The personal standard of Adolf Hitler (german: Führerstandarte or ''Standarte des Führers'') was a square red

banner of arms A banner of arms is a type of heraldic flag which has the same image as a coat of arms, ''i.e.'' the shield of a full heraldic achievement, rendered in a square or rectangular shape of the flag. The term is derived from the terminology of hera ...

with a black swastika on a white disc inside a central wreath of golden oak leaves and four Nazi eagles in the corners. It typically indicated the presence of

Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Nazi Germany, Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his death in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the le ...

at official events and was displayed in the form of a hoisted flag, small

car flag A flag is a piece of fabric (most often rectangular or quadrilateral) with a distinctive design and colours. It is used as a symbol, a signalling device, or for decoration. The term ''flag'' is also used to refer to the graphic design emplo ...

, and so on. Hitler introduced the standard after German president

Paul von Hindenburg Paul Ludwig Hans Anton von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg (; abbreviated ; 2 October 1847 – 2 August 1934) was a German field marshal and statesman who led the Imperial German Army during World War I and later became President of Germany fr ...

died in August 1934, allowing Hitler to abolish the presidency and claim the title of ''Führer'' (leader). Hitler displayed the flag when he assumed supreme command of the

Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the ''Heer'' (army), the '' Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmacht''" replaced the previo ...

, following the forced resignation of

Werner von Blomberg Werner Eduard Fritz von Blomberg (2 September 1878 – 13 March 1946) was a German General Staff officer and the first Minister of War in Adolf Hitler's government. After serving on the Western Front in World War I, Blomberg was appointed chi ...

, Minister of War and Commander-in-Chief of the Wehrmacht, in 1938. The personal standards of Hitler were manufactured in various sizes. Some were not flown but were hung or displayed in interior venues like the opera or at Nazi Party Day. The standard was also embossed on teaspoons from the

mess hall The mess (also called a mess deck aboard ships) is a designated area where military personnel socialize, eat and (in some cases) live. The term is also used to indicate the groups of military personnel who belong to separate messes, such as the o ...

dining sets of ''

Führerbegleitbrigade The ''Führerbegleitbrigade'' (FBB: Führer escort brigade) was a German armoured brigade and later an armoured division (''Panzer-Führerbegleitdivision''), in World War II. It grew out of the original ''Führer-Begleit-Battalion'' formed in 193 ...

''. The standard was similar to the banner of the

1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler The 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler or SS Division Leibstandarte, abbreviated as LSSAH, (german: 1. SS-Panzerdivision "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler") began as Adolf Hitler's personal bodyguard unit, responsible for guarding ...

(LSSAH), which had minor differences. After Soviet troops captured one LSSAH banner staff in 1945, the trophy has been confused with Hitler's personal standard at the

1945 Moscow Victory Parade The 1945 Moscow Victory Parade ( rus, Парад Победы, r= Parad Pobedy) also known as the Parade of Victors ( rus, Парад победителей, r= Parad pobediteley) was a victory parade held by the Soviet Armed Forces (with the Colo ...

Displays

File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1990-0412-515, Berlin, Kundgebung mit Mussolini.jpg, In Berlin in 1937 File:Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-P017073, Berlin, Olympische Spiele im Olympiastadion.jpg, At the 1936 Summer Olympics, to the right File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-C13771, Berlin, Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler.jpg, On a car File:Bundesarchiv Bild 121-2053, Rom, Beisetzung des italienischen Polizeichefs Bocchini.jpg, On a funeral sash

References

{{reflist Adolf Hitler Flags of Nazi Germany Personal flags Standards (flags)