Opposing Rib Orientation on Two 80 × 135 Kriegsmarine Flags
Two naval flags of identical size and marking reveal opposite rib orientations — a rare deviation not tied to flag type.
Two original Nazi-era naval flags, both marked “Kr. Fl. 80 × 135”, show a subtle but notable difference: the orientation of the hoist (white rib) is reversed. The markings appear identical in typeface, spacing and ink, yet the weave direction of the ribbed fabric runs in opposite diagonals. This contrast is clearly visible in the stitched shadows and texture.
The left image shows a typical Kriegsflagge, produced by Lorenz Summa Söhne, Oberkotzau. The right image shows a Gösch (naval jack) of the same dimensions, made by Textildruck A.-G., Schönweide. Despite being functionally and typographically identical, the rib is inverted in one of them.
This might initially suggest a difference between flag types — Gösch vs. war ensign — but further examples contradict that idea. Other Gösch flags in the FlagGeek collection show the standard rib direction, identical to Kriegsflaggen. The phenomenon appears instead to be tied to individual manufacturers.
Standard orientation and known deviations
Although no official regulation explicitly dictates the weave direction of hoist tape, surviving examples appear to follow a common convention: when viewed from the front, the rib (white hoist band) typically runs diagonally from lower left to upper right.
Based on informal observations across multiple collections, approximately 90 % of surviving flags — Gösch and Kriegsflagge alike — display this direction. This is supported by period photos, Flaggenbuch illustrations, and various depot-stamped examples.
The reversed rib orientation remains rare, and further examples are needed before any statistical certainty can be claimed. No written source has yet confirmed whether this detail was ever regulated.
Documented rib orientations and manufacturers
| Flag type | Size | Rib orientation | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|---|
| War ensign | 80 × 135 | Leftward | Lorenz Summa Söhne, Oberkotzau |
| Naval jack | 80 × 135 | Rightward | Textildruck A.-G., Schönweide |
| War ensign | 150 × 250 | Rightward | Gehrckens & Co., Berlin |
| War ensign | 150 × 250 | Rightward | Witte K.G., Munich |
Rib direction as a manufacturer-specific trait
With at least three separate manufacturers (Textildruck A.-G., Gehrckens & Co., and Witte K.G.) producing Kriegsmarine flags with inverted (rightward) rib orientation, this feature is no longer explainable as random error or repair. It appears to be a factory-specific production choice.
In contrast, Lorenz Summa Söhne flags — and the majority of surviving examples — still show the standard leftward rib direction, suggesting that the inverted weave was used by a minority of workshops, but across different flag types and sizes.
No written regulation currently known dictates the orientation of the hoist weave, but the existence of multiple inverted examples demonstrates that variation did exist within a supposedly rigid standardisation system.
This finding invites further study: identifying more examples tied to their respective producers could map out whether this feature was systematic within certain factories — or intermittent.
Conclusion
Two Kriegsmarine flags of identical size and marking show opposite rib orientations. With further examples now identified, the inverted rib direction appears as a rare but genuine production trait tied to specific manufacturers — not to flag type or error. Continued documentation will help reveal the full scope of variation behind what initially appears to be a simple detail.
Labels
mærkning, Kriegsmarine, hoist, rib variation, nazi-era flags
Comments
Post a Comment