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Carl Wilhelm Theremin's 1848 Proposals (Germany)

Last modified: 2026-07-25 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: theremin | tricolour(vertical) | cross(teutonic) | canton |
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Introduction to the 1848 Proposals for a German Flag System of Theremin

Carl Wilhelm Theremin (1784 – 1852) had been a merchant, painter and consul general in service of Prussia in the Brasilian Empire. Among others he painted drafts for a flag system in anticipation of a united German state in 1848. In 1848 the "great German solution" (großdeutsche Lösung) was prefered, which included the Austrian Empire without Hungary as a member state of the state to be united. He sent his proposals to the German National Assembly, precisely to its Naval Commitee, in Frankfurt upon Main on 10 July 1848, after he had retired as consul general. His drafts included 32 images and an additional description of a flag for a consul of German member states. Theremin also took care of the sensitivities of the still independent German coastal states.
The German vexillologist Jan Schlürmann discovered, what he called a treasure, within the German State Archives and published it in 2023. The material included a letter from Theremin to the national assembly and four coloured flag charts (BArch. DB51 405, Bl.6,7,8,9). The flags were based on the national German colours black, red and golden. Theremin remarked that a German flag for a German Army already existed but a flag for a German Navy was still missing. The ratio of most flags was approx. 3:4. Theremin used two types of crosses. Those were a (throughout) centred cross and a cross, what he called a Teutonic cross, alluding to the former Teutonic Order. Both kinds had been black and were fimbriated red, placed onto a golden (=yellow Y+) background. The Teutonic cross was basically the same as a fimbriated cross patty and was also referred to as Iron Cross. Furthermore he used the term "Eckwinkel" for a canton.
Source: Jan Schlürmann: Das "Teutonische Kreuz" im "Eckwinkel" pp.191-202 in: Herold Jahrbuch, vol.28 ISBN 978-3-948099-06-0
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026

Proposals for the Armed Fleet

War Ensign

[1848 German War Ensign Proposal] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026

The war ensign was golden and parted at top and bottom edge by a black cross patty fimbriated red, which Theremin called Teutonic crossTeutonic cross.
Source: B.Arch, DB51 405 Bl.8 (German Federal State Archives)
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026

Squadron Ensigns

[1848 German 1st Squadron Proposal]
~3:4, image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026 		[1848 German 2nd Squadron Proposal]
~3:4, image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026 		[1848 German 3rd Squadron Proposal]
~3:4, image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026 		     

The Armed fleet should be parted into three squadrons according to the role model of the Royal Navy (of

  • Great Britain).
    The ensign of the 1st squadron (see left image above), which should operate in the Baltic Sea, had been black with a square golden canton parted by a black cross patty fimbriated red.
    The ensign of the 2nd squadron (see central image above), which should operate in the North Sea, had been red with a square golden canton parted by a black cross patty fimbriated red.
    The ensign of the 3rd squadron (see right image above), which should operate in the Adriatic Sea, had been golden with a square golden canton parted by a black cross patty fimbriated red.
    Source: B.Arch, DB51 405 Bl.8 (German Federal State Archives)
    Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026

    Rank Flags for Admirals

    [1848 German Admiral Rank Flag Proposal] 1:1, image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026

    The flags of admirals of all ranks had been golden parted by a broad black Greek cross fimbriated red.
    The rank was not marked by additional charges but by the position of the flag on the ship. The flag of an admiral proper had to be hoisted on the main mast, that one of a vice admiral on the fore mast and that one of a rear admiral on the mizzen mast.
    Source: B.Arch, DB51 405 Bl.8 (German Federal State Archives)
    Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026

    Commodore Pennants

    [1848 German 1st Squadron Commodore Pennant Proposal]
    ~3:4, image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026     		[1848 German 2nd Squadron Commodore Pennant Proposal]
    ~3:4, image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026     		[1848 German 3rd Squadron Commodore Pennant Proposal]
    ~3:4, image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026     		     

    The pennants of commodores had been swallow tail pennants, golden parted by a centred black cross fimbriated red with the swallow tails of the corresponding squadrons, which was black for the 1st (see left image above), red for the 2nd (see central image above) and golden for the 3rd (see right image above).
    Not be seen in my images: their height had been 50% of that one of the war ensign.
    Source: B.Arch, DB51 405 Bl.8 (German Federal State Archives)
    Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026

