Last modified: 2002-05-31 by santiago dotor
Keywords: germany | german empire | deutsches reich | kaiserreich | historical | iron cross | cross: formy (black) | disc (white) | crown: imperial |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
![[German Empire 1870-1919 (Germany)]](../images/d/de1871.gif)
2:3 
by António Martins
Flag adopted 16th April 1871, gradually abandoned since 1919, abolished 31st December 1921
See also:
Other sites:
The Second Reich Germany (1870-1918) was a strange federal monarchy. Over the course of the 19th century, the Kingdom of Prussia grew to become the most powerful of the various German states. After Prussian victory over France in 1870, its position was strong to declare a German Empire (Deutsches Reich) that included all of the German states outside of Austria. The King of Prussia was also the German Emperor (Deutscher Kaiser); however, those other German states that had survived until 1870 as independent retained some of their former government structure, though subordinated to the overall Reich government. The monarchs of Saxony, Württemberg, and other monarchies retained their position and royal status. Even Republican city-states like Hamburg that were absorbed retained their Free and Hanseatic City designation, as they do to this day, although the monarchies were all abolished after the First World War.
Joshua Fruhlinger, 27 March 1997
2:3
by António Martins
Flag adopted 16th April 1871, gradually abandoned since 1919, abolished 31st December 1921
The schwarz-weiß-rot (black-white-red) German imperial flag was adopted by the North German Confederation in 1867, as a combination of the black-white of Prussia and the red-white of the Hanseatic League [and/or of Brandenburg]. In 1871 it was adopted as merchant flag for the German Empire, and in 1892 promoted to national flag.
Norman Martin, 1998
I am not sure as to an exact definition of the "national flag". It was used in an assortment of ways: at parliaments, schools and occasions where it represented the whole country — sort of like the Union Jack. On all of Germany, the national flags were 1848-1852 (more or less) black-red-gold. After c.1891, the black-white-red. Under the Weimar republic, black-red-gold, etc. Note that it was not quite either civil, state or war flag. I have tried to use the expression as a translation of Nationalflagge.
Norman Martin, 25 July 2000
Used "at parliaments, schools and occasions where it represented the whole country" — I guess that is what a civil flag is.
Norman Martin, 26 July 2000
With the establishment of the German Empire in 1871, [the black-white-red flag of the North German League] was maintained, Art. 55 of the Imperial Constitution of 16 April 1871 has the same reading as that of the North German League: "Die Flagge der Kriegs- und Handelsmarine ist schwarz-weiß-rot" (the flag of the navy and merchant fleet is black-white-red). This flag was declared to be the national flag 8 November 1892 and continued in use until after the fall of the monarchy. During the National Assembly that established the Weimar [Republic] there was nearly as much support for continuing it as for establishing the black-red-gold flag which eventually was established by the adoption of the Constitution 11 August 1918 (in effect 14 August). The provision of the Flag Ordinance of 11 April [1921] however allowed the use of the old flags, presumably including this one, until the end of the year. In short one could regard the black-white-red flag to have been de facto replaced with the earliest use of the black-red-gold (or red) flags late in 1918, or by the Weimar Constitution (and first flag ordinance) in 1919 or by the final date of the Flag Ordinance of 1921. (It was readopted by the Nazi government in 1933, but again abolished by the flag law in 1935.)
Source: my series [of contributions to FOTW] on the flags of the German Empire of 1998, much material from the article I wrote with Rüdiger Dreyhaupt (Martin and Dreyhaupt 1999) and some other material.
Illustrations (only major vexillological sources): Martin and Dreyhaupt 1999, no. 15; Crampton 1990, p. 42 (which is a copy of Meyers Konversationslexikon 1912, vol. 4, facing p. 799) no. 1; Znamierowski 1999, p. 48; Smith 1975, p. 121.
