The Blood Flag

[Br. James]

Dear Mac66 -- what a great Youtube video of the Blood Banner during its use at the 'Consecration of New Standards' during the Party Day celebrations! Thanks so much for sharing it with us!

Br. James

[Skipper Greenwade]

Awesome image,thanks for sharing! Can we be treated to the HH some time as well please?

Here you go...my photography skills don't really do this one justice:

[Skipper Greenwade]

And the reverse:

[ErichS]

A real treasure Skipper and thanks for posting it

[Skipper Greenwade]

Re: Jim's questions about the cache of photos that I am familiar with, the vet brought a stack of about 20 photos into a North Texas Militaria Collector's Association show in Richardson. Texas about 10 or so years ago. He also had a very nice engraved Army officer sword and a few other things, but I don't recall anything else that was all that special. One of the dealers at the show bought the entire lot and began parting out the photos. I bought the Himmler portrait and Larry Lipps bought an absolutely stunning photo of (I assume) an SS man silhouetted against a bonfire. That photo is reproduced on page 726 of Wittmann's SS book.

I was later able to buy the Blood Flag photo from another friend and collector who purchased a half dozen or so of them that day.

The others I remember distinctly are:

• An HJ flag raising
• An SS man in a very early, 1916-style helmet with an unusual Sigrunnen-within-a-circle emblerm on the side
• What appears to be a security detail of Allgemeine-SS men guarding what appear to be crown jewels (or somehting equally impressive and important)

That is all I recall about the day the pictures were sold by the vet. I do know that the friend from whom I purchased the Blood Flag photo carried a half-dozen or so of the ones he had left to several MAX Shows and had them on his table for sale and believe he may have finally moved them - kinda funny in retrospect that there wasn't more interest, given the quality of the work and the fact that they were original Bauer photos.

Hope that helps and apologies to the OP for dragging a thread about the Blutfahne at least briefly into a discussion about Bauer and his work.

Best,
Skip

[Larry Lipps]

Besides my photo that's in Wittmann's book, here are some others from the album Skipper is talking about. I know Arthur Hayes used many of the photos from the album in his book on SS Uniforms.

Here's a couple Hitler Youth photos:

[Larry Lipps]

And a couple SS Photos. I've seen footage of the rally at night when the eagle in the background was lit off, but I'm not sure which rally it was. If anyone knows, let me know.

[Military]

Great pics! Thanks for posting.

Mil

[Larry Lipps]

In response to a couple PM's, here's the photo used in Wittmann's SS Book.

[Skipper Greenwade]

In response to a couple PM's, here's the photo used in Wittmann's SS Book.

The scan doesn't do this one justice, either. In hand, it is one of the most dramatic photographs I've ever seen. Wish I'd bought it out from under Larry when I had the chance

Best,
Skip

[magnusmilitaria]

Blutfahne its on safe...for shure!

[ErichS]

Blutfahne its on safe...for shure!

And you know this how?

[Br. James]

Thanks Erich...can't wait to read the answer!

Br. James

[magnusmilitaria]

All I know is still in Germany on safe. Where,who have it,..I dont know.
I obtained this information a few years ago from a person which I can trust and believe .
This person was in a high position during the war.

[Br. James]

Thanks Magnus. I'm sure we all will continue to wonder when solid proof of the continued existence of the Blutfahne will surface...proof like a public display of the banner itself together with it's unique staff and poletop. As many have said, this would be the keystone of any museum or display of Third Reich artifacts. But seeing how similar artifacts -- though not as high-ranking -- have had their authenticity challenged (I am thinking here of the AH Führerbau Desk Set and the Berghof portraits of Hitler's parents) -- and I am not saying that authenticity should be accepted on face value -- perhaps whoever is currently holding the Blood Banner in hiding has seen these latest situations and decided not to bring it out for a public airing?

Br. James