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Prussian flag 1892-1918 small

Prussian flag 1892-1918 small by jimtduffy

Prussia was a large and ancient state in North central Europe that existed until the mid 1940s. Until November 1918 it was the largest state in the German Empire, and its king served also as German Emperor (Kaiser). Known for its regimentation and militarism, it was seen as the antithesis of modern democracy and a destabilising force in Europe. Its long-ruling family were the Hohenzollerns. From the 1890s to November 1918 its king (konig) was Wilhelm II, who was more widely known as Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany.

Following the fall of the Hohenzollerns after Germany's defeat in the Great War (World War I) Prussia remained a central state in the new Weimar Republic, albeit as a state seen as more authoritarian and unwelcoming of the new liberal democracy in Weimar. It was sympathetic to nationalist movements, many of whom wanted to restore the -ex-Kaiser to the throne. Authoritarianism would ultimately succeed with the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis.

Viewed with deep suspicion internationally as a destabiliser of Germany and Europe, and so large it dominated Germany, the Allies, after Germany's defeat in World War II, opted to effectively wipe Prussia off the map by breaking it up into smaller states. It no longer exists as a state in the Federal Republic of Germany.

This flag was the flag of the Kingdom of Prussia for the reign of Wilhelm II as king, from the early 1890s to 1918.

As some people set their cities in the past this flag would suit someone working on cities for that period based in Europe.

The photograph, by the way, is of the ex-Kaiser of Germany and ex-Konig of Prussia, Wilhelm II, taken while he was in exile in the Netherlands after losing the throne. I couldn't get a good quality colour photo of his reign and as he personified the state of Prussia, he seemed the obvious person to use in the image. The other photo that shows up of the crown of Wilhelm II as king of Prussia.