Historical Flags (Wismar, Germany)

City and Lordship of Wismar, Stadt und Herrschaft Wismar

Last modified: 2001-11-30 by santiago dotor
Keywords: germany | wismar | historical | stripes: 5 | stripes: 6 | stripes: 11 | stripes: 12 | chequy: hoist | canton (white) | pennant: swallowtailed |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors

• Introduction
• Hanging Flag 15th Century
• Flag 17th-18th Centuries (variants reported 1700 and 1750)
• Flag 19th Century (reported 1842, 1848 and 1862)
• Flag 20th Century
• Pennants 19th Century

See also:

• City of Wismar (Hansestadt Wismar, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Germany)
• Historical Flags (Mecklenburg-West Pomerania)
• Hanseatic Cities (Germany, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland)
• Germany

The "City and Lordship of Wismar" (Stadt und Herrschaft Wismar) was a member of the Hanseatic League. It was occupied by Swedish troops in 1631 during the Thirty Years' War and was ceded to Sweden by the Treaty of Osnabrück 1648. Sweden transformed Wismar into the most fortified city in Europe. The Northern Alliance took the city on 20th April 1716, and by the Treaty of Frederiksborg (July 1720), Sweden pledged never again to fortify the city. In 1803 the Duke of Mecklenburg leased Wismar from Sweden for 100 years in exchange for 1,250,000 Taler. More historical information (German text only) at the Wismarer website and this personal website.

Santiago Dotor, 28 September 2000

by Phil Nelson

Znamierowski 1999 shows several interesting flags of the Port Cities of northern Europe. These are derived from gonfanons, originally red in color. The flags, in a banner form [i.e. hanging flags], were flown from the stern of the vessels, the mast carrying the gonfanon of the colors. One of the final three that Znamierowski 1999 shows is Wismar in the 15th century.

Phil Nelson, 20 February 2000

Variants reported 1700 and 1750

by Jaume Ollé

Six-striped red and white.

Norman Martin, 3 March 1998

by Jaume Ollé

Five striped red and white.

Norman Martin, 3 March 1998

Variant reported 1842, 1848 and 1862

by Jaume Ollé

Six striped white and red.

Norman Martin, 3 March 1998

An article by Mattern and Neubecker (in Kleeblatt, sometime later than 1985) says the 6 striped flag is mentioned in correspondence of the Dutch Consul dated 10 September 1834. The article also says the flag is shown in the literature frequently as red and white, but is shown as white and red in "more reliable sources".

Norman Martin, 28 September 2000

by Jorge Candeias

Eleven striped red and white.

Norman Martin, 3 March 1998

Reported c.1960-1985 flag

by Jorge Candeias

Twelve stripes, white and red, counterstriped near the hoist as in Bremen flags.

Norman Martin, 3 March 1998

The same article by Mattern and Neubecker (in Kleeblatt, sometime later than 1985) mentions these two flags, the former with the notation "Flag of Wismar as long (zur lange Zeit) flown; this originally existed as 3 white and 3 red stripes" and the latter with "Flag of Wismar as flown by many Wismar ships during the last 25 years, but never legally recognized". Presumably the 25 year reference would mean that its use has been noted starting the 1960s. I cannot think of any historical or political reason why a Bremen-like flag would start being used in the middle of the DDR period.

Norman Martin, 28 September 2000

by Jaume Ollé

by Jorge Candeias

Wismar: pennants in XIX century ships.

Jaume Ollé, 13 June 1998