This is a list of flags of the German Navy, which includes flags, standards, and pennants that used in the years between 1935 and 1945 by the German Kriegsmarine and merchant navy.
The width ratios of red area: circular disk: red area behaved as 9: 18: 13. At sea was used since 1933 exclusively and prescribed the version with the inwardly offset swastika.
The Reichskriegsflagge, which was introduced on 7 November 1935, was widely used in the Wehrmacht. Thus, it also served the Kriegsmarine as the naval ensign, which was hoisted on flag days regardless of the location of the ship. These were 1 January (New Year), 18 January (founding day of the German Empire in 1871), 30 January ("Day of National Survey"), 20 April (Adolf Hitler's birthday), 1 May ("Labour Day") and 31 May (anniversary of the Battle of Jutland in World War I). In addition, ships in home waters had to hoist the Reichskriegsflagge on 1 March (commemorating the 1935 reintegration of the Territory of the Saar Basin into Germany), 29 August (the day of the founding of the Prussian Navy in 1859), the first Sunday after Michaelmas and the day of the harvest festival. Regardless of these days, all warships that received a head of state were obliged to show the Reichskriegsflagge.
The width and the course of the black stripes were changed compared to the previous version. This change was likely made in December 1937, but there are no official publications about it.
The Reich service flag was used by all state authorities, such as the Reichsbahn, Reichsautobahn, and Reichsbank. In the navy, the Reich service flag was carried by all state-owned vessels that were not allowed to hoist the Reichskriegsflagge. In the case of the absence of the Reich service flag, the national and merchant flag had to be flown in its place.
Flag
Date
Designation
Description
1935–1945
Reich service flag
The flag had the proportions of 3:5. There was an upstanding swastika in the centre, on a white circle with a black border. A Reichsadler is placed in the upper hoist.
Most command and rank flags of the German Navy had traditional character and were already used in the Imperial and before that the Prussian Navy.[1] The flag of a grand admiral was very similar to the version used in the Imperial Navy. Completely new, however, was the rank of general admiral, which Erich Raeder, the Commander-in-Chief of the Kriegsmarine, adopted in 1936. In order to avoid Raeder having a higher rank than the Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe (Colonel GeneralHermann Göring) and the Army (GeneraloberstWerner von Fritsch), the rank of general admiral was introduced. The actual intended rank of a grand admiral as Commander-in-Chief of the Navy was "postponed" and a special flag introduced for a commander-in-chief who was not grand admiral. Raeder was promoted to grand admiral in 1939, meaning the special flag was still official, but found no use. This continued with the successor of Raeder, Karl Dönitz, who in 1943, was promoted from the rank of admiral to grand admiral, skipping general admiral.[2]
Two crossed admiral swords on which the admiral cross is placed
1939–1945
Grand admiral's flag
Arranged on an admiral cross two crossed Großadmiral batons and the Wehrmacht eagle in yellow. Striking is the "shading technique" used in this flag. Both the grand admiral staff and the Wehrmacht eagle were equipped with shadow elements.
1943–1945
Flag of the Inspector Admiral of the Navy of the Greater German Reich with the rank of grand admiral
Flag of a grand admiral with a wide light blue border which was one fifth of the width of the inner flag. The position of Admiral Inspector was held by Erich Raeder.
1935–1945
General admiral's flag
An admiral cross with two crossed swords in yellow and brown in the lower hoist
1935–1945
Admiral's flag
The admiral cross was already introduced in the Prussian Navy.
1935–1945
Vice admiral's flag
An admiral cross with a black ball in the upper hoist
1935–1945
Rear admiral's flag
An admiral cross with black balls in the upper and lower hoists
Vehicle pennant for admirals as a land troop commander
All pennants and flags had a length-to-height ratio of 5:3.[1]
1940–1945
Vehicle pennant for sea commanders and brigade commanders of the Kriegsmarine
1940–1943
Vehicle pennant for department commanders of the Kriegsmarine
1943–1945
Vehicle pennant for department commanders of the Kriegsmarine
The yellow, clear anchor was added on 20 January 1943.
1940–1943
Vehicle pennant for navy fortress commanders in staff officer positions and navy regimental commanders
1943–1945
Vehicle pennant for navy fortress commanders in staff officer positions and navy regimental commanders
The yellow, clear anchor was added on 20 January 1943.
1940–1945
Car pennant for admirals
The pennant had a width of 35 cm and a height of 23 cm. The golden border, decorated with a total of 42 swastikas, had a width between 25 and 30 mm. The Reichsadler was of yellow colour.
1940–1945
Car pennant for other members of the navy
The pennant had a width of 33 mm at a height of 22 cm. The golden edge had a width of 6 mm. The Reichsadler was of yellow colour.
Flag for land-based troop units or installations of the German Navy (left side)
Introduced on 8 September 1936. As prescribed for all flags of the Wehrmacht, the dimensions of the flag were 126 by 126 cm. It was attached to a 3 meter long flagpole.
1936–1945
Flag for land-based troop units or installations of the German Navy (right side)
Angolia, John R.; Schlicht, Adolf (1993). Die Kriegsmarine - Uniforms & Traditions 3 Volume. R. James Bender Publication. ISBN9780912138459.
Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (2003). Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939–1945 — Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [The U-Boat War 1939–1945 — The Knight's Cross Bearers of the U-Boat Force from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn Germany: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn. ISBN978-3-8132-0515-2.
