based installations
• Guard posts and administrative buildings
• Submarines (U-boats) — for ceremonial or harbour use

Despite its compact format, this was a fully regulated military ensign and not a civilian imitation. These flags were part of the Kriegsmarine's standard wartime inventory and appear in both photographic and archival records, including use on U-boats.

Markings and Construction

• Inscription: “Reichskriegsflagge”
• Size: “50 × 85”
• Number: “3”
• Manufacturer: “Plutzar & Brüll K.G., Bielitz O/S”

The flag is made of wool with printed insignia, a strong canvas hoist, and machine-stitched reinforcements in the corners. All materials and construction details are consistent with known Kriegsmarine issues.

Photos

Close-up of the hoist, clearly showing the stamp: “Reichskriegsflagge”, “50 × 85”, and manufacturer “Plutzar & Brüll K.G.”

Detail of the hoist stitching and reinforcement stitching along the edge of the flag.

Historic photo of the now-demolished harbour building in Sønderborg where the flag was recovered. Red line marks its position.

Sources and Documentation

• Direct oral account from the grandson of the man who found the flag in 1945
• Flag in-hand examination and photographic analysis
• Verified manufacturer (Plutzar & Brüll K.G.) matched to known Kriegsmarine contracts
• Photographic evidence from Arkiv.dk and Sønderborg Lokalhistorisk Arkiv (2025)
• Building identified via period maps and architectural photos
• Official Kriegsmarine size usage from: Dienstvorschrift – Flaggenbuch der Kriegsmarine (1939)