The John Bannister Collection - D-Day and Militaria
Lot 2235:
Description
This lot features a multi-piece construction Hitler Youth (HJ) style armband and a separate red cotton flag fragment featuring a printed swastika on a white roundel. The armband exhibits the characteristic horizontal white stripe of the HJ and shows interior stitching consistent with period construction, though it lacks an RZM tag. Both pieces are made of woven cotton fabric. The items show significant signs of age and use, including fraying at the edges of the flag fragment, light staining on the white portions of the armband, and loose threads throughout. 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. H 3.75″, W 8″, D 0.1″ (Armband); H 6″, W 7.25″, D 0.1″ (Flag). 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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