Krempermarsch Subcounty (Amt Krempermarsch) today is located in Steinburg County (capital: Itzehoe). It includes the city of Krempe and the municipalities of Elskop, Grevenkop, Neuenbrook and Süderau, which had already been part of the former Krempermarsch community (Kremper Marsch Kommüne) and as new parts the municipalities of Bahrenfleth, Dägeling, Kremperheide, Krempermoor and Rethwisch. The city of Krempe also was not part of the former community.
By increasing of the sea level in the early middle ages the colonization of the marsh was interrupted. The re-colonization of the Krempe Marsh was enabled by Dutch, Saxon and Frisian settlers in the 13th century. In the south of the Krempe Marsh the Dutch established at that time an almost enclosed region of settlement. The region is even today still overwhelmingly agricultural. In order to protect the marsh against the sea, about 1400 the villages of Elskop, Grevenkop, Neuenbrook and Süderau, also Krempdorf, Borsfleth and finally Kiebitzreihe (today part of Horst-Herzhorn Subcounty) established a self administered corporation with common tasks. This unit was called the Kremper Marsch Kommüne. It existed until 1892. The coats of arms of those villages had the same pattern but they differed in colour. Some of the nowadays municipalities have an additional armorial flag.

Krempermarsch Subcounty Flag

It is a printed flag. It is more or less an armorial flag. In a red field shifted to the hoist is the silver(=white) swan of Stormarn however without the crown, blue eyed, armed and tongued golden (=yellow). The flag has a white bordure, separated from the red field by thin black lines. The bordure is superimposed by ten red balls, the shape simulized by black crescents, symbolizing the municipalities of the Amt. The basic colours silver and red are the colours of Holstein.
Source: I spotted this flag on 28 June 2010 in the administration building of Krempermarsch Amt. Special thanks to the administration, especially to Mr. Marco Schoene, who helped me to make a photo of the flag
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 18 Jan 2011

Kremper Marsch Kommüne Historical Flag

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 18 Jan 2011

Detail showing the shield upon obverse

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 18 Jan 2011

Historical flag of Kremper Marsch Kommüne (1880-1892)
It is a hanging flag with golden fringes at three sides. The ratio is approx 11:13. The flag is made of silk and has silver and golden embroideries. The obverse is white. In its centre is a dark red shield, fimbriated by golden embroideries. Upon the shield is a swan made of silver garments. The swan is overwhelmed by golden embroideries to line out feet, eye, beak and especially the golden crown around its neck. The swan is that one of Stormarn. The shield is flanked by a branch of green and golden laurel on the left and a branch of oak of the same colours on the right. Both branches are connected at the bottom by a red ribbon. The ribbon also is connected with a white scroll, having a few red stripes and a motto in golden letters. "Wer Muth hat, leistet Widerstand" (= the one having courage will make resistance). The scroll is flanked by two annual numbers made of golden embroideries, "1400" left and "1880" right.
The latter probably is the year, in which the flag was manufactured.
The reverse is a blue over white over red horizontal tricolour, showing the colours of Schleswig-Holstein. In the white stripe is an inscription, made of golden embroideries: "Kremper Marsch". Below the inscription is a golden creeper ornament.
The flag is held by a horizontal pole made of brass.
There is an uncomplete description of this flag on the website of the Amt based upon an also incomplete description given in Reißmann 1997, p.47.
Source:
I spotted this flag on 28 June 2010 in the administration building of Krempermarsch Amt. Special thanks to the administration, especially to Mr. Marco Schoene, who helped me to make a photo of the flag.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 18 Jan 2011

Krempermarsch Cities and Municipalities

Below only the parts of current Amt Krempermarsch are listed.
The flag of the municipality of Kiebitzreihe can be found

here

City of Krempe

Krempe Guild Flag#1

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 3 Oct 2007

Description of flag #1:
The ratio of flag (in my image) is about 14:19. The sheet is divided per bend into yellow and green with a two simplified coats of arms in the upper hoist and the lower fly end. The background of the coats of arms is white, the figures are black.
Note: Both images are based on a photo in Krauß, Gansel, Schröder, Hansen:
"Schleswig-Holstein, Edition Die Deutschen Länder", München 1993; ISBN 3-7658-0699-4, showing the so called "Kremper Fahnenschwenken", which is celebrated every year on 1st Monday after St. John's night (24 June).
The photo is depicted in Kommunalflaggen.
For me it is doubtful, that the image shows the municipality flag, for the pattern of #1 can't match normal German ratios like 3:5. I checked it with that ratio, but it was looking awful. It is also very unusual to simplify the coat of arms. But better information was not available.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 3 Oct 2007

