War Ensign 1919-1921 (Germany)

reichskriegsflagge, adopted but never used

Last modified: 2017-11-11 by german editorial team
Keywords: canton: iron cross | reichskriegsflagge |
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3:5 Image by Marcus Schmöger, 23 Feb 2002
Flag adopted 27 Sep 1919, never actually used, abolished 11 Apr 1921

• Description and Discussion
• Flag actually used 1919-1921

• Use of the Imperial War Ensign 1918-1921 (Germany)
• Proportions of the War Ensign and Jack 1871-1935 (Germany)
• Weimar Republic 1919-1933 (Germany)
• Germany

Description and Discussion

Like the former Ensign, except that the black-white-red in the canton is replaced by the black-red-gold - the Iron Cross remaining - and the Prussian royal eagle in the round center field is replaced by a new republican eagle, essentially the old eagle without the crown, orb or scepter and with no escutcheon. Ratio 3:5. This was replaced in 1921.
Norman Martin, 1998

The adoption of the new Reichskriegsflagge took place on 27 Sep 1919, but was made public 11 Nov 1919.
Norman Martin, 4 May 2001

The first new war ensign should be introduced with the decree of 27 Sep 1919; however, this flag was never used, although samples were produced. The design was based on the previous war ensign, only replacing the eagle and the black-white-red canton with a black-red-gold canton. The proportion of the flag was 3:5. Sources: Dreyhaupt 2000 [drh00], Valentin and Neubecker 1928 [vne28], Hecker and Hoog 1978 [h7h78]
Marcus Schmöger, 24 Feb 2002

It was a proposal only, never adopted, never hoisted, never abolished.
Friedrich Rackow, 1 Oct 2003

Rackow is right in the claim that the flags had never been used; however he is plain wrong in the claim that the flag has never been "adopted." It was officially adopted by the "Erlaß über die Flagge des Reichspräsidenten, Flagge des Reichswehrministers und neue Reichskriegsflagge nebst Gösch, vom 27. September 1919" signed by president Ebert and war minister Noske. However, the actual introduction was postponed, and in the end never happended. See my mail containing the legal texts (22 Feb 2002).
Marcus E.V. Schmöger, 2 Oct 2003

Flag actually used 1919-1921

3:5  Image by Carsten Linke
Flag adopted 26 Sep 1903, abolished 27 Sep 1919, but used until 1921