Last modified: 2024-09-04 by 
zachary harden
Keywords: latvia | rank | navy | army | admiral |
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image by Željko Heimer, 9 April 2002
At <www.mod.lv>,
one can see the flag of the
Minister of Defence.
Dov Gutterman, 25 January 2002
According to Album 2000 [pay00]
- Minister of Defence (2:3) - The naval ensign with the emblem in
canton "sitting" on the crossbar. The emblem consists
of a badge of golden rays encyrcling red field in which is
"dark" ring aound a white disk with three golden
five-pointed stars, one and two. The "dark" ring apears
to be black in [neu92] and blue in
Album. According to [neu92] the
width of the badge is 39/100 of hoist.
Željko Heimer, 9 April 2002
I remembered having seen the 'sun and stars' emblem before as
a collar patch for one of the Waffen-SS Latvian volunteer
divisions. A photo of one such collar patch can be seen here: http://www.wssob.com/images/col_19var.gif.
Roger James Bender and Hugh Page Taylor, "Uniforms,
Organization and History of the Waffen-SS Vol. 4", describes
the insignia of the 15th Waffen-Grenadier-Division of the SS
(Latvian no.1) and in pp. 97-98 says: "(...) the three
5-pointed stars within a rising sun was considered the first
national [Latvian] coat of arms and had been the cap badge
of the former [1918-1940] Latvian Army........The stars and sun
device was designed by the sculptor Prof. B. Dzenis and the
cockade upon which it was based had been worn during the
liberation wars of 1918-1920. The stars symbolized the three
ancient regions of Latvia: Courland, Livland and
Lettgallia."
For the latter paragraph it quotes two sources, one
"P.H.B." which I cannot quite identify, and Prof. W.
Trembicky, "Flags of non-Russian peoples under Soviet
rule", The Flag Bulletin, Volume VIII, No. 3, Summer 1969.
We do have a reference also under the Latvian
coat-of-arms page saying, "A stylised depiction of the
sun was used as a symbol of distinction and national identity by
Latvian riflemen - latviesu strelnieki - recruited into the
Russian imperial army during WWI. During WWI the sun figure
fashioned with 17 rays that symbolised the 17 inhabited Latvian
districts. The three stars above the coat of arms embody the idea
of the inclusion of historical districts (united Kurzeme -
Zemgale, Vidzeme and Latgale) into a united Latvia."
In my humble opinion, Flaggenbuch also shows a (very) dark blue
ring rather than a black one. At least that's what I can tell
from my copy of [neu92].
Santiago Dotor, 15 April 2002
image by Željko Heimer, 9 April 2002
According to Album 2000 [pay00]
- Armed Forces Commander (2:3) - The naval ensign with the naval
jack in canton. The [neu92]
captions the flag as "Flagge des Oberstcommandierenden der
Armee und des Inspekteurs der Armee". I guess the first part
of this caption is translated well enough as Armed Forces
Commander. The Armed Forces Inspector might be a function no
longer existing?
Željko Heimer, 9 April 2002
image by Željko Heimer, 19 September 2002
From <www.navy.lv>:
"The Flag of CinC of Naval Forces - The basement of the Flag
of CinC of Naval Forces is Ensign. In the middle of the white
quadrilateral, which is situated in the upper corner and tights
to the mast, is situated the Ensign. The proportion of the length
and the width of the Flag is 3:2. The Flag of CinC of Naval
Forces is making up in the following sizes (in millimeters): I
size – 300x200, II size – 660x440, III size –
990x660, IV size – 1200x800.
The Flag of CinC of Naval Forces uses:
- With the permission of CinC of Naval Forces to hoist the Flag
on the mast in the place of location of military units or on the
ships, to show the attendance of CinC of Naval Forces – if
CinC of Naval Forces per position is the superior person;
- CinC of Naval Forces with his order can signify one warship as
a flagship of Naval Forces. In this case the Flag of CinC of
Naval Forces stays getting on the front mast constantly –
day and night, without the reference is CinC of Naval Forces
onboard or not;
- The I size’s Flag of can be used as a standard, affixed to
the front wing of the car, or as a table-standard;
- On the suggestions of CinC of Naval Forces.
The Flag of CinC of Naval Forces do not carry in processions and
outlooks."
Zach Harden, 1 September 2002
image by Željko Heimer, 9 April 2002
According to Album 2000 [pay00]
- Commander of the Navy or Admiral (2:3) - The naval ensign with
a red ball in canton. The [neu92]
defines the ball diameter as half the canton height, i.e. 1/5 of
hoist, and Albums seems to match with the image. The [neu92] captions the flag simply as
"Admiralsflagge" not mentioning Commander of the Navy,
but it does not give any other flag for that function. I guess
that the Commander would always be an admiral...
Željko Heimer, 9 April 2002
From <www.navy.lv
"Admiral's Flags - Admiral's Flags are the Ensigns, each
Flag satisfies to its Admiral's grade. Admirals` Flags are making
up in the following sizes (in millimeters): I size –
300x200, II size – 660x440, III size – 990x660, IV size
– 1200x800.
Admirals` ensigns use:
- Flags hoist on the mast in the place of location of military
units or on the ships, to show the attendance of Admiral, if
Admiral per position is the superior person.
- The I size Admirals` flag can be used as a standard, affixed to
the front wing of the car, or as a table-standard.
