History

The ‘Deutschland Erwache’ standards were originally used by the SA. However, after Night of the Long Knives in which much of the SA leadership was purged, the standards were taken over by the SS. Generally speaking, each SS regiment was given their own standard.

The flag looks similar on the obverse and reverse. Both sides are in the shape of a red square and feature a static black swastika inside a white circle. The swastika has inner white and outer black borders. The obverse reads “Deutschland erwache” (Germany, awake!), with the first word above the swastika and the second word below it. On the reverse, above the swastika are the words “Nat. Soz. Deutsche Arbeiterpartei” (National Socialist German Workers’ Party), and below the swastika is the word “Sturmabteilung” (storm detachment). Except for the top, the flag features black, white, and red fringe on all sides, as well as a black, white, and red tassel each on the left and right. Above the flag, attached to the flagpole, is a flagpole top consisting of a gold-coloured crouching eagle with spread wings on top of a silver-coloured wreath with gold-coloured ribbons, inside which is the same swastika design as on the flag itself. Underneath is a sign with the regiment’s (honour) name or location on the obverse and “NSDAP” on the reverse.

It is estimated that less than 200 of these standards were ever used.