German KM U-Boat U-572 Unit Flag

In a used and stunning condition an extreme hard to find Kriegsmarine unit Flag of the U-572 U-Boat.
The flag comes in a size of 50x70cm and has on the top and bottom the typical Kriegsmarine attachment hooks.
The flag is clearly handmade and contains on both sides the monkey of the U-572 Unterseeboot.
A very nice and extreme hard to find original used piece!!
During WW2 Snellboats and U-Boats had typical markings on the side of the ships called 'Waffentiere' mostly they used animals as there mascotte.
The U-572 used the monkey (affe) as there mascotte logo.
The U-572 undertook nine patrols before it was sunk by an Allied marine aircraft in the Mid Atlantic in 1943.

The boat made an attempt to enter the Mediterranean but the commander gave up after a long period submerged in the heavy defences at Gibraltar and stated that he considered that his boat had been damaged and therefore he could not continue. However, Kapitänleutnant Heinz Hirsacker was reported by his senior watch officer for alleged cowardice. He was found guilty of "cowardice in the presence of the enemy" by court-martial. On 24 April 1943 he committed suicide shortly before his execution. The U Boat was depth charged and sunk by a US Martin PBM Mariner from VP-205 NE of Trinidad on 3 August 1943, in position 11°35′N 54°05′W. All 47 crew members died.

This flag was found in a German household after the war and was found together with the commander wimpel.
Did bring the commander Heinz Hirsacker bring it home? We don't know.
What we know is that this is a very rare example of a unit marked hand made kriegsmarine flag!

Code: 86169