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Oldenburg

 

Contents

Flags

Meaning/Origin of the Flag

Coat of Arms

Meaning/Origin of the Coat of Arms

Cockade

Map

Numbers and Facts

History

Origin of the Country's Name



Flags

• as county in the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation under the house of Oldenburg:

Flagge Fahne flag Grafschaft county Oldenburg
to ca. 1625,
Flag of the country
Source, by: World Statesmen




Flagge Fahne flag Oldenburg
from ca. 1625,
Flag of the country,
Source, by: Deichatlas von Musculus (1625), nach: schmid-ol.de




Flagge Fahne flag Landesfarben colours colors Grafschaft county Oldenburg
Colours of the country,
Source, by: Flags of the World




• under the Danish kings from the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf:

Flagge Fahne flag Landesfarben Flagge Oldenburg Schleswig Holstein Gottorf
1667–1773,
Flag of the country,
Variant(?),
Source, by: oldenburgische-landschaft.de




Flagge Fahne flag Landesfarben Flagge Oldenburg Schleswig Holstein Gottorf
1667–1773,
Flag of the country,
Variant(?),
Source, by: Hermann Lübbing (Archivdirektor des Staatsarchivs Oldenburg), 1953, nach: schmid-ol.de




• as county (from 1777 duchy) in the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation under the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp::

Flagge Fahne flag Landesfarben Herzogtum colours colors duchy Oldenburg
Colours of the country,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Oldenburg Staatsflagge state official flag
1774–1804,
State flag ashore,
Source, by: Ralf Stelter, 13 Feb 2001 on: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Oldenburg Staatsflagge state official flag
1774–1804,
State flag offshore,
Source, by: Ralf Stelter, 13 Feb 2001 on: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Oldenburg Lotsenflagge pilot jack flag
1776–1810,
Pilot flag,
Source, by: schmid-ol.de




Flagge Fahne flag Oldenburg Staatsflagge state official flag
1804–1810,
State flag ashore,
Source, by: Mattern und Neubecker, nach by: schmid-ol.de




Flagge Fahne flag Oldenburg Staatsflagge state official flag
1804–1810,
State flag offshore,
Source, by: Mattern und Neubecker, nach by: schmid-ol.de




Flagge Fahne flag Standarte Standard Oldenburg Herzog Duke
1777–1823,
Standard of the Duke,
Source, by: herzogl. Haus- und Central-Archiv, nach by: schmid-ol.de




• between 1811 and 1813 the country was annexed by France:

Flagge Fahne flag Landesfarben Flagge Oldenburg Frankreich France
1810–1913,
Flag of France




• as grand duchy in the German Confederation under the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp:

Flagge Fahne flag Landesfarben Großherzogtum colours colors grand duchy Oldenburg
Colours of the country,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Großherzogtum grand duchy Oldenburg Staatsflagge state official flag
1815–1866,
State flag ashore,
ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: Ralf Stelter, 13 Feb 2001 on: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Großherzogtum grand duchy Oldenburg Staatsflagge state official flag
1815–1866,
State flag offshore,
ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: Ralf Stelter, 13 Feb 2001 on: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Handelsflagge Großherzogtum colours merchant flag grand duchy Oldenburg
1815–1866,
Merchant flag with serial number,
Source, by: schmid-ol.de




Flagge Fahne flag Oldenburg Lotsenflagge pilot jack flag
1815–1866,
Pilot flag,
Source, by: schmid-ol.de




Flagge Fahne flag Standarte Standard Oldenburg Herzog Duke
1823–1829,
Standard of the Duke,
ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: herzogl. Haus- und Central-Archiv, nach by: schmid-ol.de




Flagge Fahne flag Standarte Standard Oldenburg Großherzog Grand Duke
1829–1853,
Standard of the Grand Duke,
ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: schmid-ol.de




Flagge Fahne flag Standarte Standard Oldenburg Großherzog Grand Duke
1853–1882,
Standard of the Grand Duke,
ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: Flags of the World




• as grand duchy in the German Empire under the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp:

Flagge Fahne flag Landesfarben Flagge Großherzogtum grand duchy Oldenburg Schleswig Holstein Gottorf
Colours of the country,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Großherzogtum grand duchy Oldenburg Landesflagge
1871–1918,
Flag of the country,
ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Großherzogtum grand duchy Oldenburg Staatsflagge state official flag
1871–1919
State flag ashore,
ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Seedienstflagge official state flag offshore Großherzogtum grand duchy Oldenburg Schleswig Holstein Gottorf
1902–1919,
Official flag offshore,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Wikipedia (D)




Flagge Fahne flag Standarte Standard Oldenburg Großherzog Grand Duke
1882–1918,
Standard of the Grand Duke,
ratio = 1:1,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Standarte Standard Oldenburg Erb-Großherzogs Heir Grand Duke
1882–1918,
Standard of the Heir Grand Duke,
ratio = 1:1,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Standarte Standard Oldenburg Herzogs Duke
1882–1918,
Standard of the Dukes,
ratio = 1:1,
Source, by: Flags of the World




• as free state in the German Empire:

Flagge Fahne flag Landesfarben Flagge Freistaat free state
Colours of the country,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Landesflagge Flagge Freistaat free state
1918–1934,
Flag of the country,
ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Seedienstflagge Flagge Freistaat free state
1919–1926,
Official flag offshore,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Wikipedia (D)




Flagge Fahne flag Seedienstflagge Flagge Freistaat free state
1926–1933,
Official flag offshore,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Wikipedia (D)




Flagge Fahne flag Seedienstflagge Flagge Freistaat free state
1933–1934,
Official flag offshore (doubtful),
ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: schmid-ol.de




• in the country of Lower Saxony within FRG:

Flagge Fahne flag Oldenburg Oldenburger Land
Flag of the former country of Oldenburg,
ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: Flags of the World



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Meaning/Origin of the Flag

To 1667 the colours of the County of Oldenburg corresponded to the colours and the coat of arms of the Counts of Oldenburg, on gold two red bars. The house vanished in 1667.