Norman Martin, 26 January 2001
The Iron Cross was a Prussian order first established by King Frederick William III on 10th March 1813 for military valour or patriotic service in the 1813-15 war against Napoleon. It was revived in 1871 for the Franco-Prussian war and in 1914 for the First World War. It was also revived as a German order in 1939 by Hitler. Except for the formal meaning, there is no official significance, although it may have been inspired to some degree by the cross of the Teutonic Knights which is superficially similar.
Norman Martin, 15 April 1990?
More information on the history of the Iron Cross (Eiserne Kreuz) at Andrew D. Biggers' The Historic Iron Cross 1813-1957 website.
Santiago Dotor, 20 April 1999
![[Civil Ensign with Iron Cross 1893-1919 (Germany)]](../images/d/de~nr893.gif)
3:5 
by Jaume Ollé and António Martins
The "Merchant Flag with Iron Cross" (Handelsflagge mit Eisernem Kreuz) was similar in design to the jack but with the cross touching the hoist edge of the flag. Height of cross is 5/9 of that of the flag. Adopted 1st July 1893. Flown by merchant ships commanded by Reserve or retired naval officers. Illustrated in Crampton 1990 p. 42 (which is a copy of Meyers Konversationslexikon 1912, vol. 4, facing p. 799) and National Geographic 1917 p. 367, no. 1012.
Norman Martin, 1998
On 1 July 1896, a special merchant ensign for ships commanded by retired and reserve naval officers entitled the Handelsflagge mit Eisernem Kreuz was decreed. It consisted of the black-white-red merchant flag with at center of the hoist an iron cross whose height was 5/9 that of the flag. It was replaced by another design by the Flag Ordinance of 1921.
Source: my series [of contributions to FOTW] on the flags of the German Empire of 1998, much material from the article I wrote with Rüdiger Dreyhaupt (Martin and Dreyhaupt 1999) and some other material.
Illustrations (only major vexillological sources): Martin and Dreyhaupt 1999, no. 47; Crampton 1990, p. 42 (which is a copy of Meyers Konversationslexikon 1912, vol. 4, facing p. 799) no. 18.
Norman Martin, 26 January 2001
![[State Ensign 1893-1921 (Germany)]](../images/d/de~s1893.gif)
2:3 
by Santiago Dotor and Jaume Ollé
Flag adopted 20th January 1893, abolished 1st January 1922
Like the Foreign Office state flag, but instead of the eagle a golden crowned anchor in the disc. Flown by naval vessels not entitled to fly the war ensign. Adopted 1893 and abandoned by 1921. Illustrated in Crampton 1990 p. 42 (which is a copy of Meyers Konversationslexikon 1912, vol. 4, facing p. 799) and National Geographic 1917 p. 367, no. 1000.
Norman Martin, 1998
The state ensign was adopted by decree (Bekanntmachung) of 20 January 1893 [which said] "ratio 2:3, central white disk 5/9ths of height (...) the red is light ['Zinnoberrot' — brick red or English red, today we might say vermillion], the yellow is dark [golden yellow]". It was possibly abolished in the Constitution of 11th August 1919, which only mentions Reichsfarben [national colours] and Handelsflagge [civil ensign]. A new state ensign was introduced by decree (Verordnung) of 11th April 1921 (...) but as this decree also says that former flags could be used until 1st January 1922, it might be possible that the state ensign was in use until this date.
Ralf Stelter, 8 February 2001
![[State Flag 1893-1919 (Germany)]](../images/d/de1893_s.gif)
2:3 
by Jaume Ollé
Other National Administrative Branches (Übrige Verwaltungszweige des Reichs) flew a flag like the Foreign Office state flag, but instead of the eagle an Imperial crown in gold. Flown by government vessels not qualified to fly the [war] ensign or any of the Foreign Office ensigns. Adopted 1893 and abandoned by 1921. Illustrated in Crampton 1990 p. 42 (which is a copy of Meyers Konversationslexikon 1912, vol. 4, facing p. 799), National Geographic 1917 p. 367, no. 1010.
Norman Martin, 1998
|
