GDR Red Honour Banner of the S.E.D

A double sided silk banner denoting two key members of the history of the East German communist party. From left to right it features Ernst Thälmann and Wilhelm Pieck. Thalmann was a Marxist-Leninist who played a large part in destabilizing the Weimar Republic. Towards the end of his service in the first world war, he deserted and joined the United Socialist Party of Germany. For his political activities he was aprehended by the gestapo and imprisoned and tortured for years before being executed on the personal orders of Adolf Hitler in 1944. His friend and fellow party member Wilhelm Pieck attempted several social campaigns to arrange for his release, but to no avail. Wilhelm Pieck survived the war and having escaped to the Soviet Union himself, he already had strong ties with the Soviets when the war ended. He was the first president of the “Democratic German Republic" (GDR) and served until his death in 1960.

These banners are exceptionally rare, especially in this condition. We only have one available and likely will never see another. Don’t miss out if you’re an East German buff!