December 6-8, 2023 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/8/2023
A fascinating Third Reich flag that is no longer a symbol of hate, but rather a symbol of victory, as it is signed by members of the African American 761st Tank Battalion "Black Panthers" after it was captured by members of that unit and gifted to Captain David Williams as a going away present. The flag is signed by at least 32 members of the 761st Tank Battalion, Company A, 1st Platoon. According to correspondence from the consigner that dates back to 2004, The flag was purported to have belonged to Captain David Williams, who stated during his lifetime that his company signed the flag for him as a going away present in January, 1945. Also according to the correspondence, the flag is pictured in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's book "Brothers in Arms: The Epic Story of the 761st Tank Battalion, WWII's Forgotten Heroes" and states the Williams wanted the flag to go to a museum when he passed, however after his death, his estate was cleaned out and the flag wound up in the hands of a dealer who sold it at a flea market. Captain Williams also played a key role in rightfully awarding Staff Sergeant Ruben Rivers the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1997 for his actions in November 1944. The battalion first saw combat on November 7th, 1944, and were immediately engaged in particularly brutal fighting. The battalion endured 183 days of continuous operational employment and their service needs little introduction, as the men of the 761st accumulated a venerable combat record earning them the title of "one of the most effective tank battalions in World War II." Their actions were imprinted in blood, as the battalion earned about 300 Purple Hearts. The flag measures approximately 142" x 43". The ink exhibits some fading with all signatures legible. No rips or tears. The flag is accompanied by a packet of research and includes a typed list of all the names that appear on the flag. Memorabilia from the 761st Tank Battalion is seldom encountered on the collector market and the men of this unit are renowned to this day for their actions during the war when racial tensions were high. Most recently, Morgan Freeman produced the documentary "761st Tank Battalion: The Original Black Panthers" that premiered on August 20, 2023. CONDITION: Very good.
Item Dimensions: 11" x 13"