(Reichsarbeitsdienst der weiblichen Jugend Fahne mit Unterschriften). A unique Reich Labour Service of Female Youth (RADwJ) large-sized camp flag, constructed of a sturdy red cotton twill, featuring a double-sided white disc placed off-centre and overlaid by a central black RADwJ insignia in the form of a mobile swastika set within wheat stalks, the hoist edge reinforced with a heavy cotton twill channel through which is looped a drawstring, each end of which completes with a functional magnetic metal spring clip for pole attachment, one side importantly bears the handwritten signatures of 51 soldiers of the United States Seventh Army (3rd Division), many including their hometowns, as well as the signatures of Generals Mark Clark, Lucian Truscott, and Alexander Patch, it measures 197 cm (w) x 112 cm (h), minor material fatigue and soiling is evident, an important veterans’ commemorative item in extremely fine condition.
Footnote: The US Seventh Army was formed on 10 July 1943 from the I Armoured Corps under General George S. Patton, following the latter’s participation in the successful North African campaign. As the first all-American unit to enter the European theatre, the Seventh participated in the conquest of Sicily, capturing Messina and Palermo, later landing in southern France as part of Operation Dragoon in August 1944. It pursued the Wehrmacht northward into Alsace, and was absorbed into the Sixth United States Army Group in September. As part of Operation Undertone, in March 1945 the Seventh pushed into Germany proper and participated in the conquest of the Reich itself, capturing Nuremberg and Munich, ending the war in Austria and northern Italy. As the flag offered is an example of a labour organization camp insignia, it is likely that it was retrieved by servicemen of the Seventh in Germany as the unit occupied Germany in the closing stages of the war.