FG-045 — Imperial German War Ensign (Bonner Fahnenfabrik, 1960s)

FG-045 — Imperial German War Ensign, Bonner Fahnenfabrik production, c.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).

Bonner Fahnenfabrik catalogue (1963) — Imperial ensigns listed in standard 3:5 sizes, including 80 × 135 cm.

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

Medallion eagle (overall) — artwork overview for comparison.

Eagle head & crown — brow line and tongue profile.

Scepter head — winged device with stacked red ovals.

Orb — blue field, jewelling dots, yellow cradle.

Iron Cross canton — double keyline.

Hoist sleeve — later conversion with machine stitching.

Reference images

Comparative example — Bonner Fahnenfabrik woven label, 1960s type.

Comparative example — medallion eagle artwork on Bonner flag.

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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