On the Flaggenkunde list Winfried Schrödter sent in this picture.
It's from the German army's intranet homepage of the "Gemeinschaft Katholischer Soldaten"
(Community of Catholic Soldiers). On their homepage
http://www.kath-soldaten.de/ they describe themselves as a free network of laic Christians
in the Catholic Church of Germany, an association offering moral orientation and spiritual
home for:
Catholics in the army,
Soldiers in the Catholic Church and
Catholic soldiers in state and society; and it wants to take influence on social
developments.
The picture shows an interesting flag graphic, a flag consisting only of words. The flag staff
consists of the idiomatic expression Das haben wir uns auf die Fahne geschrieben
(lit. „We have written this on our flag“), i.e. these are our ideals, principals, goals etc.
The mottoes on the flag are, from top: Im Glauben verwurzelt – Rooted in faith;
Für Recht und Freiheit – For justice and freedom; Sittlich gebunden – Morally bound;
Politisch gebildet – Politically educated; Fachlich kompetent – professionally competent;
Gewissenhaft im Gehorsam – Conscientious in obedience; Dem Frieden verpflichtet –
Obligated to peace; Offen für Gleichgesinnte – Open for like-mindeds;
Um Zusammenarbeit bemüht – Endeavored for co-operation; Ökumenisch aufgeschlossen -
Ecumenically open-minded.
On the right side of the flag there’s a short declaration about the principles which I
translate as: “Our guiding principles | Ideals are like stars. You can see them but you
can’t reach them. And yet: they guide you home.”
On the right top corner there’s the red logo, containing the white letters GKS. The logo is
explained at http://www.kath-soldaten.de/Kreuz/kreuz.html,
in my translation:
“The cross of the GKS | The cross of the GKS is the symbol of the Community of Catholic
Soldiers. Four circles, as a symbol for the GKS circles at the basis, form a cross in a
bigger circle, which symbolizes the Community. [Under this cross] rally the Catholic
soldiers. | The GKS cross allows another interpretation: The cross of the military
pastoral care is being merged with the Iron Cross of the army. By this means there’s made
a synthesis as a symbol for 'Christian and soldier'".
The flag (LOB) which can be seen here or at
http://tinyurl.com/cvldq, shows the red logo on square white field, surrounded as a circle of
the association’s name. Martin Karner, 9 February 2006
