14th, 15th, 16th cent.,
Colours of the Hanse League,
since 1692,
Merchant flag,
Source, by: Flags of the World
1815–1891,
State flag,
Source, by: Flags of the World
since 1891,
State flag (with flag's coat of arms)
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World,
bremen.de
1891–1892,
Official flag offshore,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World,
bremen.de
1893–1921,
Official flag offshore,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World
1921–1933,
Official flag offshore,
ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: Flags of the World
1933–1934,
Official flag offshore,
ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: Flags of the World
The general flag of Bremen shows eight alternating red and white stripes, and close to the mast is a vertical stripe with reversed color sequence, so that appears a double-row checkerboard pattern. In this form the flag was spread since the end of the 17th century and was used by Bremen sailors and other individuals and by the City of Bremen too. Previously should have been used single-coloured red flags with a silvery key in the middle (hence the city's colors: red and white) or the white-red flags of the Hanseatic League, which has lost its importance in the 17th century. However, it should also have been flags with nine stripes, at the top and bottom end of the flag starting and ending with a red stripe.
From 1815 the City of Bremen showed the coat of arms of the city on their flags. Sailors and individuals had no permission to use this flag in principle, but probably they have not always kept it, so that in the 19th century arised official city flags, with twelve or even fourteen stripes, to make possible a better differentiation as an official symbol from the privately used flags.
In 1891 the number of stripes was fixed officially, twelve stripes for the official flags of the city, and eight stripes for the private used flags (merchant flag). In the same year, a new greater coat of arms was adopted. It showed not only a shield, crown and shield holders (supporters), but further a crest, out of a golden lion, holding the silvery key of the city like a flag in it's paws.
The determination with the number of stripes and even the greater coat of arms (today called 'flag-escutcheon') have been preserved to this days. There are (and were already in the 19th century) also flags with eight stripes, which show the middle coat of arms of the city, with shield and crown in a white box in the middle of the flag. The City of Bremen manages the use of their arms very strictly. The use is only allowed for official departments, and therefore is likely that this flag could only be used from offices of the City of Bremen. Nevertheless, it is available in the trading and is used unofficially. Individuals may actually use only the escutcheon-logo of the city (look below).
Interesting is even the offshore official flag (state flag of the Bremen shipping). This flag was introduced in 1891 too, in the design of the official flags, in the upper corner added by a small blue anchor. Already in 1893 it became replaced by a flag, which was introduced for all the coastal states of the German Empire, to ensure a uniform appearance of the authorities at sea. It corresponded to the imperial black-white-red naval official flag of the German Empire, and differed by country only by a coat of arms, shown in the upper corner of the flag. Three years after the abdication of the emperor was introduced a new offshore official flag, which corresponded and showed again the black-white-red naval official flag of the German Empire (this time with the national emblem in the middle), and had also the locale heraldy in the upper canton.
In 1933, the National Socialists seized power in Germany, which was to be noticeable in a transitional phase until 1934, in the appearance of many coats of arms and flags. On the official flag now was in use a representation of the imperial eagle, as it could be seen on the flag of the President. The eagle was placed – with no shield, just on a white plate – a little bit out of the center moved toward the flagpole. For the National Socialists, the federal structure of the German Empire, its historically grown countries, was considered as outdated, as relics of a past to be overcome. In this sense, several laws were enacted, on 31st of March in 1933 the 'Provisional Law for the phasing of the countries with the Empire', on 7th of April 1933 the 'Second Law for the phasing of the countries with the Empire' and finally, on 30th January in 1934 the 'Law on the rebuilding of the empire'. Thus, the federal structure of the German Empire was replaced by the gau-structure of the NSDAP, the countries became meaningless. From now on, offices and authorities had to use the swastika flag as official flag, until September 15th in 1935, when by the flag-law was legislated a new created official flag for all the offices and authorities of the empire. The prime ministers of the countries, which latest in 1933 all came from the NSDAP – now mostly called Reichsstatthalter (maybe translated as 'governor') – however remained in office until 1945. The corresponding country colours continued, with restrictions, but definitly not in the form of flags. They were used, for example, occasionally on uniforms of the SA or in some ranks of the Hitler Youth in the breast cord.
After the war, the administration within the German Empire was rebuilt, but locally, following the structure of the countries. These have been partly old countries, and some new countries were created. Sometimes they bethought the old country colours and reactivated them – or they created new ones – for limited sovereign duties, which were under the control of the Allies.
Bremen was founded as a country again in 1947, and became in 1949 a part of the FRG, the flags of 1891 were reintroduced, and in 1952 even the offshore official flag. In the same way was introduced a new greater coat of arms in 1947(?), with shield, crown and supporters on a pedestal. The old greater coat of arms from 1891 is still in use by the senate, and is called 'flag's coat of arms'.
