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Flags of the Navy 1933-1945 (Germany)

deutsche kriegsmarine

Last modified: 2022-10-01 by pete loeser
Keywords: third reich | rank | grand admiral | general admiral | admiral | vice admiral | rear admiral | iron cross | cross: formy (black) | batons: crossed | eagle (gold) | swords: 2 (crossed) | swords: 2 (gold) | disc (black) | discs: 2 |
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Introduction: Command Flags (1938, 1939, 1941)

The Nazis continued the use of the Naval rank flags which the Weimar Republic had inherited from the Imperial Navy. In addition they installed 3 new ones: Generaladmiralsflagge, Grossadmiralsflagge and Flagge des Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine, sofern er nicht Grossadmiral ist.
Norman Martin, January 1998

The group of persons using these command flag are defined in a regulation with multiple dates: 1938, 1939, 1941, so I can't know offhand when these new groups were defined. "Naval officers of admirals' rank as commander of ground troops, e.g. admirals of the naval stations, coastal commanders, fortification commanders on permanent admiral's posts."
Winfried Schrödter, 27 September 2022

Grand Admiral's Flag
Grossadmiralsflagge

[Grand Admiral (Third Reich, Germany)] 1:1 Image by Jaume Ollé

Like the Imperial Grossadmiral's Flag with a gold Nazi national eagle replacing the imperial crown. Illustrated in Flaggenbuch 1939, pl. IV.
Norman Martin, January 1998

Flag of the Inspector Admiral of the Navy of the Greater German Reich
with the Rank of Grand Admiral 1943-1945
Flagge des Admiralinspekteurs der Kriegsmarine des Grossdeutschen Reiches
im Range eines Grossadmirals 1943-1945

Inspector Admiral of the Navy (third reich, germany)] 1:1 Image by Jaume Ollé

The Grossadmiral's Flag with a broad blue border. Introduced 30th January 1943. Illustrated in Flaggenbuch 1939, pl. IVa (color) and Davis 1975, p. 127 (black and white).
Norman Martin, January 1998

Flag of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, if not a Grand Admiral
Flagge des Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine, sofern er nicht Grossadmiral ist

[Commander-in-Chief of the Navy if not a Grand Admiral (Third Reich, Germany)] 1:1 Image by Jaume Ollé

The Admiral's flag with gold crossed swords behind the Iron Cross. Illustrated in Flaggenbuch 1939, pl. IV.
Norman Martin, January 1998

General Admiral's Flag
Generaladmiralsflagge

[General Admiral (Third Reich, Germany)] 1:1 Image by Jaume Ollé

The Admiral's flag with gold crossed swords in the lower hoist. Illustrated Flaggenbuch 1939, pl. IV (color) and Davis 1975, p. 125 (black and white).
Norman Martin, January 1998

Admiral's Flag
Admiralsflagge

[Admiral 1867-1945 and 1956-nowadays (Germany)] 1:1 Image by Marcus Schmöger

On a white field a narrow Iron Cross whose arms reach the edge of the flag. (...) This flag was probably in use as early as 1867, certainly by the mid 1880s and has continued in use until today, except for the few years in which there was no German Navy, and for East Germany from 1945 until 1990. Illustrated in Flaggenbuch 1939 p. 4.
Norman Martin, 1998

Car Pennant for Admirals
Dienstwimpel am Kraftwagen für Admirale

[Admirals Car Pennant (Third Reich, Germany)]
Image by Jaume Ollé

Like the Car Pennant for Other Members of the Navy, but with a wider gold border, decorated with swastikas.
Norman Martin, March 1998

Vice Admiral's Flag 1867-1945 and since 1956
Vizeadmiralsflagge

[Vice Admiral 1867-1945 and since 1956 (Germany)] 1:1 Image by Marcus Schmöger

The admiral's flag with a black ball in the upper hoist. This flag was probably in use as early as 1867, certainly by the mid 1880s and has continued in use until today, except for the few years in which there was no German Navy, and for East Germany from 1945 until 1990. Illustrated in Flaggenbuch 1939 p. 4.
Norman Martin, 1998

