page_title: Imperial law regarding the introduction of a German war and civil ensign
section_title: Ships sailing under black-red-gold
hierarchical_section_title: Imperial law regarding the introduction of a German war and civil ensign / Ships sailing under black-red-gold
caption_attribution_description: English: SMS Eckernförde &amp; SMS Deutschland in 1849.
context_page_description: The Imperial law regarding the introduction of a war and civil ensign was an imperial law of the revolutionary German Empire of 1848. It describes the colours black-red-gold and the usage of a general German imperial flag and a war ensign for the Imperial Fleet.
context_section_description: The Central Power (German government) was still not universally recognized; that is the reason for the permission to sail also under a state flag. In May 1849 an incident occurred, when a British ship entered the harbour of Kiel but did not salute the German flag. With a warning shot one reminded the ship of this duty under international law. Negotiations led to a formal apology from London.
  On June 4, 1849, at the Sea Battle of Heligoland, the commander of the then British island led the German ships be shot at for a warning. After a complaint the British Foreign Office threatened to regard ships as privateers if they fight without official authority.
  The German Bundestag, introducing the colours on March 9, 1848, but also the Central Power had forgotten to announce the new flag to foreign countries (with exception to the USA). After June 21, 1849 it struggled to receive this recognition. When the Central Power ended its activities in December 1849, the Bundeszentralkommission took over. In May 1850 the US, the Netherlands (as a member of the German Confederation), Belgien, Sardinia, Turkey, Portugal, Naples, Spain, Greece and conditionally France had accepted the flag. Great Britain was asked but answered on July 29 procrastinatorily.
caption: The fregates Eckernförde and Deutschland, 1849, with the war ensig
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