Source: Flags of the World,
Wikipedia (D),
Jürgen Kaltschmitt,
Uniform-Fibel
Escutcheon and logo of Bremen
Source, by: bremen.de
middle coat of arms of Bremen
Source, by: bremen.de
greater coat of arms of Bremen
Source: bremen.de
flag's coat of arms of Bremen
Source: bremen.de
The coat of arms of Bremen shows a silvery key on a red background. The symbol of the key goes back to the city's seal of 1366, as into the new seal, next to a picture of the Emperor, was placed a representation of St. Peter with the key. Peter is the patron saint of the cathedral at Bremen, and the keys of heaven are his symbol, derived from the words of Jesus: "I will give you the keys of the kingdom." In the lesser version of the coat of arms, only the key was used, in colored reproduction as a silvery key on red. In 1810 Bremen was annexed by France, and in 1811 the emblem of Bremen became modified by Napoléon. It showed a black key on gold, and a red shield-head that was added by three golden bees. The awarding of golden bees was a special form of honoring by Napoleon, which Napoléon even gave to other countries, e.g. the island of Elba. In 1813 they returned to the old coat of arms.
In 1891 a new greater coat of arms was adopted. It showed not only a shield, crown and shield holders (supporters), but further a crest, out of a golden lion, holding the silvery key of the city like a flag in it's paws. In 1947, on the occasion of the re-establish of the Country of Bremen, they introduced a new greater coat of arms, with shield, crown and supporters on a pedestal. The old greater coat of arms from 1891 is still in use by the senate, and is called 'flag's coat of arms'.
Source: Flags of the World,
Wikipedia (D),
bremen.de
to 1919, Cockade of Bremen
FRG and its countries, clickable map:
Source: Volker Preuß
Source: Stielers Hand-Atlas, Justus Perthes, 1891
The map shows the Hanseatic Cities of Bremen, Hamburg and Luebeck around 1890 within an orange colored border. The border of the German Empire is hatched in red, the Prussian in blue, the border of Mecklenburg-Schwerin in yellow, the border of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in brown, and the border of Oldenburg in green.
Area: 162 square miles
Inhabitants: 659.500 (2011)
Density of Population: 4.077 inh./sq.mi.
Religions: 44% Protestant, 12% Roman Catholic, 46% Non-Religious
Capital: Bremen is a city state
official Language: German
other Languages: Low German
Currency to 1876: 1 Taler = 72 Grote = 360 Schwaren, 1 Grote = 10 Silbergroschen
Currency 1868–1871: 1 Taler = 30 Silbergroschen = 360 Pfg.
Currency 1871–1924: 1 Mark = 100 Pfennig
Currency 1924–1948: 1 Reichsmark (RM) = 100 Reichspfennig (Rpf.)
Source:
Wikipedia (D),
Der Michel
9 A.D. · Varus Battle, the Roman legions are defeated, their legion's eagles (standarts) become a prey of the Germans (Teutons). In search for the eagles years later the Romans will find one eagle in the area of today's Bremen in a shrine, and can bring it back in the Roman Empire
1st century · the Romans have in the region of today's Bremen a naval base, the Germanic tribe of the Chauken (later the Saxons) settles in the area of today's Bremen
782 · Bremen is first mentioned in documents
787 · founding of the Diocese of Bremen (Bremen is seat of an bishop)
849 · Bremen becomes an archbishopric, the archbishop of Hamburg moves its seat to Bremen
888 · market law
1186 · "Gelnhausen Privilege", the governmental authority emanates from the church to the emperor and the senate
1233 · the rights of the city become confirmed, Bremen develops to a free imperial city
1260 · first joining the Hanseatic League (with interruptions until 1669)
1522 · arrival of the reformation
1580–1586 · the Reformation prevails, Bremen becomes Lutheran
1618–1648 · Thirty Years' War, Bremen is largely spared
1646 · the status of the free imperial city is confirmed
1648 · Peace of Westphalia, the archbishopric of Bremen becomes secularised and divided into the Duchies of Bremen and Verden and ceded to Sweden, the City of Bremen remains with the German Empire
1715 · Sweden sells the Duchies of Bremen and Verden to the Electorate of Brunswick-Lueneburg (Electoral Hannover)
1741 · Hannover recognizes the free and imperial city of Bremen after the city has ceded lands
1792–1805 · French revolutionary armies attack the German Empire
1795 · the empire cedes the entire left bank of the river Rhine to France
1810 · Bremen and Verden and the City of Bremen become annexed by France
1814–1815 · Vienna Congress, reorganization of Europe after the Napoleonic era, the city of Bremen becomes a sovereign state in the German Confederation, Bremen and Verden come to the Kingdom of Hanover
1827 · the City of Bremen aquires the today's Bremerhaven Territory to built a new major port, in 1837 is founded the municipality of Bremerhaven
1866 · the city of Bremen becomes a federal state in the North German Confederation
1871 · the city of Bremen becomes a federal state in the German Empire
1934 · the territorial structure of the states of the German Empire becomes replaced by the districts of the NSDAP, the countries become meaningless
1939–1945 · Second World War, Bremen is badly damaged by bombs
17th of April in 1945 · British troops invade the City of Bremen, it becomes part of the UK and part of the US-american occupation zone
1949 · the city of Bremen becomes a federal country of the FRG
2010 · the city of Bremen acquires in Bremerhaven "Luneplate Island" from Lower Saxony, Bremen increases its territory by 14,95 km²
Source: Atlas zur Geschichte,
Wikipedia (D),
Schwarzbuch der Vertreibung
The name "Bremen" goes back to the old Saxon word "Bremo", which means "edge". It may indicate the location of Old Bremen on the edge of a dune. In Latin the place is called Brema.
Source: Wikipedia (D)
