Military Flags (Denmark)

Militære Flag

Last modified: 2025-11-22 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: denmark | scandinavian cross | dannebrog | anchor |
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• Gala Ensigns (Galla Faner)
• Minister of Defence
• Chief of Defence Staff (Forsvarschefen) reported 2019
• Chief of Defence Staff (Forsvarschefen) reported 2001
• Chief of Defence Staff Car Flags (Forsvarschefens Kommandostander)
• Defence Staff Department Flag (Forsvarsstabens Embedsfane)
• Finial of Military Flags
• Army Flags
• Naval Flags
• Air Force Flags
• Medical Corps Flags

• Denmark

Gala Ensigns (Galla Faner)

In Amalienborg Castle,the residence of the royal family in København, there exist two so called "Gala Ensigns" (Danish: Galla Faner). They are not assigned to a special branch of the service. The pattern of both is the same, but they have different finials. The ensign is a usual Danish military flag, i.e. red off-centred parted by a white cross patty. Its centre is surmounted by the Greater State Arms model 1819, but directly upon cross and not in a white rectangle.
Both ensigns were approved on 24 September 1847 by King Christian 8, the finial of the 1st ensign is taken from an older flag, existing since 1747.
Source: Ceremonial Book of Royal Danish Ministry of Defence, (FKOBST L.202-4), version 2019, image 1.1
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 16 Nov 2025

Minister of Defence

The Minister of Defence
This flag was formerly that of the Minister of the Navy. The emblem remains the same: Crowned anchor with a bar and rope/chain.
Željko Heimer, 27 May 2004

The state flag with a square white panel over the middle of the cross containing the anchor as in the auxiliary naval ensign. (this crowned anchor must be the badge of the Ministry of Defence). Supposing that the flag would be used mostly on naval ships only, the dark red would be the rule.
Željko Heimer, 27 May 2004

Politikens Flagbog labels this flag "Fosvarsministeriet" (the Ministry of Defence), assigning it to the whole organisation, rather than just the one man. It agrees with our image, but has a blue anchor with a fatter, and white, cross bar, and a red rope coiling quite differently, though still giving the same impression.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 20 June 2001

Flaggenbuch (1939) shows a 56:107 flag, the design of which we know already, however, the anchor artwork is here yet different from the other sources we have (and is all golden, no blue). The caption provide a long list who use these ensign.
Željko Heimer, 31 May 2004

Chief of Defence Staff (Forsvarchefen) reported 2019

The date of approval of the new flag is unknown, but we have evidence that it is in use at least since 2016. (predecessor of "Ceremonial Book" version 2019). The badge exists since 1994 (depicted in predecessor of "Ceremonial Book" version July 1994) The badge is placed upon a shield parted per pale of red and white. The badge shows the (lesser) state arms surmounted by a royal crown and superimposing two black marshal´s staffs with golden ends in saltire, all on flag in proper colour.
Source: Ceremonial Book of the Danish Ministry of Defence (FKOBST L.202-4), version 2019, image 4.1.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 17 Nov 2025

Chief of Defence Staff (Forsvarchefen) reported 2001

The state flag with two white staffs in saltire in the first quarter. Whether these staffs are sceptres or marshal batons, I can´t say, but in Album des Pavillons (2000) they are considerably different from what is shown here (much thinner).
Željko Heimer, 12 June 2001

Chief of Defence Staff Car Flags (Forsvarchefens Kommandostander)

approx.23:30, image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 29 Aug 2025

approx.23:30 image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 29 Aug 2025

It is probably the same flag as above or its successor. It is a splitflag with a white saltire in canton. If the chief is an admiral (see left image above) the basic colour is the darker Orlogsrød. If the chief is a geneiral (see right image above) the basic colour is the lighter Dannebrogsrød.
Used as car flags they have height ~23cm and width 30cm incl. splits.
Source: Ceremonial Book of the Danish Ministry of Defence (FKOBST L.202-4), version 2019 pp.162/163
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 29 Aug 2025

Defence Staff Department Flag (Forsvarsstabens Embedsfane)

The red flag is parted by an off-centred cross. In canton is the badge of the department all golden. The shield displays the (lesser) state arms, is surrounded by a wreath, superimposing a sword in pale, and it is surmounted by a royal crown.
The date of approval of the flag is unknown.
Source: Ceremonial Book of the Danish Ministry of Defence (FKOBST L.202-4), version 2019, image 4.2.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 16 Nov 2025

Finial of Military Flags

The usual military finial was a gilt voided spearhead with three lions in pale, from the (lesser)