The John Bannister Collection - D-Day and Militaria
Lot 2234:
Description
These items represent historical artifacts from the WWII era, consisting of a red cotton armband featuring a multi-piece construction with a white circular field and a black stitched swastika, along with a smaller rectangular red textile fragment with a printed or applied swastika. The armband shows a standard construction style used by various organizations during the period, featuring a simple seam on the reverse. The smaller piece appears to be a fragment or a small-scale vehicle/podium flag. Both pieces show significant signs of age and wear; the flag fragment is heavily frayed along all edges with some staining, while the armband shows light fading, some minor thread pulls, and general softening of the fabric. These pieces were souvenirs brought back by John Klein during his service with the 709th MP Battalion and the 52nd MP CID in Frankfurt and Hanau, Germany, between 1952 and 1958. Klein’s transfer to the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) in Hanau in 1953 placed him in a more specialized role. The CID dealt with more complex felony-level crimes involving military personnel or property, and leftover denazification issues. Being in the CID likely gave him unique access to various regions and facilities, which may explain how he curated this specific collection of relics.Armband: H 3.75", W 8.25", D 0.1". Flag: H 7", W 6.25", D 0.1".
Disclaimer: Due to the high quality of WWII German fakes, Donley Auctions has described this item to the best of their ability and assumes NO liability or responsibility if information provided is incorrect. Authenticity is unknown. Buyer assumes all responsibility to determine whether or not an item is authentic. Buyer may request additional photos, ask detailed questions and make inquiries into the specifics of this item. All content and information is provided “AS IS” and without warranty, implied or otherwise. Absolutely NO refunds are given for this item or any military relics, regardless of age or condition.
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