Krempe Guild Flag#2

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 3 Oct 2007

Description of flag #2:
The ratio of flag is 3:5. The sheet is divided per bend sinister into yellow and green with a simplified coat of arms in the centre of the flag. The background of the coats of arms is white, the figures are black.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 3 Oct 2007

Krempe Guild Flag#3

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 3 Oct 2007

I have to precede, that the city of Krempe is a no flag entity, for it has no proper flag. Together with my son Christian I spotted however a bicolour with a modified coat of arms in its centre by passing the city in July 2009. We asked some locals, who told us, the flag would be a guild flag. In April 2010 I found out, that they were right.
The guild flag is however used by the locals and by the authorities as some kind of civil flag or a substitute of a municipal flag. The info flyer about Krempe shows the town hall with the guild flag been hoisted in front of it. The mayor however is only there on Tuesdays and the usual business of administration is run by Amt Krempermarsch. The administration building of the subcounty (Amt) is only some 200 metres away.
The staff there was really helpful. Special thanks to Mr. Marco Schoene, who showed me both flags, that one of the subcounty and that one of the guild as well. It was he, who reconfirmed the information given by the young boy some 9 months ago.
So as a final result the subcounty keeps a guild flag instead of a missing municipal flag. The flags#1 and #2 (see above) I had posted before are no longer used today.
The guild had been established in 1541. A photo of its current flag and further information about the guild can be found in this At this websitewebsite:
Description of current flag:
It is a green over yellow horizontal bicolour with a white renaissance shield fimbriated black and showing all elements of the local coat of arms in black. Green and yellow are the traditional colours of the guild.
Source: I spotted this flag on 28 April 2010 in the administration building of Krempermarsch Subcounty.
Klaus-Michael Schneider; 3 Jun 2010

Coat of Arms of Krempe

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 3 Oct 2007

Description of coat of arms:
The golden(=yellow) shield is divided by a blue fessy wavy line. On the base is a blue fish facing the top end. On the chief are two blue fish, one bendy, one sinister bendy and a red tongued wolf's head in natural colour between both fish.
Meaning:
The village is mentioned as "Crimpa" first time in 1234 and gained the title of a city according to Lübecks terms in 1250. The gentry family of Barmstede was probably responsible for the foundation of the city. The oldest seal shows therefore a bear's head as part of the coat of arms of Barmstede family, who used three bear heads. It was later misunderstood as a wolf's head. This change became official in 1957 obviously without permission. The wavy line is symbolizing the Kremper Au, a creek famous for its wealth of fish.
Source: Reißmann 1997, p.212
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 3 October 2007

Municipality of Bahrenfleth

Bahrenfleth Municipal Flag

3:5

image by Jörg Majewski, 9 Jun 2006
approved 16 February 2001

Description of flag:
The ratio is 3:5. It is a green over white horizontal bicolour with ratio approx. 2:1. In the centre of the green stripe is a silver (=white) statant swan, armed golden (= yellow) and rising his wings. In the centre of the white stripe is a blue sturgeon.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 30 Nov 2012

Bahrenfleth Municipal Coat of Arms

Description of coat of arms:
Above in the green shield is a a silver (=white) statant swan, armed golden (= yellow) and rising his wings. Below the swan is a silver (=white) fess wavy superimposed by a blue sturgeon.
Meaning:
Both settlement cores, Neuenkirchen and Bahrenfleth proper had been mentioned between 1248 and 1274. The green colour is representing Krempe Marsh.The swan, alluding to the swan of Stormarn, is symbolizing that the municipality belongs to Krempermarsch Subcounty. The sturgeon (German: Stör) is canting and symbolizing the river having the same name. The colonization emerged from the banks of the river. The sturgeon also symbolizes the general riches of fish in the river and the existence of this rare species here.
Source: Municipal Roll of Arms Schleswig-Holstein Online

Flag and coat of arms were approved on 16 February 2001.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 30 Nov 2012

Municipality of Dägeling

Dägeling Municipal Flag

3:5

image by Jörg Majewski, 6 Jun 2006
approved 30 October 2001
At this webpage is the flag of Dägeling municipality.

