War Ensigns and other Naval Flags 1817-1867 (Prussia, Germany)

Last modified: 2001-09-08 by santiago dotor
Keywords: prussia: kingdom | preussen | eagle (black) | coat of arms | military | iron cross | cross: formy (black) | commissioning pennant | senior officer |
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• War Ensign 1817-1818
• War Ensign 1818-1867 (reported 1842, 1848, 1858 and 1906)
• War Ensign, reported 1862
• War Ensign 1892-1918
• Commissioning Pennant 1858 (War Pennant / Kriegswimpel)
• Senior Officer Pennant 1858 (Dienstalterstander)

See also:

• Military Flags 1701-1918 (Prussia, Germany)
• Kingdom of Prussia 1701-1918
• Prussia Historical Flags
• Germany

by Jaume Ollé

Crowned black eagle with gold scepter and gold decorated blue orb. In the upper hoist, an Iron Cross.

Norman Martin, 20 January 1998

The history of the first Prussian ensign is quite complex and Jaume Ollé's design is wrong in many aspects. The first Prussian warship was built in 1816 (the Stralsund) and it needed an ensign. On the 24 November, three projects were presented to the king who chose the design of the black eagle in heraldic form, on a white background charged in the canton with the iron cross. The ensign was first used in the spring of 1817. The design of the eagle was however badly interpreted and on 18 November 1818 the Ministry of Interior sent to the Ministry of War a note on which it was said that the eagle's design didn't correspond to the one adopted on 9 January 1817. The note listed the mistakes:

1. The royal crown was red lined, which was not correct following the development of the Prussian crown; moreover, the crown should have only been the arcs of a royal crown.
2. The gold letters "FR" [Fredericus Rex] on the eagle's breast were missing.
3. The small eagle on the sceptre was missing.
4. The eagle should show its tongue while, on the contrary, it was biting it.

Mario Fabretto, 10 August 1998

Reported 1842, 1848, 1858 and 1906

by Jaume Ollé

White swallow-tailed flag with a crowned black Prussian eagle with gold scepter and gold orb, with an Iron Cross in the upper hoist. (Alexander lists usage as 1858-1863, another source lists 1850-1863; it is possible that the design was slightly different in the 40s and maybe early 50s).

Norman Martin, 20 January 1998

The ensign was confirmed in 1850 and disappeared from the seas on 1 October 1867, being restricted in its use to internal waters until 1918. Around 1890 the eagle's design was modified as on the national flag. After 1863 the ensigns (including the merchant one) were mainly used in their rectangular form (not swallow-tailed).

Mario Fabretto, 10 August 1998

An article by Dr. Whitney Smith, Gwenn ha Du (black and white) in Ar Banniel, 1999, mentions "6. Kingdom of Prussia - Naval Ensign (1823-1867) - Swallow-tailed, white field with Prussian eagle and Iron Cross in canton."

Ivan Sache, 2 August 1999

by Jaume Ollé

Like the 1823 civil ensign, but not swallow tailed [and with a hoist Iron Cross].

Norman Martin, 20 January 1998

Possibly a civil ensign for Naval Reserve officers, in a similar way to the Imperial "merchant flag with the Iron Cross"?

Santiago Dotor, 12 July 2000

Reported as Ensign and Service Flag 1905

by Jaume Ollé

Like the 1863 civil ensign, but with redesigned eagle. Used as top mast flag on the battleship "Preussen" during the Weimar Republic. Illustrated Alexander 1992 p.106, Crampton 1990 p. 42 and Meyers Konversations-Lexikon 1912 vol. 4, facing p. 799.

Norman Martin, 20 January 1998

The ensign must have the Iron Cross in the canton. The eagle has the design introduced around 1890. From 1 October 1867 until 1918 when it disappeared, the ensign was used only on inland waters.

Mario Fabretto, 17 August 1998

An article by Dr. Whitney Smith, Gwenn ha Du (black and white) in Ar Banniel, 1999, mentions "7. Kingdom of Prussia - Naval Ensign (variant) - same as 6., without Iron Cross."

Ivan Sache, 2 August 1999

Variant, reported as Royal Ships

by Jaume Ollé

War Pennant / Kriegswimpel

by Jaume Ollé

White Pennant with an Iron Cross at the hoist. Same as the 1871-1918 Imperial war pennant.

Norman Martin, 20 January 1998

Dienstalterstander

by Jaume Ollé

White swallow tailed flag with Iron Cross in hoist, extending to inner point of swallow tail, and hung from a point. Similar to the flotilla flag of Imperial Germany.

Norman Martin, 20 January 1998