DEUTSCHLAND ERWACHE STANDARD, CAPTURED IN MARBURG, GERMANY
One of the so-called founding fathers of the Nazi movement, Dietrich Eckart, coined the phrase ‘Deutschland Erwache’ (Germany, Awake) in a poem he wrote.
Inspired, Hitler would go on to base his entire political campaign on the slogan.
With his Sturmabteilung (Storm Division) troops now numbering in the several thousand, he felt it necessary to create a “special symbol of victory” for them – “a Standard”. Later that year, Hitler would visit flag and banner maker Georg Hagl of Kuntstickerei M. Auer München, who showed him a design loosely based on the old Roman Standards. Hitler was sold.
Eventually around 500 towns and cities across Germany would be presented with their own Standard to be used at local Nazi marches and, later, the far larger rallies in Nuremberg.
Here at these annual rallies, Hitler would personally consecrate each Standard by holding it in contact with the ‘Blood Flag’ – a Nazi flag stained with the blood of the Sturmabteilung (SA) men killed during the failed Beer Hall Putsch in Munich on November 9, 1923.
“As Hitler started to consecrate the Standards, there was complete silence. He would take the Blood Flag cloth in his hand and, grasping a section of the Deutschland Erwache Standard cloth, would hold them together, symbolizing the transference of power.”
– Deutschland Erwache. The History & Development of the Nazi Party and the 'German Awake' Standards, Ulric of England
The example shown here is one of just a handful of original Standards known to exist today. It is worn, damaged and missing its original red and white edge tassels – but the fact any of these exist is miraculous given their delicate silk construction, sheer age, and symbolism of hatred which Europe and the allies fought so hard to eradicate. After the war, the majority of Standards were either destroyed by liberated locals in each town, buried-never-to-be-found, or plundered by allied forces. This particular Standard was removed by a GI from the area of Marbug, north of Frankfurt. He was most likely from the US 3rd Armored “Spearhead” Division, which captured the town in March 1945. Records show Marburg’s Standard was consecrated by Hitler at the 1933 Nuremberg rally.
A photo from 1928 exists showing local SA parading through the town, holding what is almost certainly the Standard shown here.
“Deutschland Erwache” Standard-Constructed mainly from red, white and black silk with hand sewn lettering on both sides. The obverse reads “Deutschland Erwache” (Germany Awake), the slogan authored by Dietrich Eckhard. The reverse reads “Nat. Soz. Deutsche Arbeiterpartei Sturmabteilung” (Storm Troops of the NSDAP), reflecting the fact that these were originally awarded to SA Standarten but both the SA and SS carried identical standarte. The swastika is placed on a large silk white circle on the front and reverse, and is bordered with black thread. The circle is edged with rich silver bullion tresse. The swastika is also bordered with silver tresse. This example has moderate discoloration throughout. The white silk discs are stained red, presumably from years of being folded. There are other dark stains present as well. Some of the silver tresse one the “DE” side is detached and an extremely small section is missing. There is a hole in the folded section where the dowel/pole goes. The reverse of the sleeve has a rectangular red leather panel hand sewn to the center to prevent damage to the silk from rubbing against the upright pole. The red leather patch is in good condition. There are a few extremely minor rips in the field. The red and white cloth sections of the fringe are completely missing, only the black remains. The measurements of the standarte are 26 ¼” across and 23 ½” high, not including the fringe. Of extreme rarity and considered to be one of the most desirable of all Third Reich collectibles as most were destroyed after 1945. Only a handful of pieces have survived today in private hands. Not many of these come to market and hard to beat at this price point!