Colour for Infantry Units
Fahne für Infanterie Einheiten

N.B.: the wreath should be silver and the eagle black not gold
The design of these colors which dates from 1936 is: a square white flag with a black Iron Cross extending nearly to the edges of the flag; the cross has a silver border followed by a thinner black edge and a white fimbriation; in each corner is a black swastika. At the center of the flag is a white disk surrounded by a silver wreath and containing a black ("Army type", with wings directed downward) eagle grasping a black swastika — thus similar to the eagle that frequently appeared on Army steel helmets. By the way, engineer units flew a similar flag with background (not disc) black rather than white. Cavalry and other units altered the shape of the flag by extending the top and bottom, creating a swallow tail effect. In each case, the background was in the arm of service color (Waffenfarbe).
In the images of the Fahne für Infanterie Einheiten in the book I have [see source below] the eagle is black, the wreath is silver, the fringes are silver instead of gold and the iron cross is fimbriated silver instead of white. The iron cross covers a larger area of the flag without touching its edges. Source: Der Zweite Weltkrieg, section Fahnen und Uniformen der Wehrmacht, Buch + Zeit Verlag, ISBN 3-8166-0158-8.

Flag of the Chief of the Army Command 1932-1935
Flagge des Chefs der Heeresleitung

Red square flag with a white square at its center. In the square a white bordered Iron Cross, with [its] arms extending to the edge of the white square. The height of the square is 4/9ths of that of the flag. Similar to the Imperial Naval Inspector General's flag except for having a wider red border. Used 1932?-1935?. A black and white version is given in Davis 1975.

Flag of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army 1935-1941
Flagge des Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres

A square white flag with a red border, in the center a black-white bordered black Iron Cross. Illustrated in Flaggenbuch 1939, pl. VI and Davis 1975, p. 84. Replaced the Flag of the Chief of the Army Command in 1935.
In 1941 Hitler made himself Commander-in-Chief of the Army, in the wake of the Soviet winter counteroffensive which resulted, among other things, in the dismissal of the previous Commander-in-Chief, Field Marshal von Brauchitsch. Thus the above flag became redundant at that time — though technically, I suppose, Hitler would have been entitled to use it.

Flag of the Army Chief of Staff 1944-1945
Kommandoflagge für den Chef des Generalstabes des Heeres



A square flag with a white field and broad red border. In the white field a black white bordered Iron Cross with thin black edge reaching just short of the field. In the center a white swastika. At each corner of the red field a gold Party type eagle with black swastika. The heads of the eagles point towards the corners. The flag was introduced 1st September 1944. Illustrated in Flaggenbuch 1939, pl. Vc and Davis 1975, p.84]

Car Flag for Field Marshals
Hoheitszeichen am Kraftfahrwagen für Feldmarschalle

Car Pennant for Army Generals
Hoheitszeichen am Kraftwagen für Generale



A pale blue pennant, with a gold party-type Nazi eagle carrying a swastika and wreath. Pennant fringed (except along hoist) with a gold band decorated with swastikas.

Command Flag for the Commander of an Army Group or an Army
Kommandoflagge für den Oberbefehlshaber einer Heeresgruppe oder einer Armee

The checkerboard flag for commanding generals of army groups (Heeresgruppen) was also used by commanding generals of armies (Armeen).

Command Flag for the Commander of an Armoured Group
Kommandoflagge für den Befehlshaber einer Panzergruppe

The Panzer Groups were upgraded in status circa 1941 (I believe about the time of the invasion of the USSR), e.g. Fourth Panzer Group became Fourth Panzer Army. Was this flag continued, or was the normal flag for an army commander used from then on?

Car Pennant for Other Members of the Army
Hoheitszeichen am Kraftwagen für die übrigen Angehörigen des Heeres

A pale blue pennant, edged in white, with a white party-type Nazi eagle carrying a wreath and swastika.