The 2nd German Reich from Birth to the Weimar Twilight

Germany Standard of the Empress Auguste Viktoria. A gift to M.H. de Young from the Empress of Germany herself, this flag is a typical example of the elegant and complicated standards used by German rulers until the early 20th century. The design is a variation of the imperial standard used by Augusta Victoria's husband, Kaiser Wilhelm II.

Imperial Germany National Flag 1871 - 1919. This Imperial German flag is typical of flags used for private use. The black, white and red tri-band was retained as the national flag of the Empire in 1871. It had been previously used by the North German Confederation, a union of the Kingdom of Prussia and 21 other north German states.

A pristine German Naval Ensign of late 19th Century style. This German Naval Storm Ensign bears the crowned W inspection mark of the German Empire. When the Second Reich (Empire) was established in 1870, the 1867 flag, ensign and jack that had been used by the North German Confederation became the national flags of Germany.

A German naval jack featuring a late 19th Century design. A naval jack used on the bow of warships featuring the national colors of Germany and the quintessential Teutonic Iron Cross. It was acquired through a military dealer in Hamburg, Germany 1997.

German National Flag, 1867-1919. In the 19th century Germany struggled to achieve unification. The Confederation of 1848-1852 failed, leaving Prussia, the most powerful German state, the center of aspirations for unity.

Imperial Germany Pilot's Drop Flag taken by USN Bluejacket from U-124. This World War I German Pilots Flag was formerly part of the collection of the M.H. de Young Museum. It was originally acquired from the German submarine U-124 in 1918 by an American Blue Jacket (sailor). The U-124 surrendered on December 1st, 1918.

An extremely rare naval ensign of the German Reichsmarine. This naval ensign dates from sometime in between the two World Wars, is extremely rare and is in very good condition.

Germany - Imperial Army Color style painted flag. This Imperial German Army Color style flag, was brought back from WWI by an American GI. It was incorrectly identified as an infantry color, but the black background precludes this as infantry colors had white backgrounds.

German // Bannerette or Tabard / 1920s

Fusilier Regiment von Gersdorff (Kurhessisches) Nr. 80. Veteran Color. Little is know about the history of this flag, it is likely that it is a bring back souvenir by an American Soldier after Allied forces took over Frankfurt.

Erdmann Institute Flag, A Psychological Seminary, 1902. This German banner is a double sided institutional flag. The obverse is three horizontal stripes featuring medium blue, white and red colors. In the blue stripe, the name of the organization has been embroidered: "INSTITUTE ERDMANN" and below that the name of the city:" BURGSTADT".

An embroidered heraldic banner of late 19th Century German origin. A heraldic banner featuring the marshaled arms of Westphalia and Brunswick; most likely a veteran's banner from the Franco-Prussian War used in parades on national holidays and other festivities.

Bavarian Institutional Banner, 1909. This flag/banner was originally designed to be attached to a staff or to be an ornate extension of a finial and it has three ties that can be seen on the hoist along with five rings that appear across the upper fly edge.

Action Theatre Guild of Blerichen Flag, 1924 - 1927. This small flag was used by the Northrein-Westphalian Action Theater Guild. Dating back to the inter-war period, this flag is double faced with a different design on each side. Little is known of this group or this flag.

German Religious Youth Group Flag "Tapfer u Treu", 1930. This double faced, embroidered, metallic fringed flag is for a German religious youth group, dated to 1930. Above the cross is the German phrase "Tapfer u Treu" which can be roughly translated as Brave and Loyal.

Germany // Mein Soldatenleben / w-photo Germany // Mein Soldatenleben / w-photo This is a soldier souvenir of his military service. Mein Soldatenleben means "My Soldier Life", and the chromo litho depicts idyllic scenes from a soldiers military experience. Mass produced these were sold widely and contained space for a soldier to inse[...]

Germany - "Zur Erinnerung an mein Dienstzeit" - Franco Prussian War. This is a soldier's souvenir of his military service and is thought to be from a veteran of the Franco-Prussian War. This collage contains mementos of a soldier's military experience.

Germany Zur Erinnerung an meine Reise, or, "memories of my journey" Trapunto. This is embroidered, Zur Erinnerung an mein Reise, or, "memories of my journey." This is a souvenir, possibly from the maiden voyage of the SS Koing Albert, personalized to Victor Walter.

Imperial German Chinese-made Trapunto - SMS Ilkis 1902. This Imperial German naval trapunto is embroidered Zur Erinnerung, Weihnachten 1702 ( In memory of Christmas 1702) and is likely Chinese-made embroidery done in the style of the more elaborate and more mutinously stitched trapuntos from Japan.

Imperial German Naval Trapunto - SMS Irene, 1911 to 1914. This is an Imperial German naval trapunto from a crewman of the SMS Irene; a cruiser of the Imperial German Navy's East Asia Squadron in the late 1890s and early 1900s. It is personalized to the sailor Bahne Stohrmann.