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Helgoland (Germany)

Heligoland

by Jorge Candeias, 7 September 1998

See also:

Heligoland is an island in the North Sea, strategically placed vis-a-vis the mouths of the Weser, Elbe and Kiel Canal. Helgoland, previously part of Schleswig, was ceded by the Danes to Britain in 1814 as part of the post-Napoleonic settlements. In 1890 as a result of the Zanzibar treaty, it was ceded to Germany in exchange for commercial rights in Zanzibar and annexed to Schleswig-Holstein (at that time part of Prussia). During the English period (1814-1890) the canton with the UJ was frequently (usually?) added to the Helgoland tricolor. It was removed in 1890.

Roy Stilling, 15 December 1995, Norman Martin, 30 May 1998

3) Heligoland 1685, 1737, 1862

by Jaume Ollé, 24 June 1998

Eight striped: blue-white-red-blue-white-red-blue-white
[Illustrated Wilson Flags at Sea, p.68]
Norman Martin in March, 1998

7) Heligoland 1700, 1705

by Jaume Ollé, 24 June 1998

Seven striped: blue-white-red-blue-white-red-blue
[Illustrated NG p.371, no. 1155, Wilson Flags at Sea, p.69]
Norman Martin in March, 1998

11) Heligoland 1716

by Jaume Ollé, 24 June 1998

Seven striped: blue-white-red-blue-white-red-white.
Norman Martin in March, 1998

24) Heligoland 1848.1862

by Zeljko Heimer, 13 July 1996

Horizontal tricolor green-red-white. In the canton, the British union jack. Heligoland was under British rule 1814-1890.

The Governor of Heligoland wrote in a despatch dated 11 May 1888:

"The tricolour is flown on shore and in their boats and some have added the English Jack to mark their English nationality. It is a private flag entirely optional on the part of the people, who, if engaged by the week or month, fly as a rule in their pleasure boats during the season the national flag of the visitor hiring them who generally provides one for the purpose."

PRO file ADM 116/300.
Norman Martin in March, 1998

24a) Heligoland blue ensign

by Jaume Ollé, 24 June 1998

24b) Heligoland governor

by Jaume Ollé, 1 July 1998

There should not be a white disc, nor a garland. The shield and crown is direct on the Union Flag.
David Prothero, 1 July 1998

25) Heligoland 1848

Horizontal tricolor green-red-white. In use as local flag until the present. (Variants in 2:3 and 1:2) Reported also horizontal white, red, green, but probably is a mistake.
Norman Martin in March, 1998

25a) Other reported local flag by Flaggenmitteilung 102. Horizontal yellow, green, light blue.

26) Heligoland 1848

by Jaume Ollé, 1 July 1998

A white eagle on a red field.
Norman Martin in March, 1998

Modern Heligoland flag

by Jorge Candeias, 7 September 1998

Dimensions: 2:3

Nowadays Heligoland's flag is green-red-white, but without the Union Jack in the canton. The colours symbolize the island: the green land, the red cliffs and the white strand. It is flown by local vessels instead of the German flag and as a guest-flag on ships visiting the island. In 1990 there was a special edition of flags in respect of the 100th aniversary of the handover but with an additional white "100" in the center.
Christian Meyer, 25 August 1998

Heligoland variant

by Jorge Candeias, 7 September 1998

Dimensions: 1:2

Heligoland variant upside down

by Jorge Candeias, 7 September 1998

Dimensions: 2:3, probably erroneous