Flag of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

The civil flag that serves as the symbol of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, consists of five horizontal stripes, that are from the top to bottom: blue (ultramarine), white, yellow, white, and red (vermilion). It was designed by Norbert Buske and adopted on 29 January 1991. It is a combination of the historical flags of the Mecklenburg and Western Pomerania.

Design

The civil flag consists of five horizontal stripes, that are from the top to bottom: blue (ultramarine), white, yellow, white, and red (vermilion). The proportions of the stripes are equal to 4:3:1:3:4. The aspect ratio of the flag height to its wight is equal 3:5. The colours are combined from the flags of two historical regions of the country, blue and white flag of Western Pomerania, and blue-yellow-red flag of Mecklenburg.

The state flag has a similar design, with the two charges from the coat of arms of the state, additionally placed in the centre. It includes a black head of a bull with white horns wearing a yellow crown, placed on the left, and a red griffin with yellow beak and claws, placed on the right. The portion of the yellow stripe behind them, is replaced with the white background.

History

Mecklenburg

On 26 March 1813, from orders of grand duke Frederick Francis I, the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin had adopted the which consisted of three horizontal stripes of equal width: blue, yellow, and red. The blue colour represented the historical Lordship of Rostock, the yellow colour, the Mecklenburg, and the red colour, the historical County of Schwerin.

On 24 March 1855, the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin established its civil ensign, which consisted of three horizontal stripes of equal width: blue, white, and red. Such design had been used as the flag of the city of Rostock in Mecklenburg, since 14th century.

On 23 December 1863, the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin adopted the flag protocol, confirming the blue-yellow-red flag, and on 4 January 1864, the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, did the same, adopting identical flag. Both states existed until 1918, when they were replaced by the Free State of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and the Free State of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. In 1934, they were merged into the Gau Mecklenburg. The blue-yellow-blue flag remained in use until 1935, when Nazi Germany forbid its provinces from using its flags, ordering them to replace them with the national flag.

The flag was reestablished in 1947, as the symbol of the State of Mecklenburg, which existed until 1952.

Western Pomerania

In 1802, the provisional representatives in the Order in Council of the Kingdom of Prussia, under the rule of king Frederick William III of Prussia, were ordered to wear blue greatcoats, in addition to theirs mess dress uniforms. To distinguish representatives of different provinces, the collars of the greatcoats were assigned different colours. Originally, the representatives of the Province of Pomerania had white and gold (yellow) collars. In 1813, the representatives of Pomerania were given entirely white collars. Additionally, the soldieries of the Pomeranian Landwehr formations were given blue uniforms with white collars. Colours of such design became associated with the colours of the province. On 22 October 1882, the blue and white were legally defined as the colours of the province, including the establishment of the flag. It was divided horizontally into two equal stripes: light blue on top, and white on the bottom. Its aspect ratio height to width ratio was equal 2:3. The blue was officially defined as Prussian blue (dark blue), however, it wasn't popular, with usage of light blue being preferred instead. The flag was used until 1935, when Nazi Germany forbid its provinces from flying its flags, ordering them to replace them with the national flag.

Provisional flag

In 1990, prior to the establishment of the official flag, the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern unofficially used modified historical flag of Mecklenburg. It was a rectangle divided horizontally into three equal stripes, that were, from top to bottom, dark blue, yellow, and red. In the centre was placed the historical coat of arms of Mecklenburg, in form of the black head of a bull with white horns wearing a yellow crown, placed in the yellow escutcheon (shield). Such flag was hoisted in front of the Reichstag building in Berlin during the celebrations of the German Unity Day on 3 October 1990.''Horizont'', no. 40/1990, Berlin: VEB Verlag für die Wirtschaft. 1990.

Official flag

The official current flag of the state had been adopted on 29 January 1991. It was designed by Norbert Buske. The colours of the flag are combined from the flags of two historical regions of the country, blue and white flag of Western Pomerania, and blue-yellow-red flag of Mecklenburg.Norbert Buske: ''Wappen, Farben und Hymnen des Landes Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Eine Erläuterung der neuen Hoheitszeichen des Landes verbunden mit einem Gang durch die Geschichte der beiden Landesteile dargestellt an der Entwicklung ihrer Wappenbilder''. Mit Aufnahmen von Thomas Helms. Edition Temmen, Bremen 1993, , p. 98ff.

Flags of the historical regions

In 1996, the historical regions of Mecklenburg, and Western Pomerania, had been given official status within the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. The flag of Western Pomerania consists of two horizontal stripes of the equal wight: blue and white. The flag of Mecklenburg consists of three horizontal stripes of the equal wight: blue, yellow, and red. Both flags have the aspect ratio height to width ratio is equal 3:5.

See also

* Coat of arms of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
* Flag of Western Pomerania
* Flag of Mecklenburg
* Flag of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship

References

{{German flags

Mecklenburg–Vorpommern
Culture of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
1991 establishments in Germany