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Mecklenburg-West Pomerania (Germany)

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

State Flag

by Zeljko Heimer

The state flag is blue on white on yellow on white on red (4:3:1:3:4, with a bull's head and a griffin on the white stripe, the yellow strip being interrupted. I find that the choice of a flag with a yellow stripe on a white one was not a good one. Proportions 3:5

Presentation on Mecklenburg-West Pomerania
Flags of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania
Coat of Arms
Mecklenburg
West Pomerania

See also: Germany

Presentation of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania

A German state. Formed in 1945 by unification of the state of Mecklenburg and that part of the Prussian province of Pomerania (Pommern), which remained German. In 1952 split into counties, re-established in 1990.

Carsten Linke, 1996-05-02

Flags of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania

by Zeljko Heimer, 1996-06-23

The Land flag is blue on white on yellow on white on red (4:3:1:3:4).

Both the land and state flags are a combination of the blue-yellow-red flag of Mecklenburg and the light blue-white flag of Pomerania.

The flag for the Minister-Praesident is square blue on white on red fimbrated yellow. On the white stripe appear the bull's head and the griffin. The proportions of the flag for the Minister-Praesident is 30:30 cms, and for the Minister 25:25 cms.The law called "Verordnung ueber die Fuehrung der Landeswappen, der Landessiegel, der Amtsschilder und der Standarten" (Rules on the use of the arms of the land, the seal of the land, the official shields, and the standards) is dated 15th of August 1991 (official paper of the land of the 30th of August 1991).

The flag of Mecklenburg (blue on yellow on red) and (Western) Pomerania (blue on white) can still be used and must appear beside the State flag when this one is used on public building.
It is written in the law of the 7th of February 1991. Paragraph 3, line 3:" In the regions Mecklenburg and Vorpommern of the land, the traditional colours and flags can be flown." Line 4 also says "On official flag days, the local parliament shall fly the flag of the land, as well as, with it, the flags of the two regions."

David Lewellen, 1995
Pascal Vagnat, 1995-12-19
Carsten Linke, 1996-05-02

Coat of arms

by Crsten Linke, 1996-05-02

Quarterly, 1st and 4th (Mecklenburg): Or, an Ox head Sable, horned Argent, langued Gules, crowned Or. 2nd (Pomerania): Argent, a Griffon Gules, armed Or. 3rd (Brandenburg): Argent, an Eagle Gules, armed Or. It was adopted in 1991.
Q: Why there are two ox heads?
A: For centuries Mecklenburg was divided into two duchies: Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Both used the same flag and coat of arms.
Q: Why is there the coat of arms of Brandenburg?
A: After it abolished the states in 1952, the GDR government established counties with slightly different borders. The rebirth of the states in 1990 based on these new borders. Therefore some former Brandenburgian territories now belong to Mecklenburg-West Pomerania.

Carsten Linke, 1996-05-02

Mecklenburg

by Zeljko Heimer, 1997-02-23

West Pomerania

by Zeljko Heimer 1997-02-23

The blue is light blue. Often you can see the flag containing the Pomeranian coat of arms: A Griffon rampant Gules armed Or.

It might be interesting to you, that the use of this flag was strictly forbidden during the time of the GDR. As all former German - now Polish etc. - provinces, Pomerania and its symbols were banned because they were said to be "revanchist" :-( .

Carsten Linke, 1996-05-15