FG-045 — Imperial German War Ensign (Bonner Fahnenfabrik, 1960s)
Flag ID: FG-045
Flag facts
- Dimensions (as found): 80 × 128 cm, L:H ≈ 1.60 (≈ 8:5)
- Probable nominal size: 80 × 135 cm (3:5)
- Material: Wool-blend bunting (plain weave)
- Hoist: Original hoist removed; replaced with a sewn pole sleeve (tunnel)
- Printing/graphics: Imperial war ensign layout with Iron Cross canton and crowned Prussian eagle in medallion
- Dating / maker: Likely 1960s production by Bonner Fahnenfabrik (label/type match; see reference)
Size & ratio note
Measured at 80 × 128 cm. This sits near the West German 80 × 135 cm (3:5) catalogue size common in mid-century sets. The present length is ≈7 cm short of that nominal—consistent with (a) shrinkage in wool-blend textiles or cleaning, and/or (b) trimming when converting the hoist to a sleeve. We therefore record as found 80 × 128 cm and probable nominal 80 × 135 cm (3:5).
1960s Bonner catalogue context: typical 3:5 sets 60×100, 80×135, 100×170, 120×200, 150×250, 200×335 cm; some lines also offered 2:3 (e.g., 80×120, 100×150) depending on range/year (see catalogue excerpt below).
Technical observations
Construction and materials point to civilian/veterans’ or decorative issue rather than naval service. The later pole-sleeve conversion supports indoor/parade display. A horizontal panel seam passes through the medallion (visible in photos), typical of mid-century roll widths.
Technical note — Eagle artwork as a “signature”
On Imperial war ensigns the eagle drawing often behaves like a workshop signature. It is not proof on its own, but printers reused stable patterns, so recurring habits appear. On this example (see photos):
- Crown: low dome, red cushion, fine white jewelling; slim upright cross.
- Head: strong brow; long S-curve tongue extending past the beak line.
- Feathers: sharply notched, lance-like primary blocks with strong taper.
- Scepter head: winged device with stacked red ovals and a tiny cross finial.
- Orb: saturated blue field with black cross and scattered red “jewel” dots; heavy yellow cradle.
- Keylines: bold black outlines with narrow white relief around major motifs.
When several traits cluster, they can support a maker/period attribution—especially combined with construction details and the Bonner label timeline.
Caveat. Artwork travelled: firms shared/licensed templates, subcontracted printing, and re-cut plates; later runs copied earlier art. Treat eagle style as a supporting indicator only—balance it with cloth/weave, stitching, hoist solution, panel layout, hardware, and label evidence.
Period comparison — 1920s–30s vs. 1960s–70s
(Rules of thumb; weigh as a package, not one-by-one.)
- Fabric & handle — 1920s–30s: heavier cotton or wool bunting, matte; wider roll widths; occasional linen-like handle. 1960s–70s: lighter wool blends or cotton/poly; more uniform weave; brighter white grounds.
- Construction — 1920s–30s: more multi-piece assembly; double-stitched hems; canvas headers with internal rope; wooden toggles or early metal clips; hand-or early machine lockstitch with cotton thread. 1960s–70s: cleaner industrial lockstitch; frequent pole sleeves for indoor display; brass (later sometimes alloy) eyelets; synthetic threads; occasional overlock on sleeve edge.
- Printing & colourants — 1920s–30s: stencil/roller/block prints in oil/solvent dyes; off-register quirks; deeper but less even blacks; occasional appliqué elements. 1960s–70s: flat screen-printing with consistent keylines; micro speckling in dense blacks (visible here); synthetic dyes with strong, even reds.
- Markings — 1920s–30s: inked maker/size stamps; sometimes organization marks; rarely woven brand labels. 1960s–70s: woven/printed factory labels (e.g., Bonner Fahnenfabrik); no state acceptance marks.
- Proportions & sets — 1920s–30s: mixed 2:3 and 3:5 depending on supplier/venue. 1960s–70s: standardized retail sets, predominantly 3:5 (see size list above).
Placement & usage
These Imperial designs re-entered circulation in West Germany from the 1950s into the 1960s, typically for commemorative, veterans’, or patriotic display rather than official service. The sleeve conversion fits rod-mounted indoor display or parade-standard use.
Later reception & misuse (context only)
Because Nazi symbols are prohibited in Germany, variants of the Imperial colours and ensigns were sometimes adopted by far-right groups from the late 1970s/1980s onward as substitute imagery. That modern political appropriation is distinct from the historical object. Legal treatment depends on context and jurisdiction; this note is descriptive, not legal advice.
Maker
Bonner Fahnenfabrik, Bonn (West Germany). Attribution rests on (1) a close match to a comparative Bonner example, and (2) the Bonner label type documented for the 1960s in the FlagGeek label catalogue.
- Label cross-reference: FlagGeek Manufacture Labels — Bonner Fahnenfabrik timeline: https://www.flaggeek.net/p/manufacture-labels.html
Detail images
Reference images
Sources & References
- FlagGeek Manufacture Labels — Bonner Fahnenfabrik label variants & usage timeline (1960s entry)
- Comparative example: Bonner Fahnenfabrik Imperial war ensign, private collection (photos on file).
- General technical references on German flag manufacture, 1920s–1970s — construction methods, materials, and catalogue size sets.
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