Flag parade
A flag parade is the ceremonial raising or lowering of a flag as part of a military ceremony.
Flag parades are often part of diplomatic protocol , e.g. B. on state visits , but are also part of the daily routine of military service. As in most other countries, the federal service flag is hoisted in the morning in German barracks and on warships occupied by the military and brought down in the evening.
procedure
As an example for the flag parade, the ceremony is to be reproduced as it is carried out in the German Bundeswehr . This regulates u. a. the central guideline A2-2630 / 0-0-3 "Forms and Celebrations of the Bundeswehr" (formerly ZDv 10/8) and those for the navy in the area regulation C1-280 / 0-3311 (formerly marine service regulation 161/1 "Flag, Salute and visiting regulations for ships / boats of the Bundeswehr “(FlaSBO)).
Army and air force according to central guideline A2-2630 / 0-0-3
- Small flag parade
The flag parade is carried out by the officer from the security service (OvWa) and the flag command (two soldiers per flag) as part of the security service . The OvWa and the flag squad march from the guardhouse to the flagpole and the flag squad marches to the left of the OvWa. The middle soldier is wearing the federal service flag on bent forearms. The OvWa remains at a reasonable distance from the flagpole while the flag command continues to march to the flagpole.
As soon as the flag command has reached the flagpole, the OvWa gives the commands “Department - stop!”, “Left and right - around!” And “Flag command - stir!”. The flag command then attaches the service flag to the flag line and makes it clear to hoist, at the evening flag parade it clears the flag line to be pulled down.
To carry out the flag parade, the officer from the security service orders: “To the flag parade - Stand still!”, “It means the flag!” Or “Bring down the flag!” The federal service flag is slowly raised or lowered by the flag command. When raising / lowering several flags at the same time, ensure that the movements are constant.
After raising or lowering the federal service flag, the OvWa commands: “Flag command - stir!” After lowering the federal service flag, fold it (see below). To march off, the OvWa orders: “Flag squad - stand still!”, “Left and right - around!”, “In step - march!” And marches back with the flag squad to the guardhouse, lets them stop and step away.
For the duration of the flag parade, the gates to the facilities, facilities or service buildings must be closed. Vehicle traffic must be stopped in good time so that no vehicle is in the immediate vicinity of the flagpole or pole. Engines are to be switched off and soldiers always get out of the vehicles. Pedestrians stop, marching sections stop. During the hoisting or lowering of the federal service flag or flags, the person carrying out the flag parade (with the exception of the flag commandos) and the soldiers in uniform who are in sight of the location of the flag parade give the military salute. If, for example on the way home, soldiers in civilian clothes are present, they do not give a greeting, but go into the basic position. The greeting is to be given immediately after the command “It's called the flag!” Or “Bring your flag down!” Or “Set the flag at half mast!” And ends with the command “... - stir!” Except during the big flag parade.
- Big flag parade
The Grand Flag Parade is only carried out on the express order of a superior who has at least the position of a commanding general.
The Grand Flag Parade: an officer as leader of the Grand Flag Parade, who should have the rank of chief or leader of the music corps, a music corps, a parade of honor, the flag command.
The music corps, the parade of honor and the flag command form the "parade line-up"; After the approach, the music corps is on the right wing, the flag command leaves and says "stir up!" facing each other on both sides of the flagpole. The flag is made clear without any command to raise / lower it.
The place of the leader of the Great Flag Parade depends on the local conditions.
To carry out the Great Flag Parade, the leader of the Great Flag Parade commands: “To the Great Flag Parade, parade formation - stand still!”, “Attention! Present! ”,“ Eyes - right! ”(“ The eyes - left! ”),“ It means the flag! ”Or“ Bring down the flag! ”Immediately after these commands, music corps and minstrels set in with the presentation march. The Federal Service flag is slowly raised or lowered by the flag command.
If the federal service flag is raised or lowered, the presentation march is to be ended and the national anthem to be played immediately afterwards. The flag squad does not salute while the national anthem is played.
The big flag parade ends after the commands: "Eyes straight - out!", "Hand - off!", "Parade line-up - stir!" With the entry of the flag squad and the march off the parade line-up. The flag command can, especially if the big flag parade is carried out outside of a military installation or facility, remain at the flagpole as an honorary post, taking up the "stand-by position".
- Points in time
The flag parade is to be held every morning and evening. If there is no military guard, the federal service flag is informal, but must be hoisted and brought down in a dignified and respectful manner. The flag parade will be held at 7:00 a.m. between April 1 and September 30, and at 8:00 a.m. from October 1 to March 31. For the evening, the regulation specifies sunset or, as the latest, 20:00. On the occasion of military celebrations, flags can remain hoisted after sunset if and as long as they are illuminated by headlights.
Marine according to division regulation C1-280 / 0-3311
- Small flag parade
Every in service, land-based (i.e. anchored or moored) militarily manned naval warship as well as all military services are required to parade daily flags.
Fifteen minutes before the start of the small flag parade, the order to "flag guard" is given. The separated soldiers, usually one guest to serve the jacks , two guests to operate the rear flag, a signal guest to operate the PREP pennant and other flags that are subject to the flag parade (e.g. flag decorations , commanders' absence signs , etc.), a mate to whistle the orders and an officer as commander of the flag parade put on the so-called parade suit, that is the first set.