- On the suggestions of Admiral.
Admirals` Flags do not carry in processions and outlooks.
Flotilla Admiral's Flag - In the upper corner, in the middle
of the white quadrilateral, which tights to the mast, is situated
a carmine ring. Its diameter is equal 1/5 of the flag
width."
Zach Harden, 1 September 2002
image by Željko Heimer, 19 September 2002
From <www.navy.lv>:
"Rear Admiral's Flag - In the upper and in the lower
corners, in the middle of the white quadrilateral, which tight to
the mast are situated carmine rings (one in each quadrilateral).
Their diameters are equal 1/5 of the flag width."
Zach Harden, 1 September 2002
image by Željko Heimer, 19 September 2002
From <www.navy.lv>:
"Vice Admiral's Flag - In the upper and in the lower
corners, in the middle of the white quadrilateral, which tight to
the mast, and in the upper corner outside are situated carmine
rings (one in each quadrilateral). Their diameters are equal 1/5
of the flag width."
Zach Harden, 1 September 2002
image by Željko Heimer, 19 September 2002
According to Album 2000 [pay00]
- Captain (2:7) - White swallow-tailed flag with the ensign near
hoist. The indentation in the fly is 3/2 of hoist, and distance
from fly end of the ensign to the indentation is half the hoist
(this provides for the construction details given in l'Album).
The caption of this flag is somewhat ambigous in English (just as
German in [neu92]
"Kapitaensstander", but when we compare it with the
French caption "Capitaine de Vaisseau" it is clear that
this is rank flag for the highest naval rank lower then admiral.
Both Album and Flagenbuch display it as being hoisted hanging
from a crossbar.
image by Željko Heimer, 11 April 2002
From <www.navy.lv>:
"The Pendant of Commander of Flotilla is a smaller size
Ensign. There is sewed on white flag cloth continuation with keel
cut in the end of it. The proportion between the width and the
length of the Pendant is 1:3,5. The Pendant of Commander of
Flotilla is making up in following sizes (in millimeters): I size
– 700x200, II size – 1360x390.
The Pendant of Commander of Flotilla uses: The Pendant of
Commander of Flotilla shows, that War (Coast Guard's) ships unit
are under the command of Commander of Flotilla. The Pendant of
Commander of Flotilla hoists on the mast, and it stays day and
night there, without the reference is there Commander of Flotilla
onboard or not."
Zach Harden, 1 September 2002
image by Željko Heimer, 14 April 2002
From <www.navy.lv>:
"The Pendant of Commander of Squadron is a smaller size
Ensign. There is sewed on State Flag’s colors cloth
continuation with keel cut in the end of it. The proportion
between the length and the width of the Pendant has to be 1:3,5.
The Pendant of Commander of Squadron is making up in following
sizes (in millimeters): I size – 700x200, II size –
1360x390.
The Pendant of Commander of Squadron uses:
- The Pendant of Commander of Squadron shows, that War (Coast
Guard) ships unit is under the command of Commander of Squadron.
The Pendant of Commander of Squadron hoists on the mast, and it
stays day and night there, without the reference is Commander of
Flotilla onboard or not."
Zach Harden, 1 September 2002
Missing from the Album [pay00],
but the same as "Commander of Submarine Division" in Latvia - Flaggenbuch Era Flags.
Dov Gutterman, 17 September 2002
image by Željko Heimer, 11 April 2002
According to Album 2000 [pay00]
- Senior Officer Afloat (4:9) - Triangular pennant in pattern of
the naval ensign. Neubecker in [neu92]
provides the prescribed size: 40x90 cm, with cross being 4+2+4 cm
and length of the white canton 25 cm. He also captions it
"Dienstaltersstander An der Raa", which would mean that
the position of hoisting was also determined, "Raa"
refering to a certain part of a ship. Album refers here to Baltic
Squadron, probably as it was the most convinient place, and not
because this flag is somehow particularly connected to it (or is
it?)
Željko Heimer, 11 April 2002
From <www.navy.lv>:
" The Pendant of Commander of Division is a triangle form
Ensign, which finishes with keel throat stricture outside the
border. The proportion between the length and the width of the
Pendant has to be 1:2,25. The Pendant of Commander of Division is
making up in following size (in millimeters): 900x400.
The Pendant of Commander of Division uses: The Pendant of
Commander of Division shows, that War (Coast Guard, special)
ships unit is under the command of Commander of Division. The
Pendant of Commander of Division hoists on the mast, when the
Commander of Division is onboard."
Zach Harden, 1 September 2002
image by Željko Heimer, 14 April 2002
According to Album 2000 [pay00]
- Port Commander (1:2) - National flag with white canton
conatining two blue crossed anchors. Neubecker [neu92] designates the length of the
canton 1/3 of the flag length (i.e. 2/3 of hoist) and height
equal to the top red stripe, and [pay00]
follows this closely.
[neu92] captions this flag as
"Flagge der Hafenverwaltung", which if I am not
mistaken, is better translated as flag (or even better ensign?)
of port authorities, i.e. it is not just hoisted on the ship
(boat) carying the commander, but also other vessels of the
"harbour police" (this last term is my interpretation).
And if so, ---/-S- symbols might be appropriate.
Željko Heimer, 14 April 2002
