Reichspostflagge

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Reichspostflagge in black-red-gold from 1921, 3: 5 ,? ?Service flag on land Historic flag

The Reichspostflagge was the postal flag used in the Weimar Republic and in the early days of National Socialism .

history

A provisional postal flag can be seen on the fuselage. Photo taken in February 1919

The Reichspostflagge created on the basis of the cabinet meeting of the Reichsregierung on September 1st, 1919 should consist of three horizontal stripes: black, red and gold with a post horn in the red stripe . On October 15, 1919, the exact appearance of the flag was announced. It showed three equally wide stripes in the colors black, red and gold as well as a white post horn with a white cord and two white tassels in the middle, red stripe. The size ratio was 2: 3. At this point in time, the original plans also included a separate imperial post flag at sea . However, this idea was soon abandoned. It is conceivable that the postal horns were removed from the imperial postal flags and affixed to black, red and gold flags before September 1919 in order to use them as temporary arrangements. It is rather unlikely that such versions were actually used. What is certain, however, is that makeshift models of the flag laid down on October 15, 1919 were made:

“The makeshift production of this flag is also interesting. The prevailing shortage of raw materials led to the use of the old imperial postal flag, from which the white stripe was removed and the curves repaired with pieces of fabric of the same color. Yellow was added and the white post horn was cut out from the remaining white strips and sewn in. The imperial post horn could not be used because it had a black, white and red cord and tassels. "

- Dreyhaupt / Martin : German National Flags Part V: Flags of the Weimar Republic, in: Der Flaggenkurier No. 11 (June 2000), German Flagship Society

The extent to which these makeshift versions were used in practice is not known, especially as considerable objections to the appearance of the flag were quickly raised.

The Reichspostflagge was finally determined by the ordinance on the German flags of the Reich President of April 11, 1921 and came into force on July 1, 1921. After that, the Reichspostflagge consisted of the Reichsflagge with a broadened, red central stripe and a yellow post horn with vertical cord wrapping and two closed tassels, all also in yellow. The aspect ratio was 2: 3.

German ships that carried the post on behalf of the Deutsche Reichspost without being owned by the Reich carried the Reichspostflagge on the Großtopp next to the commercial flag as long as they had the post on board . For the same time, the ships were entitled to use the Reichspostflagge as a jack on the bowsprit .

The National Socialists returned to black, white and red . A Reichspostflagge was temporarily adopted on March 31, 1933, which was very similar to the Reichspostamtsflagge of the imperial era. Only the crown was omitted. The Reichspostflagge was finally abolished on September 19, 1935. In 1936, only a white, red-rimmed ship's post was accepted.

precursor

Prussian Post

The Prussian Post flagged in the Prussian colors. The Prussian mail ships , too , had carried the state flag with the eagle and the iron cross since 1817 , which granted them special rights and valuable benefits when calling at sea ports. The ships of the Prussian navy carried the same flag and also carried the pennant.

North German Confederation and Empire

After the establishment of the postal administration of the North German Confederation , federal flags were created by order of the Federal Chancellor and an imperial German postal flag was created after the establishment of the German Empire . It corresponded to the German war flag , was white and was placed in four fields with a black cross. In the center of the cross rested the heraldic Prussian eagle on a white disk. The upper field next to the flagpole showed the Iron Cross on a black, white and red background, the lower one a golden yellow post horn. Later, the use of the Reich war flag was restricted to the navy and the army , and a Reich service flag was also introduced. It consisted of the black-white-red flag with a badge affixed in the middle of the white field to identify the official purpose and the administrative branch. For the Imperial Postal Administration, this was a yellow post horn with the imperial crown over it. State Secretary Heinrich von Stephan did not agree with the removal of the Iron Cross from the postal flag, but finally gave in with the significant remark:

“I don't really care what the flag looks like. Reputation is the main thing. "

- Heinrich von Stephan
flag date use description
Post flag -1892.svg 1871-1892 Flag of the mail ships The German war flag with a gold-colored post horn in the lower inner corner
Postgösch.svg 1871-1892 Gösch of the mail ships Until 1892, mail ships sailed with their own gösch. A gold-colored post horn in the white stripe
Post flag 1892-1918.svg 1892-1919 Reichspostamtsflagge The golden yellow imperial crown with ribbons set over a post horn of the same color in a white, circular central field. The flag was hoisted on the main top. As long as the post was on board and the ship was in the port of arrival, the post flag could also be set as a jack on the bowsprit.
Post flag 1919 prov.svg 1919 (?) Reichspostflagge Possible provisional arrangement before September 1919. Use rather unlikely
Post flag 1919 prov2.svg 1919-1921 Reichspostflagge Accepted Reichspost flag from October 15, 1919
Reichspostflagge 1921-1933.svg 1921-1933 Reichspostflagge A new postal flag was introduced on April 11, 1921: a gold-colored post horn was located on a widened, central red stripe
Reichspostflagge 1933-1935.svg 1933-1935 Reichspostflagge Introduced on March 31, 1933, the new postal flag differed only slightly from the version used until 1919. Only the crown was omitted. The flag was in use until September 19, 1935
Ship post flag 1935.svg 1936-1945 Ship mail stand From March 14, 1936, only a simplified ship post was used, which was abolished in 1945

successor

After the Second World War there was a postal flag in each of the two German states:

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Files of the Reich Chancellery
  2. ^ Archive for German Postal History 1960, Issue 1
  3. ↑ Files of the Reich Chancellery
  4. ^ Ordinance on German flags of April 11, 1921
  5. ^ Ordinance on the ship's post flag

literature

Web links

Commons : Reichspostflaggen  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

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