German Canoe Sports Association (East Germany)

Deutscher Kanu-Sport-Verband / DKSV

Last modified: 2017-11-11 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: canoeing | dksv | deutscher kanu-sport-verband |
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DKSV Flag

I have not found out much about the DKSV or Deutscher Kanu-Sport-Verband der DDR (i.e. German Canoe Sports Association of the GDR) other than that during its last decade, 24,000 GDR citizens were active in canoeing and that it was merged with the German Canoeing Association (Deutscher Kanu-Verband), its West German counterpart, in the beginning of 1991.
The banner is divided into blue and white fields, hoist and fly respectively, by an ascending diagonal starting at 3:1 (hoist side) and ending at 1:3 (fly side). It bears the red and yellow DTSB emblem in the upper hoist; in the flag's centre is placed a blue blade of a paddle, fimbriated white on the blue field, traversed by a golden canoe with the bow facing the hoist, and bearing white initials "DKSV" above the boat and below it, "DDR". To the lower right of the canoe is a mysterious rectangle(editorial note: part of the paddle shaft).The organization's name is proclaimed in golden initials near the bottom of the white field: "DEUTSCHER KANU-SPORT-VERBAND" (1st line) "DER DDR".
photo provided by Jan Mertens
Jan Mertens, 28 Mar 2009

Berlin Subdivision Flag

A second DKSV flag, to be discussed next time, seems older and presents some differences in design.
This item looks much older; it is fringed golden. The organization's name is placed in the upper part, next to the DTSB emblem rendered in golden; the blade mentions "DK / SV" but not "DDR" - which it has in common with the DTSB emblem, by the way - and the odd rectangle near the emblem, orangey this time, does not lack. Yellow letters near the bottom proclaim "BEZIRKSFACHAUSSUSS BERLIN" meaning district technical committee, Berlin. The ascending diagonal is not as steep, it starts at about 2.75:1.25 (hoist side) and ends at about 1.25:2.75 (fly side).
My feeling is that the flag dates from a period when the GDR, at least officially, favoured German unification under Socialist, or at least neutral, conditions. As we know East German symbology moved away from that position over the years, stressing separateness instead.
photo provided by Jan Mertens
Jan Mertens, 4 Apr 2009

I agree with him about the age of both flags. The flag with ""DDR"" seems to be the newer one, when difference from the Federal Republic was stressed. Probably we see a pre 1972 model and a post 1972 model. In 1972 the "DDR" for the first time had a team of her own in the Olympics.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 6 Sep 2012

For the years 1972-1990 you are correct.
Dirk Schönberger, 6 Sep 2012

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