Weimar Reichskriegsflagge – Bootsflg. 95 × 157 (cut)

Full view of the Weimar Reichskriegsflagge showing the 3:5 proportions and trimmed fly end.

Construction and Materials

This original naval war flag from the Weimar Republic period is marked as “Bootsflg. 95 × 157”, indicating it was intended for use on small and medium-sized vessels. The flag’s dimensions match what was officially classified as Size 3 in Imperial and early Weimar naval flag charts. This standard size was commonly used for boats and auxiliary ships in the interwar German navy.

The construction is typical for the late 1920s: the flag is made of thick wool with machine-sewn seams, reinforced corners, and a twisted rope hoist loop. The fly end shows signs of wear, with a later stitching line indicating it was trimmed and hemmed after damage.

Markings and Size Classification

Although the marking indicates the full standard dimensions, the flag now only measures approx. 140 cm in length, meaning around 17 cm (10.8%) of the fly end has been lost. This shortening is likely due to wear or damage during service use and is not the result of intentional alteration or tailoring. The hoist end remains intact, and no stitching or reseaming is visible near the fly, supporting a damage-based explanation.

Below the printed size marking is the number “3”, which directly corresponds to the flag size class within official naval sizing systems. In this system, Size 3 is equivalent to 95 × 157 cm, making this additional marking a redundant but useful confirmation of the flag’s original category. Such codified numbers were commonly used by both the Imperial and early Weimar navies to identify standardised flag dimensions.

Naval Insignia

The upper canton features the black-white-red German naval colors and a black anchor with a faint “M” above it, signifying Marine. While the “M” is much weaker than in other examples, it is still visible on close inspection. This indicates that the flag was issued to or used by the navy, likely during the late Weimar era when the “M over anchor” system was standardised.

The print alignment and fading suggest production by a state contractor or depot with limited or inconsistent inking quality, which is not uncommon for Weimar-era wool flags.

Dating and Use

There are no Nazi-era depot stamps, no RZM markings, and no eagle emblems present. These details place the flag firmly in the Weimar period, likely between 1927 and 1932, before the transitional NS design was introduced. The presence of both size and naval branch markings suggests it was an officially issued ensign for practical use aboard ship.

Conclusion

This flag is a valuable example of a Weimar-era naval ensign that has seen actual service, with both standardised markings and signs of practical wear. Its preserved hoist, fabric texture, and clear size coding offer strong evidence of original issue and use in the German fleet of the late interwar years. The shortened fly end only reinforces its authenticity as an object that was used rather than stored.

Detail of the Iron Cross in the center of the flag, showing white outline typical of Weimar-era naval flags.

Stamped designation “Bootsflg. 95 × 157”

Upper canton showing black-red-gold fields

Anchor with faint “M” above it with number “3” indicating standard size class.

View of the fly end showing the trimmed and re-hemmed edge, indicating shortening due to wear.

Close-up of the hoist loop and stitching detail, showing use-standard materials.

Sources and References

• Flaggenbuch (1939) – Reich service flags and official size classifications
• Imperial German Navy Regulations (ca. 1903–1918) – Standardised boat flag measurements
• Weimar Naval Flags: Overview and Typology, private archival notes
• Comparison with documented “Weimar Naval Ensign – Reichskriegsflagge (ca. 1929–1932)” (FlagGeek master version)