The diameter of the black disc should be 9/50ths of the flag's height, according to Flaggenbuch 1939.
Santiago Dotor, 25 May 2000

Rear Admiral's Flag 1867-1945 and since 1956
Konteradmiralsflagge

[Rear Admiral 1867-1945 and since 1956 (Germany)] 1:1 Image by Marcus Schmöger

The admiral's flag with a black ball in the upper hoist and one in the lower hoist. This flag was probably in use as early as 1867, certainly by the mid 1880s and has continued in use until today, except for the few years in which there was no German Navy, and for East Germany from 1945 until 1990. Illustrated in Flaggenbuch 1939 p. 4.
Norman Martin, 1998

The diameter of the black discs should be 9/50ths of the flag's height, according to Flaggenbuch 1939.
Santiago Dotor, 25 May 2000

Car Command Flag for Navy Fortress Commanders in Staff Officer Positions and Navy Regimental Commanders
Kommandozeichen am Kraftwagen für Festungskommandanten als Stabsoffiziersstellungen und Regimentskommandeure der Kriegsmarine

[Navy Fortress Commanders, Navy Regimental Commanders (Third Reich, Germany)] 3:5 Image by Jaume Ollé

Black-white-black horizontal tricolor with golden anchor toward hoist.
Norman Martin, March 1998

Car Command Pennant for Division Commander

[Car Command Pennant for Navy Division Commander (Third Reich, Germany)]
3.5 Image by Winfried Schrödter, 27 September 2022

Same as the one for Navy Batallion Commanders but the fields are black, white, red (top to bottom) and the anchor is a little bitter higher. Source: John R. Angolia and Adolf Schlicht, Die Kriegsmarine: Uniforms and Traditions, Volume 3.
Marcus Wendel, 20 September 2000

Car Command Pennant for Brigade Commander

[Car Command Pennant for Navy Division Commander (Third Reich, Germany)]
3.5 Image by Pete Loeser

Same as the one for Navy Batallion Commanders but the fields are black, white, black (top to bottom) and the anchor is a little bitter higher. Source: John R. Angolia and Adolf Schlicht, Die Kriegsmarine: Uniforms and Traditions, Volume 3.
Marcus Wendel, 20 September 2000

Car Command Flag for Regiment Commander

[Navy Fortress Commanders, Navy Regimental Commanders (Third Reich, Germany)] 3:5 Image by Jaume Ollé

Rectangular flag black/white/black. Originally without anchor, but it was added 20 January 1943. Source: John R. Angolia and Adolf Schlicht, Die Kriegsmarine: Uniforms and Traditions, Volume 3.
Marcus Wendel, 20 September 2000

Car Command Pennant for Navy Batallion Commanders
Kommandozeichen am Kraftwagen für Abteilungskommandeure der Kriegsmarine

[Navy Batallion Commanders (Third Reich, Germany)]
3:5 Image by Jaume Ollé

White-black-white horizontal tricolor pennant with golden anchor.
Norman Martin, March 1998

Battalion Commander: as Brigade Commander but without anchor. Colors changed to white/black/white 15 June 1938 and anchor was added 20 January 1943. Source: John R. Angolia and Adolf Schlicht, Die Kriegsmarine: Uniforms and Traditions, Volume 3.
Marcus Wendel, 20 September 2000

Car Pennant for Other Members of the Navy
Dienstwimpel am Kraftwagen für die übrigen Angehörigen der Kriegsmarine

[Other Members of the Navy Car Pennant (Third Reich, Germany)]
Image by Jaume Ollé

Blue pennant, gold fringe, with golden party eagle carrying a wreath. Inside the wreath, a swastika.
Norman Martin, March 1998

Navy Church Pennant c1940
Kriegsmarine Kirche Wimpel


Image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 29 Nov 2011

The German Navy Church Pennant is a white pennant with ratio approx 2;3 divided by a red centred cross. The width of cross bars is estimated 1/7 of total height. I don't know, whether this pennant had been flown horizontally or vertically. Source: I spotted this pennant in Maritimes Museum Hamburg on 24 September 2009.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 29 Nov 2011

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