Germany, Kriegsmarine. A Rare Harbour Pilot’s Flag

(Kriegsmarine Lotsen-Flagge). A rare and extremely well-preserved Kriegsmarine Harbour Pilot’s flag, constructed of a white cotton twill base, bearing a central dyed NSDAP-style German flag in the form of a red base overlaid by a white disc, in turn bearing a black mobile swastika, the hoist edge reinforced with an extra layer of cotton twill, with each corner retaining a magnetic metal swivel hook, the reverse hoist edge bearing a black ink mark of “FLG. D. 0,5 X 0.6”, with additional rectangular cotton twill reinforcements stitched onto the corner of the inner edge, measuring 650 mm (w) x 430 mm (h), sporadic soiling is evident, but the flag demonstrates no tearing or mothing and is in an overall near extremely fine condition.

Footnote: In the lexicon of maritime signal flags, the Harbour Pilot’s flag offered is a so-called Delta flag, which indicates that the ship flying it is navigating shallow harbour waters and that other vessels must remain clear.