Last modified: 2012-08-21 by pete loeser
Keywords: third reich | wassersportflagge | disc (white) | swastika (black) | anchor (black) | water sports |
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These were the civilian flags or ensigns used at all civilian German Water Sports (Wassersportflagge) and boating activities. These flags were used by German yachtsmen and sports fishermen and only flown on privately owned civilian German yachts and non-commercial sports fishing boats.
Pete Loeser, 20 August 2012
I have evidence, that the Wassersportflagge was also hoisted on the stern of rowing boats of normal rowing clubs. The Wassersportflagge replaced the pennant of the German Rowing Federation, which was kept, but hoisted on the prow. Probably it was similar with canoeing clubs, though it is difficult to stick any flag onto a canoe.
Furthermore, there had been an Imperial Wassersportflagge before, and that one was also replaced by the NS-version.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 21 August 2012
![[Water Sports Flag ca.1935-1945 (Third Reich, Germany)]](../images/d/de-port.gif)
3:5 
Image by Jaume Ollé
The swastika flag with [a] white swastika disk half the height of the flag (instead of three-quarters as in the swastika flag). Behind the disk a white bordered black anchor. Illustrated in Flaggenbuch 1939, pl. III. I do not have a date on the adoption of this flag (clearly between 1933 and 1939, probably 1935 or later) or a description of the use.
Norman Martin, January 1998
This flag, introduced on April 6, 1936, was allowed to be flown as single flag. Only boats, which owners were of German nationality and were members of one of the official institutions for water sports were allowed to show this flag. It distinguished those boats, which owners were members of one of the National Socialist Sport organizations from those, which were called "wild" boats.
"By means of this flag our vessels can be officially distinguished from those wild, disagreeable yacht-similar vessels, which owners are globetrotters and their only intention is to buy picture postcards. These persons rarely contribute to strengthen the respect to our nation abroad." (from the magazine Die Yacht, Nov. 16, 1936)
Pete Loeser, 20 August 2012
Image by Fornax, 20 August 2012
This flag, introduced on May 31, 1935, was only allowed to be used in conjunction with the swastika flag. Only boats, which owners were of German nationality and were members of one of the official institutions for water sports were allowed to show this flag. It was officially abolished on February 1, 1936.
Up to the introduction of the new Watersports flag on April 6, 1936, the simple merchant flag had to be flown instead. In is interesting to note that although the black-white-red tricolor design was "banned" by the NSDAP controlled German government after the passage of the German Flag Law of 1935, an exception seemed to exist with the Wassersportflagge (flag for watersports) which was seen in use up until February of 1936.
Pete Loeser, 20 August 2012
