Ensign (German Foreign Office State Flag, 1892-1919)

This is an example of the Imperial German flag, known as the "Foreign Office State Flag, 1892-1919". The flag comprises a Black-White-Red tricolour, with a white disc in the centre on which is an Imperial Eagle with the Imperial Crown.

Significance

The "Foreign Office State Flag” was the flag of the authorities of the Reich [e.g. the Governor] in the German colonies [such as Samoa] which did not have their own flag [Reichsdienstflagge im Bereich des Auswaertigen Amtes, einschl. der kaiserlichen Behoerden und Fahrzeuge in den deutschen Schutzgebieten]. This example of the flag may have flown over the educational buildings in Apia, Samoa at the start of the First World War.

Acquisition history

This flag was collected by Mr D A J Rutherford who arrived in Samoa in 1919 when he was appointed superintendent of schools. Mr Rutherford or Latafoti, as he was also known, was previously headmaster of Highcliff School near Dunedin, before taking up his position as headmaster of Leififi School, the first government school in Sāmoa established for local European children and children of expatriates. Rutherford spent 18 years in Samoa, before his departure in 1936.

In June 1937, under the auspices of the Institute of Pacific Relations, Mr Rutherford gave a lecture illustrated by lantern slides and a moving picture film. At the beginning of his lecture Mr Rutherford exhibited a German flag [possibly this one] “which had been taken down in the educational buildings in Samoa after the war.” (1)

References

(1) Life in Samoa. Otago Daily Times, Issue 23222, 21 June 1937, Page 3 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19370621.2.11