Description of flag:
The ratio is 3:5. It is white over red horizontal bicolour. The municipal coat of arms is in the centre of the flag. The proportions of the stripes are approx. 16:5. The border between both stripes has the level of the fess wavy in the coat of arms.
Source: Municipal Roll of Arms Schleswig-Holstein Online

The flag was approved on 30 October 2001. The artist is Horst Schack from Dägeling.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 30 Nov 2012

Dägeling Municipal Coat of Arms

image by Jarig Bakker, 15 Mar 2005
approved 30 October 2001

At the main page is the coat of arms.
Dägeling was first mentioned in 1637, but there were settlements before, which formed the municipality. In 1351 a settlement "Welle" was mentioned, which became in 1519 "Wellenbarg", at present Wellenberg. In 1427 a settlement "Dodelinge" popped up, and in 1580 "Bockwisch". These developments in the municipal history played a role in the development of the municipal arms.
The golden corn-ears represents agriculture, the origin of the municipality. The cogwheel symbolizes industry and the enterprises active on the workfloor. The bottom of the shield is round with a blue wave, for the "Wellenberg"(= mountain of waves).
The flag was approved on 30 October 2001. The coat of arms was approved 9 March 2001 by the Minister of Interior of the Land Schleswig Holstein. The flag is derived from these arms.
Dägeling is 55 km northwest of Hamburg.
Jarig Bakker, 15 Mar 2005

Municipality of Grevenkop

Grevenkop Municipal Flag

3:5

image by Jörg Majewski, 9 Jun 2006 approved 25 June 2004

Description of flag:
The ratio is 3:5. It is an armorial flag.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 30 Nov 2012

Grevenkop Municipal Coat of Arms

Description of coat of arms:
In a golden (= yellow) field is a black statant swan, armed red and rising his wings.
Meaning:
Grevenkop is one of seven villages of the Krempe Marsh, which had been parts of Krempe Marsh Community (Kremper Marsch Kommüne), a self-administered corporation with common tasks, especially permanent reclamation and protection of the dyked lands. The community existed until 1892. All her villages have the same coat of arms, but the colours of field, swan and armour differ for each special village.
Source: Reißmann 1997, p.149

The flag was adopted on 25 June 2004. The coat of arms was approved on 9 April 1949. The artist is Paul Holtorf from Itzehoe.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 30 Nov 2012

Municipality of Kremperheide

Kremperheide Municipal Flag

3:5

image by Jörg Majewski, 12 Jun 2006 approved 27 July 2001

Description of flag: The ratio is 3:5. It is green over white horizontal bicolour. The municipal coat of arms is in the centre of the flag. The proportions of the stripes are approx. 16:5. The borders between both stripes of the flag and between base and main field in the coat of arms have the same level.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 30 Nov 2012

Kremperheide Municipal Coat of Arms

Description of coat of arms:
It is a silver (= white) shield. In the base is a green mountain with three peaks. The mountain is crowned by bush of heather in natural colour. A blue wheel is on the dexter chiefpoint, a blue plough on the sinister chiefpoint. Meaning:
In the 16th century a settlement was established as Moordorf, i.e. village in the swamps, later remaned into: auff der Heide, Heide von Crempe, Cremperheyde and finally Kremperheide. The mountain is representing the moraines having the appearance of dunes in the area. The heather furthermore is symbolizing the useful role of the plant serving as brooms. The plough is symbolizing farming and rural origin. The wheel is symbolizing transport, a branch line of economy in the 19th century, also modern times, especially the local railway station.
Source: Municipal Roll of Arms Schleswig-Holstein Online

The flag was approved on 27 July 2001. The coat of arms was approved on 16.11.1999. The artist is /Michael Plata/ from Horst.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 30 Nov 2012

Municipality of Krempermoor

Krempermoor Municipal Flag

3:5

image by Jörg Majewski, 8 Jun 2006
approved 16 September 2002

Description of flag:
The ratio is 3:5. It is an armorial flag.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 1 Dec 2012

Krempermoor Municipal Coat of Arms

Description of coat of arms:
In the centre of a silver (= white) shield is a green birch flanked by two red tools in order to process peat, a baking form on the dexter side and a catcher on the sinister side. Above a red wavy base is a blue fess wavy.
Meaning:
The red base is symbolizing swamps, a base for processing of peat, the fess above is symbolizing swampy lakes. The birch is a typical species in the swamps. And the tools stress the importance of peat processing till the 60ies of the 20th century.
Source: Municipal Roll of Arms Schleswig-Holstein Online

Flag and coat of arms were approved on 16 September 2002. The artist is Michael Plata from Horst.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 1 Dec 2012

back to Steinburg cities and municipalities click here.