The list of flags of the German Navy (1935–1945) includes all flags, stander and pennants that were used by the German war and merchant navy during the period mentioned .
National and trade flags, at the same time jack of warships
flag
date
designation
description
1935-1945
National and trade flags, at the same time jack of warships
The width ratios of red surface: circular disc: red surface were 9:18:13. At sea, the version with the swastika moved inwards was used exclusively and prescribed since 1933.
Commercial flag with the iron cross
flag
date
designation
description
1935-1945
Commercial flag with the iron cross
Led by captains of the merchant navy who were retired Kriegsmarine officers (reserve officers)
Reich war flag
The Reich War Flag , introduced on November 7, 1935, was used in many ways in the Wehrmacht . It also served the Navy as a national flag, which had to be hoisted on special days regardless of the location of the ship. These were in detail January 1st (New Year), January 18th (founding day of the German Empire 1871), January 30th ("Day of the National Revolt"), April 20th (Hitler's birthday), May 1st ( “Labor Day”) and May 31st (memory of the Battle of Skagerrak). In addition, ships in home waters were required to hoist the Reich war flag on the following days: on March 1st (reintegration of the Saarland), on August 29 (the day the Prussian Navy was founded in 1859), on the first Sunday after Michaelmas and on the day of Thanksgiving . Regardless of those days, all warships that received a head of state were obliged to display the imperial war flag.
The width and the course of the black stripes have been changed compared to the previous version. This change was probably made in December 1937, but there are no official publications about it.
Reich Service Flag
The Reichsdienstflagge was used by all government agencies, e.g. B. from the Reichsbahn, Reichsautobahn and Reichsbank. In the Navy, the Reichsdienstflagge was carried by all state watercraft that were not authorized to hoist the Reichskriegsflagge. In the event that the Reich Service flag was missing, the national and commercial flags had to be shown in its place.
flag
date
designation
description
1935-1945
Reich Service Flag
The flag in the proportions of 3: 5 showed an upright swastika in the center, which was placed in a white, black-lined circular disc. The imperial eagle can be seen in the upper inner corner.
Flags of the Kriegsmarine
Most of the command and rank flags of the German Navy had a traditional character and were already used in the Imperial and, before that, the Prussian Navy. 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 Navy, assumed in 1936. In order to avoid that Raeder had a higher rank than the then Supreme Commanders of the Air Force ( Colonel General Hermann Göring ) and the Army (Colonel General Werner von Fritsch ), the rank of Admiral General was introduced. The actually envisaged rank of a Grand Admiral as Supreme Commander of the Navy was "postponed" and a special flag was introduced for a Supreme Commander who is not a Grand Admiral. Raeder was promoted to Grand Admiral in 1939, so that the special flag was not officially abolished, but was no longer used, especially since Raeder's successor, Karl Dönitz , jumped over the rank of Admiral General in 1943 and was immediately appointed Grand Admiral by the Admiral .
Two crossed general admiral swords on which the admiral cross is placed.
1939-1945
Flag of a Grand Admiral
Two crossed Grand Admiral's baton and the Wehrmacht eagle in yellow are placed on an admiral cross. The "shading technique" used with this flag is striking. Both the Grand Admiral's staffs and the Wehrmacht eagle were equipped with shadow elements.
1943-1945
Flag of the Admiral Inspector of the Kriegsmarine of the Greater German Reich in the rank of Grand Admiral
Around the Grand Admiral's flag are blue stripes that are one fifth of the width of the inner flag. The position of admiral inspector was taken by Erich Raeder.
1935-1945
General admiral flag
An admiral cross with two crossed swords in yellow and brown in the lower, inner corner
1935-1945
Admiral flag
The Admiral Cross was already introduced in the Prussian Navy
1935-1945
Vice admiral flag
An admiral cross with a ranking ball in the upper inner corner
1935-1945
Rear admiral flag
An admiral cross with two bullets in the inner corners
Other command flags
flag
date
designation
description
1935-1945
Commodorestander
The stand hoisted in the top mast was cut to 60% of the total length.
1935-1945
Seniority
Like Commodorestander, but hoisted from the yard
1935-1945
Driver's stand
Like Kommodorestander, but attached to swing freely
1935-1945
Flotilla stand
The stand was hoisted in the top mast
1935-1945
Group stand
Like flotilla stand, but hoisted from the yard
1935-1945
Command flag
The pennant was cut on a quarter of the total length and had a height-to-length ratio of 15: 1,000
Motor vehicle stands, flags and pennants
flag
date
designation
description
1940-1945
Motor vehicle stand for naval officers with admiral rank as commander-in-chief
All stands and flags had a length-to-height ratio of 5: 3
1940-1945
Motor vehicle stand for sea commanders and brigade commanders of the Navy
1940-1943
Motor vehicle stand for department commanders of the Kriegsmarine
1943-1945
Command signs on the motor vehicle for department commanders of the Kriegsmarine
The yellow, clear anchor was added on January 20, 1943
1940-1943
Motor vehicle flag for fortress commanders in scheduled staff officer positions and regimental commanders in the Navy
1943-1945
Command signs on the motor vehicle for fortress commanders in staff officer positions and regimental commanders in the Navy
The yellow, clear anchor was added on January 20, 1943
1940-1945
Service flag on the car for admirals
The pennant had a width of 35 cm and a height of 23 cm. The gold-colored border, decorated with a total of 42 swastikas, was between 25 and 30 mm wide. The imperial eagle was yellow in color.
1940-1945
Service pennant on the vehicle for the other members of the Navy
The pennant had a width of 33 cm and a height of 22 cm. The gold-colored edge was 6 mm wide. The imperial eagle was yellow in color
A pennant was awarded for every aircraft that was shot down.
Flag for land-based units of the Kriegsmarine
flag
date
designation
description
1936-1945
Flag for land-based units or facilities of the German Navy 1936–1945 (left side)
Introduced on September 8, 1936. As prescribed for all flags of the Wehrmacht, the dimensions of the flag were 126 by 126 cm. It was attached to a three meter long flagpole
1936-1945
Flag for land-based units or facilities of the German Navy 1936–1945 (right side)
as above
Other naval flags
flag
date
designation
description
1935-1936
Water sport flag
The black-white-red flag with a white anchor turned 45 degrees in the black stripe. Used from May 31, 1935 to January 17, 1936
1936-1945
Water sport flag
A white circular disc with the swastika is placed on a black, white-lined, clear anchor. Adopted April 6, 1936
1935-1945
Pilot flag
Pilot vehicle flag and pilot call signal. The height or width of the white stripe was one fifth of the height of the inner flag
1935-1945
Identification mark of the Weser pilot vehicles
Was placed in the top mast and indicated that the pilot vehicle had pilots on board ready for use. The proportions of the flag were 5: 9
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