Very Unusual Banner - what is it for?

[honest abe]

I obtained this long red banner years ago with some WWII relics. It has a bullion embroidered swastika and, I believe, Japanese writing on the obverse. The reverse just has two repeating embroidered symbols. This banner measures about 37" x 98". Any ideas what it was used for?

[rlimike]

I doubt it's 3rd Reich, more than likely a Buddhist banner ....
Regards,
Michael H.

[vonStubben]

I have a translation of it all which a friend helped me with. It is Third Reich related and rather interesting. I'm going to need a little time to put the translation together properly & will post all the particulars tomorrow, but in the meantime I can say that it was a gift from the president of a Chinese university to the University of Heidelberg, Germany in 1936!

[rlimike]

I have a translation of it all which a friend helped me with. It is Third Reich related and rather interesting. I'm going to need a little time to put the translation together properly & will post all the particulars tomorrow, but in the meantime I can say that it was a gift from the president of a Chinese university to the University of Heidelberg, Germany in 1936!

Wow... that is interesting & a rare banner. Who would have thought the Chinese & Nazi would have been compatible.
Regards,
Michael H

[honest abe]

Wow! Thank you so much for the information. I look forward to the translation.

[vonStubben]

Left panel of characters reads (with the exception of the last character):

中華民國國立中山大學校長鄒魯敬__


"Zou Lujing, President of National Sun Yat-sen University of the Republic of China"

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Yat-sen_University

The university is located in Guangzhou prefecture.

Right panel of characters reads:

徳國海特堡大學五百五十遇年紀念

"550 Memorial of Heidelberg University, Germany"

The university of Heidelberg was founded in 1386 which would make the date of presentation 1936.


Many thanks to Mr. Raymond Singer for his help in this translation

[DALE ELLIS]

Even with a 36 date I would still not associate this banner with the Nazis.

[vonStubben]

Given that the banner's swastika is in a mobile and not a static position I am confident that this was meant to mirror the German use of the swastika and not that in common use by the Chinese which is always used in a static form.

[Gino Tampa]

There were numerous HJ installations and excursions to China in 1935/36.

[Duzig]

I remember seeing a flag like this in one of the manions catalogs from 1998 that I still have. From the picture it looks like it very well might be the same flag and the description of it says It was presented from a chinese university to german university on their 500th anniversary. Basically exactly what Von Stubben has posted. It says it is single sided and about 38" inches by 100 inches. I remember thinking at the time how interesting the flag was but did not have the money to acquire it. Nice & interesting item.

[kyles bullets]

Pretty interesting piece

[bodes]

Wow... that is interesting & a rare banner. Who would have thought the Chinese & Nazi would have been compatible.
Regards,
Michael H

Germany was selling weapons to China prior to the Anti-Comintern pact of 1936....Japan who was a cosigner to the pact was at war with China at the time, asked Germany to stop sending weapons.....After this, things changed some but not completely as Germany continued selling rejected gun parts to China....Bodes

[Reinhard2]

A very interesting item and thread !

[wilhelm Saris]

In June 1936 the university of Heidelberg celebrated its 550 years of existance.
It would not be uncommon the Chinese university donated the banner. Maybe
there even were chinese students at the university?



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