Five minutes before the start of the small flag parade, the order to step out of the flag is given. The separated soldiers appear at the stations they have been ordered to. The guests on the jack and stern flag clear the flag lines and take their basic position with a view amidships (or to their superiors). The signal guest puts the PREP pennant in front, i.e. H. puts him up to the top of the signal line. From this moment on, entering and leaving the ship via the Stelling or the stairway is prohibited.
At the time of the flag parade, the commanding officer gives the command: "Down!" And whistles a long tone on the battery whistle, the signal guest takes the PREP pennant halfway (lets it slowly lower to the middle of the signal line). Then the officer in charge orders “Stand still on upper deck! Front to the flag! ”(All soldiers on the upper deck and on the pier near the ship stand still, with the front to the stern flag - only the guest on the jack takes the front to the jack).
The next command in the morning is: “Hot flag!”, In the evening: “Lower your flag!”. All soldiers present salute the flag. Now the guests begin to move the flags slowly, while the mate whistles a trill on the boatswain's mate whistle .
Once the flags have been raised or taken, the officer in charge gives the order “stir!” And gives two short whistles with the battery whistle. All soldiers on the upper deck and on the pier take their hands off and can return to their activities, the signal guest takes down the PREP pennant, the guests at the flags clear the lines, the soldiers of the flag parade step away.
- Big flag parade
The Grand Flag Parade is only carried out on express orders.
In addition to the personnel described above, a music corps and an armed guard of honor come to the command "Stand out flag posts!"
Five minutes before the start of the small flag parade, the order to step out of the flag is given. The separated soldiers appear at the stations they have been ordered to. The guests on the jack and stern flag clear the flag lines and take their basic position with a view amidships (or to their superiors). The signal guest puts the PREP pennant in front, i.e. H. puts him up to the top of the signal line. From this moment on, entering and leaving the ship via the Stelling or the stairway is prohibited.
At the time of the flag parade, the commanding officer gives the command: "Down!" And whistles a long tone on the battery whistle, the signal guest takes the PREP pennant halfway (lets it slowly lower to the middle of the signal line). Then the officer in charge orders “Stand still on upper deck! Front to the flag! ”(All soldiers on the upper deck and on the pier near the ship stand still, with the front to the stern flag - only the guest on the jack takes the front to the jack).
The next command is in the morning: “Hot flag!” And in the evening: “Lower your flag!”. The honor guard presents the rifle, the music corps beats the Dutch march of honor , all other soldiers present greet them. Now the guests begin to move the flags slowly, while the mate whistles a trill on the boatswain's mate whistle .
Once the flags have been raised or taken, the officer in charge gives the order “stir!” And gives two short whistles with the battery whistle. The Dutch march of honor is ended, the honor guard takes down the rifle. All soldiers on the upper deck and on the pier take their hands off and can return to their activities, the signal guest takes down the PREP pennant, the guests at the flags clear the lines, the soldiers of the flag parade, the honor guard and the music corps step away.
- Time and order
According to area regulation C1-280 / 0-3311, the flag parade takes place from April 1 to September 30 in the morning at 7:00 a.m. and in the evening at sunset. From October 1st to March 31st, the flag parade takes place in the morning at 8:00 a.m. and in the evening at sunset. If several ships are within hearing and sight of each other, the flag parade begins on board the ship with the highest or most senior officer on board. The flag parade is only whistled when the last (lowest-ranking) ship has moved the flags.
differences
In rural services, the commands differ only in terms of their local conditions (e.g. not “Stood still on upper deck!”), The process of the ceremony is the same. However, there are larger differences compared to other nations. It occurs z. For example, at every flag parade on board a Turkish warship an honor guard is on, on board Italian warships other whistling signals are given, etc.
particularities
In mourning flags, the procedure is the same as in the normal flag parade, but when the flags are raised, after they have been completely raised, they are lowered halfway or so far that they cannot touch the ground. When they are pulled down, they are first opened again completely and then taken down. The mourning flag is issued on express orders and on certain days of remembrance (including Memorial Day, Day to commemorate the crimes of the Nazi dictatorship). If a warship changes its status from land-based to sea-going or vice versa, the flags are set or taken without ceremony (so-called flag change). Often the flags are set before reaching a port or only lowered after leaving a port.
Other customs
When it is pulled down, a flag is folded according to established regulations. The folding is different depending on the country and military tradition. These folding traditions are based on the preciousness of earlier flags and have the general aim that the flag with its most insensitive (read: darkest) color is folded and stored on the outside.
- Germany in general: The golden bar of the federal service flag is folded back, then the black bar is folded back so that only the red bar with the federal eagle can be seen. Now the 1st soldier halves the red bar up to the eagle. The 2nd soldier does the same for his side. Then the red bar is folded behind the federal eagle, so that afterwards only the federal eagle can be seen.
- Service flag of the naval forces of the Bundeswehr : the flag is halved twice so that the black field is on the outside, then the tips of the flag are placed on their opposite fold. The flag is then folded into a square from the waving leech, so that at the end only the black field remains visible.
- USA : The flag of the United States is halved twice and then folded into a triangle from the waving leech, so that the jack (in this case the white stars on a blue background) are on the outside.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Flagging in the German Navy. Inland minutes of the Federal Government, accessed on August 29, 2019 .
- ↑ Flagging in the Bundeswehr. Inland minutes of the Federal Government, accessed on August 29, 2019 .