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Gdansk (Poland)

by jan oskar engene 13-MAY-1996

Free City of Danzig, 1919-1939

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The flag Gdansk (German: Danzig) used for the events in Bergen, is based on the coat of arms - a crown over two crosses. Unlike earlier flags for Danzig, the emblems were centred on the field. As usual the field is red, the crown gold and the crosses white. IIRC, the flag of inter-war period had the emblems in the upper hoist corner. The GIF is made according to observations of a flag that appeared to be home made.

jan oskar engene 13-MAY-1996

Free City of Danzig, 1919-1939

The reprinted version of the 1939 German navy "Flaggenbuch" contains a plate with the flags of Danzig, and here we find a state ensign with a swallow tail. This is simply the ordinary flag with two white crosses placed over each other with a golden crown on top, with a swallow tail cut out of the fly end. Both flags are 2:3 in ratio. There is also a flag for the Senate members on sea (senate ensign may be the proper term). This flag is a red field bordered in yellow all around. On the red field we find two lions standing on two narrow wavy lines and holding a shield with the crosses and crown. The Senate flag is square.

Danzig was set up as a free city after the peace settlement following World War I (1919). The city then had a German speaking majority. The free city was taken by German troops in September 1939. After World War II, Danzig became part of Poland and the name changed to Gdansk.

Civil ensign:

State ensign:

Senate ensign:

jan oskar engene 25-JUN-1996