Last modified: 2004-12-29 by santiago dotor
Keywords: germany | lower saxony | niedersachsen | land niedersachsen | historical | coat of arms | horse (white) |
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Lower Saxony was founded as Land Niedersachsen on 1st November 1946 as a merger of the former Länder Braunschweig [Brunswick], Oldenburg, Schaumburg-Lippe and Hannover [Hanover]. Due to the long tradition of own arms and flags in these former territories, it was especially difficult to find a common flag for the new Land Niedersachsen. As a first unofficial flag of Lower Saxony one can consider the red flag with the white horse used by the first Prime Minister (Ministerpräsident) Kopf at his office. There is no evidence that this was used in other situations; it was probably disbanded with the introduction of the present flag in 1951. A second unofficial flag for Lower Saxony came into existence around 1948. This was a red-white bicolor with the coat-of-arms of Lower Saxony.
Marcus Schmöger, 22 September 2000
![[Prime Minister's Flag 1946-1951 (Lower Saxony, Germany)]](../images/d/de-ni946.gif)
~9:13 
by Marcus Schmöger
Red flag with a white horse used by the first Prime Minister (Ministerpräsident) Kopf at his office (...), probably abandoned with the introduction of the present flag in 1951. [See the current prime minister's flag.]
Marcus Schm&oml;ger, 22 September 2000
The above image appears to have 9:13 proportions — is this correct or should it be 2:3? If the 9:13 proportions are right, are they based on observation or were they regulated? Also, is this the same flag described under Hanover 1945-1946? I am speculating, but maybe the Hanoverian Oberpräsident was Kopf himself and he "inherited" the flag when he became Lower Saxon Ministerpräsident.
Santiago Dotor, 25 September 2000
Right, Hinrich Kopf was Regierungspräsident and Oberpräsident of Hanover 194
