Civil Flag and Ensign 1933-1935 National- und Handelsflagge ![[Civil Flag and Ensign 1933-1935 (Germany)]](http://www.geocities.com/brigataneraitaly/bandiere/de1871.gif)
The Nazis reinstated the schwarz-weiss-rot flag when they came to power in 1933 — the black-red-gold of the Weimar Republic (and modern-day Germany) being associated by the right-wingers with Germany's defeat in 1918. However the Swastika Party Flag was flown alongside it, including on merchant ships where it flew from the starboard yard-arm. In 1935 anti-Nazi activists boarded a German ship in New York harbour and tore down the Swastika flag. The American authorities refused to take any action on the grounds that only a political flag had been tampered with, not the national colours. The Reichstag subsequently unanimously declared the swastika flag the [sole] national flag of Germany in September 1935. The national flag and the merchant ensign were both the black-white-red tricolour at first (1933-1935), then the red flag with the white disk containing the Hakenkreuz which from 1935 to 1945 fulfilled these functions.
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Swastika Flag Hakenkreuzfahne
![[Civil Flag 1933-1935 (Third Reich, Germany)]](http://www.geocities.com/brigataneraitaly/bandiere/de-1933.gif) Hitherto the party flag of the Nazi Party, the swastika flag was declared to be jointly the national flag with the black-white-red and was to be flown jointly with it. On merchant ships the black-white-red flew from the stern. The colours were those of the Second Reich, and before that the Prussian-dominated North German Confederation. They combined the black over white of Prussia and the red and white of the Hanseatic League (see also the red and white flags of the modern states of Bremen and Hamburg). It is clear that only the centered version was used on land 1933-35. The only version used or authorized at sea at any time 1933-45 was the off-centered version.
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War Ensign 1933 - 1935 Reichskriegsflagge
![[War Ensign and Jack 1933-1935 (Germany)]](http://www.geocities.com/brigataneraitaly/bandiere/de1903j.gif)
The black-white-red with the Iron Cross at the center. Basically the same pattern as the Imperial jack, or alternatively, the 1921-1933 Ensign without the canton. Illustrated in National Geographic 1934, no. 475 and Flaggenbuch 1939, plate IX. This was used 1933 to 1935, but was incidentally also used for ceremonial purposes until 1945. Two other changes from the old pattern should also be noted: The Iron Cross was shifted slightly towards the seam [hoist?] A narrow white line was added around the Iron Cross in the black and red fields. Editor's note: see also Proportions of the War Ensign and Jack 1871-1935.
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Jack 1933-1935 Gösch ![[War Ensign and Jack 1933-1935 (Germany)]](http://www.geocities.com/brigataneraitaly/bandiere/de1903j.gif) Identical to the ensign except for size, hence basically identical with the Imperial jack. Used 1933 to 1935. Editor's note: see also Proportions of the War Ensign and Jack 1871-1935.
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President's Standard 1933-1935 Standarte des Reichspräsidenten
![[President's Standard 1933-1935 (Germany)]](http://www.geocities.com/brigataneraitaly/bandiere/depr933.gif)
This is identical with the previous standard except for having a black, white and red border (from the outside). Used from 1933 to 1935, at least officially. After [President Field-Marshal] von Hindenburg's death in 1934, the position of president was combined with that of [Leader and] Chancellor as Führer und Reichskanzler and Hitler pointedly never used the title (out of respect for von Hindenburg, he said). Nonetheless, the law combining the positions would have authorized his use of the standard. I do not know whether he actually did. Illustrated in Crampton 1990 p. 43.
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State Flag and Ensign 1933-1935 Reichsdienstflagge
![[State Flag and Ensign 1933-1935 (Germany)]](http://www.geocities.com/brigataneraitaly/bandiere/des1933.gif) Flag adopted 1933, abolished 1935 The black-white-red with a slightly increased circular white area with the national eagle displayed, thus very similar to the Imperial Foreign Office State Flag, except for the form of the eagle. This flag basically replaced both the previous state flag and state ensign and was in use 1933 to 1935. [The] German state flag and ensign introduced in 1933 [was] black-white-red with circular white cutout, slightly off-centred to the hoist, therein the German eagle. This was the Reichsdienstflagge, adopted 22 April 1933 and replaced by the swastika type in 1935. I have a black and white photocopy of it from the 1934 German Ministry of Interior publication on flags which I got from Dieter Linder a couple of years ago. The eagle seems to me extremely close or identical to that of the 1921 and current Presidential standard, similar to the 1933 presidential standard, which has one feather more, even though adopted by the same decree and both are referred to as the Reichsadler (but with the adjective schwebend added in the case of the presidential eagle.) It is quite different both from the eagle of the 1921 Dienstflaggen [service flags and ensigns] and any of the coats of arms. I have assumed that the white disc had a diameter 5/9ths of the hoist (as in the Imperial state ensign) and that the off-centering is 1/20th of the length.
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Retired Naval Officers' Civil Ensign 1933-1935 Flagge für ehemalige Marineoffiziere als Führer von Handelsschiffen ![[Retired Naval Officers' Civil Ensign 1933-1935 (Germany)]](http://www.geocities.com/brigataneraitaly/bandiere/de-rno.gif)
The black-white-red tricolour with a double-bordered Iron Cross in the black stripe at the hoist, thus the Weimar merchant flag with the Iron Cross (which it replaced) with the black-red-gold canton (but not the Iron Cross) removed. It was in use 1933 to 1935.
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Pilot Flag 1933-1935 Lotsenflagge
![[Pilot Flag 1933-1935 (Germany)]](http://www.geocities.com/brigataneraitaly/bandiere/dep1871.gif)
Like the previous pilot flag, but with the plain black-white-red flag instead of the former merchant flag in the center, thus a reversion to the Imperial pilot flag. This flag remained in use until 1935.
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