    Flag of the Officials of Port Authorities (Flagge für den Stab der Hafenbeamten)

    [1848 German Port Authority Flag Proposal] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026

    The golden flag was parted by a centred black cross fimbriated red. On the vertical cross beam was a golden anchor with rope.
    Source: B.Arch, DB51 405 Bl.8 (German Federal State Archives)
    Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026

    Ensign of Auxiliary Vessels (Heckflagge für Transportschiffe)

    [1848 German Auxiliary Vessel Proposal] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026

    The golden flag was parted by a centred black cross fimbriated red. On its centre on the cross was a red ball.
    Source: B.Arch, DB51 405 Bl.8 (German Federal State Archives)
    Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026

    Jack (Gösch)

    [1848 German Auxiliary Vessel Proposal] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026

    The jack to be hoisted on the prow was golden parted by a centred black cross fimbriated red. The size of height and width had been approx. 75% of those of the ensigns.
    Source: B.Arch, DB51 405 Bl.6 and 7 (German Federal State Archives)
    Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026

    Jack (Gösch)

    [1848 German Auxiliary Vessel Proposal] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026

    The jack to be hoisted on the prow was golden parted by a centred black cross fimbriated red. The size of height and width had been approx. 75% of those of the ensigns.
    Source: B.Arch, DB51 405 Bl.6 and 7 (German Federal State Archives)
    Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026

    Streamer

    [1848 German Streamer Proposal] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026

    The streamer was red, swallow tailed and with a minimized admiral flag at its hoist. Theremin chose the centred cross for reasons of better visibility. The better fit would have been the Teutonic cross for Men-at-Arms.
    Source: B.Arch, DB51 405 Bl.6 and 7 (German Federal State Archives)
    Klaus-Michael Schneider, 6 July 2026

    Quarantine Flag

    [1848 German Quarantine Flag Proposal] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026

    The flag was golden with a centred great black disc fimbriated red. Yellow and black had been the usual colours of quarantine flags. The red fimbriation gave it an additional "German touch".
    Source: B.Arch, DB51 405 Bl.8 (German Federal State Archives)
    Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026

    Proposals of Flag Systems for the Merchant Ensigns of the German Coastal States

    [Coastal State Merchant Ensign Proposal #1]
    ~3:4, image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026     		[Coastal State Merchant Ensign Proposal #1]
    ~3:4, image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026     		   

    Flag system#1 (see left above) was based on vertical black-red-golden tricolours. The flag of the coastal state had been in the canton on the black stripe. I chose light blue for the cantons as default in this system.
    Flag system#2 (see right above) was based on th merchant ensigns of the coastal states with golden canton parted by a centred black cross fimbriated red. Instead of the merchant ensigns I chose a light blue background instead as default.
    Though obviously preferring system #1, Theremin recommended system#2, as it ad been easier and cheaper for merchants of German coastal states to add a canton to an existing flag than replacing the old flag completely by a tricolour.
    Source: B.Arch, DB51 405 Bl.6 and 7 (German Federal State Archives)
    Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026

    Consul General Flag

    [1848 German Consul General Flag Proposal] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026

    The flag (according to system #1) was golden and parted at top and bottom edge by a black cross patty fimbriated red, which Theremin called Teutonic cross. On its centre was an Imperial crown proper.
    Source: B.Arch, DB51 405 Bl.9 (German Federal State Archives)
    Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026

    Consul Flag

    [1848 German Consul Flag Proposal #1]
    image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026     		[1848 German Consul Flag Proposal #2]
    ~3:4, image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026     		   

    The flag according to flag system #1 (see left image above) was golden and parted by a centred black cross fimbriated red. On its centre was an Imperial crown proper.
    The flag according to flag system #2 was that one of a coastal state with a golden canton parted by a centred black cross fimbriated red. He recommends to use a swallow tailed version of the flag.

    There is no image within the drafts of Theremin for both systems, just a dscription.
    Source: B.Arch, DB51 405 Bl.9 (German Federal State Archives)
    Klaus-Michael Schneider, 5 July 2026

    The jack to be hoisted on the prow was golden parted by a centred black cross fimbriated red. The size of height and width had been approx. 75% of those of the ensigns.