In the period in which the country belonged to the Danish crown, a Danish flag is mentioned, a white cross on red and in the upper corner the red cross of Oldenburg on Blue. Other sources mention a reversal coloured Danish flag, a white cross on red!

The colours of Oldenburg correspond to the colours and the coat of arms of the former sovereign-lineage, the great-dukes of Oldenburg from the house Holstein-Gottorf, as blue/gold (Holstein) and white/red (Schleswig-Gottorf) were combined. Such red-blue flags are known from the 17th century, but also flags with between nine and twelve blue, red and yellow stripes.

The personal standards of the Grand Duke, of his heir and of the princes (Dukes) were introduced in 1882. They show the same basic structure, the red cross on blue, and in the center the middle coat of arms of the ruling dynasty, the house of Oldenburg, surrounded by the collar of the House Order of the house of Oldenburg. The number of crowns on the standard distinguishes the dynastic position. The sourcing material for these standards is quite rare, but it seams that the standards have to appear in a paler blue than usual for Oldenburg. There is no heraldic reason for that, probably more a practical. In 1882 they will have sewed each one of this standards, and they will have used as the basic material a probably with indigo dyed blue bunting, which looked no longer so quite fresh at the end of the monarchy, after 35 years.

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. With the founding of the FRG and the GDR, an internal country-structure was finalised for both entities and corresponding official flags were introduced for these countries.

Source: Volker Preuß, Jürgen Kaltschmitt, Uniform-Fibel

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Coat of Arms


Wappen coat of arms Großherzogtum Grand Duchy Oldenburg
Coat of arms of Grand Duchy of Oldenburg,
Source, by: Wikipedia (DE)


Wappen coat of arms Großherzogtum Grand Duchy Oldenburg
Lesser coat of arms of Grand Duchy of Oldenburg,
Source, by: Wikipedia (DE)


Wappen coat of arms Freistaat free state Oldenburg
Coat of arms of the free state of Oldenburg,
Source, by: Wikipedia (DE)

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Meaning/Origin of the Coat of Arms

The until the year 1919 valid lesser coat of arms was half clefted, combined with a kind of inverted fork cut, whereby arise five fields. Field 1 (golden-red striped) stands for the County of Oldenburg, field 2 (golden cross on blue) for the Reign of Delmenhorst, field 3 (golden cross on blue with a crown above) for the Principality of Luebeck, Feld 4 (red-silver chessboarded) for the Principality of Birkenfeld, and the field 5 (golden lion on blue) in the tip of the scutcheon stands for the Lordship of Jever.

Source: Heraldique Europeenne

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Cockade


Kokarde Oldenburg cockade Oldenburg
1816,
Cockade of Oldenburg

Kokarde Oldenburg cockade Oldenburg
to 1919,
Cockade of Oldenburg

In the Napoleonic period, only officers of the State of Oldenburg wore a blue-red cockade at the shako, but in the year 1919 blue-red-blue. The authors know nothing more about the coloration and design of the blanket between the end of the Napoleonic era and the end of the monarchy in the year 1918.

Source, by: Jürgen Kaltschmitt, nach
P. Bunde, Brigadeuniformtafel Nr. 244, Herzogenrath 2011

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Read here:
Informations, history and facts about the theme "Cockades".

Kokarde cockade
  Cockade

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Map


Source: Stielers Hand-Atlas, Justus Perthes, 1891

The historical map shows the State of Oldenburg around 1890 with a green border..

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Numbers and Facts

Area: 2.480 square miles

Inhabitants: 550.000 (1925)

Density of Population: 222 inh./sq.mi. (1925)

Capital: Oldenburg

Currency to 1858: 1 Taler = 72 Grote = 360 Schwaren

Currency 1858–1871: 1 Taler = 30 Groschen ...

Currency 1871–1924: 1 Mark = 100 Pfennig

Currency 1924–1946: 1 Reichsmark (RM) = 100 Reichspfennig (Rpf.)

Source: www.gonschior.de, Der Michel

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History

1108 · first mention of the County of Oldenburg

1667 · expire of the house Oldenburg, the County of Oldenburg comes to Denmark

1773 · reconstruction of the county under the house Holstein-Gottorf

1777 · elevation to a duchy

1810–1813 · to France

1815 · Congress of Vienna - reconstruction of Europe after the era of Napoleon, extensions of territory, elevation to a grand duchy

1866 · in the Fratricidal War on the hands of Prussia, joining to the North German Confederation

1871 · joining to the German Empire

1918 · overthrow of the monarchy

1919 · Free State of Oldenburg

1934 · the territorial countries' structure of the German Empire becomes detached by the Gaus of the NSDAP, the countries become insignificant

1945 · occupied by British and US-American troops, to the British occupation's zone

1946 · incorporation into the Country of Lower Saxony

Source: Wikipedia (D), Atlas zur Geschichte, Discovery '97, Volker Preuß

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Origin of the Country's Name

The name of the country goes back to the place of Oldenburg. It was first mentioned as "Aldenburg" in the year 1108.

Source: Wikipedia (D)

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