Falsified postwar 'Balkenkreuz' flag (Germany)

Allegedly used for aerial recognition of land troops

Last modified: 2005-07-09 by santiago dotor
Keywords: balkenkreuz | iron cross | cross: fimbriated (black) | disc (white) |
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by an unidentified contributor
N.B. this flag is a postwar falsification and was never used by the German Armed Forces

• Description

See also:

• Flags of the Armed Forces 1933-1945 (Wehrmacht)
• Flags of the Army 1935-1945 (Heer)
• Third Reich 1933-1945 (Germany)

Description

My father was a B-17 pilot for the 351st Bomb Group out of Polebrook, England. He was shot down on 22 June, 1944, over Rouen, France and became a POW at Stalag Luft III. As the allied forces advanced, they were marched to Mooseberg. In April, they were liberated by Patton's 3rd army. During this time in Germany, he obtained a flag, that I have not been able to identify. It is approx. 3' × 6' with a white circle with a black cross in the middle. The cross is similar to the marking found on Me109 and Fw190 German fighters.

Rob Watkins, 6 December 2002

I believe he means a Balkenkreuz — a stylized, straight-armed version of the Iron Cross used both on armoured vehicles and warplanes.

Santiago Dotor, 9 December 2002

Rob Watkins sent me a sketch of it, the only difference with the above image is that he carefully recorded the dimensions as 3 feet x 6 feet — i.e., a 1:2 ratio, unusual in German flags.

Rob Raeside, 9 Decemb