Der Stahlhelm

Here is a Very Rare Flag from Der Stahlhelm, This Flag was at some time by it's Group membership to be made into a Banner, *Notice the Gothic Writing made in the banner, It says:  Der Stahlhelm B.d.F. Standartgr. Laufeld. I bought this Flag about 30 years ago and as you can see, It condition is ok, But I would like to preserve this Rare Flag for future Generations. It is too bad the former owner of this Flag did not take the time to take better care of this Flag/Banner of Der Stahlhelm. There is alot of Moth Damage, But not serious Damage.

"Der Stahlhelm, Bund der Frontsoldaten" the Steel Helmet, Association of Frontline Soldiers


The Stahlhelm was founded in 1918 by war veteran Franz Seldte, his brothers and some other soldiers from his unit. The association was originaly meant as both a mutual aid society for world war one veterans and as a political combat group like many other that sprung up during the 1920s.

In 1926, it numbered half a million members, by far the largest at the time. Around this time the Stahlhelm entered politics although unlike similar groups, it didn't endorse a single party prefering instead to present itself simply as Conservative. It must be said that most of those who became deputies did so as members of the monarchist DNVP or liberal-nationalist DVP.

As "volkish" elements entered the stahlhelm, it continued to slide into a more radical and authoritarian mindset that culminated in the more moderate DVP severing ties with them. The Stahlhelm eventualy joined the DNVP/NSDAP coalition that brought Hitler to power. After 1934, The Stahlhelm was first put under the command of the SA's leader and in 1935 it was disolved with its members being absorbed into the NSDAP Organisation, Either in the SA or in the veterans association. Interestingly, the later kept using a steel helmet as one of its symbols.

The Stahlhelm's logo was a german helmet, seen from the side, with the words "Der Stahlhelm" written on it in a Fraktur-like  printing type. Because different representations use slightly different types, the one included as should be seen simply as a typical version of the logo. Also note that at least one representation I have seen of the logo used as a hat badge from the mid 1920s, As befits a conservative organisation, members of the Stahlhelm used mainly former flags of the country.

Photographs show them using the Imperial War Flag and black-white-red horizontal tribands most without an iron cross. At a meeting of the Harzburger Front in 1931, they can be seen using hanging banners. The design of the banner themselves would appear to be inpired by pre-weimar regimental colours but are
carried in vexilum fashion extremely similar to "Deutschland Erwache" standards used by the NSDAP. 

Just like the One I have above, in the photo.