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Hamburg (Germany)

See Hamburg variants for information on the Hamburg flags and coat of arms for information on the city emblem.

1) 1685, 1700, 1705.

by Jaume Ollé 5 June 1996

Red with a single white tower at center.
[Illustrated Wilson, Flags at Sea, p. 69, National Geographic 1917, p.371, no.1154]
Norman Martin in January and February, 1998

2) 1695, 1750, 1805, 1848, 1862.

by Jaume Ollé 6 June 1996

Red with a single white city gate with 3 towers at center.
[Illustrated Smith, FTAAW, p.204]
Norman Martin in January and February, 1998

3) 1716.

by Jaume Ollé 6 June 1996

Same as no.2 but gate has two towers.
Norman Martin in January and February, 1998

4) 1737.

by Jaume Ollé 6 June 1996

Red with a single white tower in upper hoist.
Norman Martin in January and February, 1998

5) 1737, 1750.

by Jaume Ollé 6 June 1996

Red with three white towers arranged 2-1.
[Illustrated Smith, FTAAW, p.204]
Norman Martin in January and February, 1998

6) 1737, 1750.

by Jaume Ollé 7 June 1996

White with a single black tower in upper hoist.
[Illustrated Smith, FTAAW, p.204]
Norman Martin in January and February, 1998

7) Landesflagge (Civil Flag).

by Jan Oskar Engene 1995-12-06

Like No. 2, but with a white 6 pointed star above two outer towers. First officially adopted 14 May 1751, readopted 6 June 1834, 6 Oct 1897 and 6 June 1952 .
[Illustrated Pedersen 1970, no. 150,Crampton, p.44]
Norman Martin in January and February, 1998

8) 1769.

by Jaume Ollé 7 June 1996

Same as no. 4, but field is blue
Norman Martin in January and February, 1998

9) 1842, 1848, 1858, 1900, 1928.

by Jaume Ollé 7 June 1996

Flag of State Vessels. Like no. 2, but with a blue anchor behind gate and gate is offset towards hoist
[Illustrated Wilson, Flags at Sea, p. 71, Smith, FTAAW, p.117,Crampton, p.44]
Norman Martin in January and February, 1998

9a) 1905.

by Jaume Ollé 8 June 1996

Used by Senate members and high functionaries at sea.
Norman Martin in January and February, 1998

9b) Admiralty and sea flag.

by Jaume Ollé 8 June 1996

In use ca. 1950 to present
Norman Martin in January and February, 1998

10) 1848, 1858, 1865.

by Jaume Ollé 10 June 1996
Same as no.2, but field is blue
[Illustrated Smith, FTAAW, p.117]
Norman Martin in January and February, 1998

by Jaume Ollé 10 June 1996
Variant of no. 10.
Norman Martin in January and February, 1998

10a) Ensign variants.

by Jaume Ollé 8 June 1996

Used in the XIXth century, purpose unknown.
Norman Martin in January and February, 1998

10b) .

by Jaume Ollé 8 June 1996

Used in the XIXth century, purpose unknown.
Norman Martin in January and February, 1998

10c) Pennants

by Jaume Ollé 8 June 1996

11) State Flag.

On a red field a large white square, on which are the large arms. Adopted 6 Oct 1897 and readopted 6 June 1952
[Illustrated Smith, FTAAW, p.227]
Norman Martin in January and February, 1998

12) Service flag for Hamburg State Vessels and State Maritime Buildings.

by Jaume Ollé, 1998-02-02

Like Like Prussia, no. 60 (part IV ), except the square canton is red with the gate and anchor symbol of no. 9. Adopted 1893 and abandoned by 1921.
[Illustrated Crampton, p.42, Meyers Konversations- Lexikon, 6 ed., vol. 4,NG p.367, no.999 and 1006].
Norman Martin in January and February, 1998

12) Landesflagge.

Horizontal Bicolor White over red
Norman Martin in January and February, 1998

13) Service flag for Hamburg State Vessels and State Maritime Buildings.

by Jaume Ollé 8 June 1996

The black-white-red flag with the National arms in the center (apparently slightly offset towards the hoist) with a square red canton covering the black stripe in which the gate and anchor symbol of no. 9. (Thus the National service flag with the canton). In use 1921-1935 [Illustrated: Grosse Brockhaus, 15th ed., vol.4, p. 656]

Variants of the Hamburg flags

The red flag with castle appeared after 1470, mainly red castle on a white background but the reverse also is known. In the XVI century the plain flag appeared with full arms. The whaling vessels used a flag (red or white?) with a whale. The war ships bore a on red background a destroyer with weapons, attested 1863. The Admiralty flag was created c. 1624. After 1600 the shield was missing on the flags and the castle was drawn directly on the background. The castle was white or red and the background red or white. In the XVII century is attested a blue flag with a white castle. The red, white and blue ensigns have the same system as the British Navy and Hanoverian Navy. After 1751 the red flag with a white castle was imposed. Castle versions are known from at least from 1751, 1834, 1862, 1894 and 1948.
Jaume Ollé, 4 October 1998

Coat of Arms

The oldest coat of arms of Hamburg has been retained on a city seal of 1241. It probably existed long before that: a castle with three towers. Over the middle tower even then there was a cross, pointing to a church in the city. The towers and the walls with their pinnacles and the closed gate symbolized the determination of the town to defend itself. The so-called Star of Maria on top of the two side-towers recalls the fact that Hamburg used to be an archbishopric. During the centuries the towers, walls, pinnacles and symbols of the coat of arms of Hamburg changed several times, without changing in character. The use of city seals with the coat of arms was in olden times a privilege of the City Council; the city elders had to watch its maintenance. Even now the coat of arms is protected and can only be used under specific circumstances.

In the flag of the city the white castle from the coat of arms stands on a red field. The colors have been derived from the carnations, which the city presents at official occasions. The city flag was first shown at the end of the 16th century. Until then the ships had on their masts pennon-like wings, which the Hamburgers called "Flögel" in 'Plattdeutsch' (low German). These "Flögel" did have an official character. Ships from Hamburg which did not use them had to pay a fine of three Marks in silver; likewise those foreign ships, who illegally used that sign.

From http://www.nordline.com/dsh/stadt/sehen/wappen.htm, located by Dov Gutterman and translated by Jarig Bakker, 30 March 1999

Bergedorf

by Rob Raeside 1997-12-22

Bergedorf was a district of Hamburg. It was annexed by Lubeck in 1420, and belonged to Hamburg since 1868, becoming part of this town in 1937. Flag is green over white.
Pascal Vagnat, 1996-09-09

See also: Germany