German Democratic Republic Naval Ensign, 1960-1990.
This small, wool flag was used as the Naval Ensign of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) between 1960 and 1990. It bore a stylized version of the state flag centered on the traditional communist red flag.
The (GDR) was a client state of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and as such, her flags followed traditional socialist designs. After the end of the Second World War, the USSR was reluctant to re-establish a German navy in the GDR.
Accordingly, the maritime forces of the GDR had a long history of police duties, rather than traditional naval activities, starting in 1950 with their nascent reorganization to the "Sea Police" and in 1952 when they became the "People's Sea Police". Both organizations were charged with guarding the GDRs maritime frontiers. In 1960, they became the People's Navy of the GDR with this ensign.
This ensign would have been used on small boats and patrol crafts, which ironically spent most of their time preventing East Germans from escaping to the West rather than defending the security of the GDR.
Provenance: Acquired in Germany as a gift.
ZFC Important Flag
Sources:
War Ensign and other Naval Flags 1960-1990 (East Germany), Flags of the World, 1 May 2012, from: http://flagspot.net/flags/de~ddr.html
German Democratic Republic (GDR), Wikipedia, 1 May 2012, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Germany
Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection
