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Masthead Flags of the S.M.S. Brandenburg and S.M.S. Preussen Ships 1871-1918 (Germany)

Last modified: 2004-09-10 by santiago dotor
Keywords: s.m.s. brandenburg | s.m.s. preussen | eagle (red) | eagle (black) |
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[Brandenburg African Company c.1680-1701 (Prussia, Germany)]
Late 17th century Brandenburg ensign
by Mario Fabretto, source CISV archives

[War Ensign 1818-1867 (Prussia, Germany)]
Prussian War Ensign 1818-1867; the S.M.S. Preussen flag used the 1892 model eagle
by Jaume Ollé

See also:

Description

The flag plates in Schlawe 1913 show two flags labeled Toppflagge S.M.S. Brandenburg and Toppflagge S.M.S. Preussen. I would think Toppflagge probably translates as "masthead flag". S.M.S. was the German abbreviation for His Majesty's Ship.

The flag for S.M.S. Brandenburg is white, 2:3, with an elaborate rendering of the red eagle of Brandenburg: red displayed, talons and beak gold, with the blue escutcheon with gold scepter of the archchamberlain of the Holy Roman Empire on its breast; crowned with electoral cap, scepter in right talon and sword in left.

The flag for S.M.S. Preussen is also white, 2:3, but with a shallow swallowtail. It has the black eagle of Prussia, 1892 model, with an Iron Cross roughly 1/3 of the hoist flush against the upper hoist edges.

The text describes these as "special flags" (besondere Flaggen) and says:

Die besonderen Toppflaggen der Schiffe "Brandenburg" und "Preussen" werden beim Flaggenschmuck an Stelle der Kriegsflagge als Toppflagge geführt. Die Flaggen sind mit Genehmigung Sr. Majestät den Schiffen von den betreffenden Provinzen gewidmet worden; sie erinnern an die ehemalige brandenburgische und preussische Flotte, die Vorläuferin der heutigen deutschen Marine.
I believe that would mean:
The special masthead flags of the ships "Brandenburg" and "Preussen [Prussia]" will are flown as masthead flags in place of the naval ensign when ships are full-dressed. The flags were bestowed on the ships of the concerned provinces by permission of His Majesty; they commemorate the former Brandenburg and Prussian fleet, the forerunner of today's German Navy.
The modern German frigate Brandenburg also flies the red eagle flag of its namesake Land. According to the Brandenburg police website [broken link]:
Sponsorship (or adoption) of the Federal Navy's Type 123 frigate named Brandenburg has existed since the ship's christening in 1992 by Ingrid Stolpe,