Last modified: 2006-09-23 by jarig bakker
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Crowned black eagle with gold scepter and gold decorated blue orb. In
the upper hoist, an Iron Cross.
Norman Martin, 20 Jan 1998
The history of the first Prussian ensign is quite complex and Jaume
Ollé's design is wrong in many aspects. The first Prussian warship
was built in 1816 (the Stralsund) and it needed an ensign. On the
24 November, three projects were presented to the king who chose the design
of the black eagle in heraldic form, on a white background charged in the
canton with the iron cross. The ensign was first used in the spring of
1817. The design of the eagle was however badly interpreted and on 18 November
1818 the Ministry of Interior sent to the Ministry of War a note on which
it was said that the eagle's design didn't correspond to the one adopted
on 9 January 1817. The note listed the mistakes:
- The royal crown was red lined, which was not correct following the
development of the Prussian crown; moreover, the crown should have only
been the arcs of a royal crown.
- The gold letters "FR" [Fredericus Rex] on the eagle's breast
were missing.
- The small eagle on the sceptre was missing.
- The eagle should show its tongue while, on the contrary, it was biting
it.
(Jaume Ollé's image is a mix of the wrong and of the correct
design.) The ensign was corrected and, at the same
time, its shape was modified becoming swallowtailed.
Mario Fabretto, 10 Aug 1998
I always thought that the Prussian ensigns showing the Iron Cross used
a 'plain' version of it, like the Imperial ensign and jack (and even the
1935-1945 war ensigns) did, rather than a more 'realistic' version including
crown, royal cypher etc.
Santiago Dotor, 1 Jun 2003
The answer is not straightforward, as Prussian flag practice in the
first half of the 19th century was practically a mess.
As Meuss wrote [meu16]: "Dieser
Flaggenwirrwarr ist bei der bekannten Ordnungsliebe der preußischen Militärverwaltung
nur durch ihre völlige Unbekanntschaft mit Flaggenfragen erklärlich."
(Taking into account the well-known orderliness of the Prussian military
administration, this flag chaos can only be explained by a complete ignorance
in flag questions.)
To tell the story short:
1. 1816: the war ensign was approved by the king. The drawing showed
the eagle without cipher, and with several other features different from
the then approved arms. The Iron Cross was with details
2. 1818: the war ensign was "rectified", changing the eagle pattern
according to the approved arms pattern, i.e. different crown, royal cipher
on breast, sceptre with a small eagle, tongue free. The Iron Cross was
still with details.
3. 1819: the king had actually only approved the changed eagle pattern,
but there was a change of the flag by some navy officials, from the rectangle
flag to the "splitflag" pattern. It is not clear, when and why this happened.
Most probably both versions were in use.
4. 1850: the war ensign was again changed slightly: now the Iron Cross
was without details, the sizes for the flags were regulated, the colour
of the clover-stalks etc was changed from white to yellow.
Marcus Schmöger, 26 Jun 2003
White swallow-tailed flag with a crowned black Prussian eagle with gold
scepter and gold orb, with an Iron Cross in the upper hoist. (Alexander
lists usage as 1858-1863, another source lists 1850-1863; it is possible
that the design was slightly different in the 40s and maybe early 50s).
Norman Martin, 20 Jan1998
The ensign was confirmed in 1850 and disappeared from the seas on 1
October 1867, being restricted in its use to internal
waters until 1918. Around 1890 the eagle's design
was modified as on the national flag. After 1863 the ensigns (including
the merchant one) were mainly used in their rectangular form (not swallow-tailed).
Mario Fabretto, 10 Aug 1998
An article by Dr. Whitney Smith, Gwenn ha Du (black and white)
in Ar Banniel, 1999, mentions "6. Kingdom
of Prussia - Naval Ensign (1823-1867) - Swallow-tailed, white field with
Prussian eagle and Iron Cross in canton."
Ivan Sache, 2 Aug 1999
Like the 1823 civil ensign, but not
swallow tailed [and with a hoist Iron Cross].
Norman Martin, 20 Jan 1998
Possibly a civil ensign for Naval Reserve officers, in a similar way
to the Imperial "merchant flag with the Iron
Cross"?
Santiago Dotor, 12 Jul 2000
Like the 1863 civil ensign, but with
redesigned eagle. Used as top mast flag on the battleship "Preussen" during
the Weimar Republic. Illustrated Alexander
1992 p.106, Crampton 1990 p. 42 and
Meyers Konversations-Lexikon 1912
vol. 4, facing p. 799. Reported as Ensign and Service Flag 1905.
Norman Martin, 20 Jan 1998
The ensign must have the Iron Cross in
the canton. The eagle has the design introduced around 1890. From 1 October
1867 until 1918 when it disappeared, the ensign was used only on inland
waters.
Mario Fabretto, 17 Aug 1998
An article by Dr. Whitney Smith, Gwenn ha Du (black and white)
in Ar Banniel, 1999, mentions "7. Kingdom
of Prussia - Naval Ensign (variant) - same as 6., without
Iron Cross."
Ivan Sache, 2 August 1999
Meuß 1916, plate 8, shows the square
white flag with the thin iron cross as Gösch und Admiralsflagge.
The text mentions this as introduced by the Allgemeines Flaggen- und
Salut-Reglement [General Flag and Salute Regulation] of 1863.
Marcus Schmöger, 15 Jun 2004
White Pennant with an Iron Cross at the
hoist. Same as the 1871-1918 Imperial war pennant.
Norman Martin, 20 Jan 1998
White swallow tailed flag with Iron Cross
in hoist, extending to inner point of swallow tail, and hung from a point.
Similar to the flotilla flag of Imperial Germany.
Norman Martin, 20 Jan 1998