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# RU Arkona Berlin (German rowing club)

## Ruder-Union Arkona Berlin

Last modified: 2026-04-22 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: berlin | arkona |
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image by Clay Moss, 16 Feb 2008

- Introduction
- Blade
- RC Berolina (1886-1958)
- BRC Teutonia (1890-1958)
- Union RC (1901-1927/28)
- BRV Hansa (1899-1927/28)
- Hansa-Union RK (1927/28-1962)
- RC Normannia Berlin (1898-1930)
- RC Arcona (1884-1903)
- RV Arkona (1903-1930)
- RV Arkona-Normannia (1930-1958)
- BRC Favorite (1900-1955)
- BRV Markomannia (1903-1955)
- BRVg Favorite-Markomannia (1955-1973)
- RVg Neo-Alemannia (1922-1934)
- RVg Neo-Alemannia (1903-1922)
- RV Siemens (1912-2001)
- Ruder-Union Arkona Berlin (1958-2001)
- Ruder Union Arkona (since 2001)

See also:

- Germany
- German rowing clubs
- List of German Rowing Clubs

Source:
If source is not given explicitely, all information is available from the flag chart of : Rudersportalmanach 1977.

## Introduction

Name: Ruder-Union Arkona Berlin 1879 e.V.
Located in: Berlin
Established: 16 January 1879
Source: Rudersportalmanach 2004
Further information here.

This club is the most interesting of all German rowing clubs for vexillologists.
This contribution was only possible with the great help of Bernd Kappmeier, chief of the club´s office and member of the board, who gave me all relevant data of the clubs predecessors and the missing images of the flags of former rowing-clubs.
Flags of genuine Arkona-predecessors are simply denoted as "flag". To the flags of the other branches of the Arkona the club´s name is added.
The club is a union of six Berlin rowing clubs with a long tradition. After WWII for many clubs within the divided city there was the most important question: Merge or dissolve? Some clubs had been expelled from East-Berlin and were looking for allies in West-Berlin in order to continue their sport.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

### Blade

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

Description:
It is a white blade with a vertical red stripe at the baseboard and a red ring at the end of the shaft. Red and white were the colours of first Arkona predecessor.

### RC "Berolina" (1886-1958)

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

Brief History
1) On 16 January 1879 the Ruder-Gesellschaft All-Right was established. The club renamed itself on 6 August 1886 into Ruder-Club "Berolina" e.V.
Description of Berolina-flag (1886-1958):
It was a blue flag with five white 5-point stars (two over one over two) in the lower fly. The flag had a canton with eight alternating blue and white horizontal stripes starting with a blue one.
Source: flag chart from "25 Jahre Geschichte des Berliner Ruder-Vereins von 1876", Berlin 1901
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

### BRC "Teutonia" (1890-1958)

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

2) The Berliner Ruder-Club "Teutonia" e.V. was established on 8 October 1890.
Description of Teutonia-flag (1890-1958)
It was a white flag with one blue horizontal stripe in the upper half and one in the lower half and a blue 6-point star in its centre. The flag had a blue edged white canton with a blue serifed capital "T".
Source: cover of "125 Jahre Ruder-Union Arkona Berlin 1879- e.V.", Berlin 2004
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

### "Union"-RC (1901-1927/28)

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008 | image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Jan 2026 |  |

Located in: Berlin-Oberschöneweide
Description of Union-flag (1901-1927/28)
Its flag was some kind of counterchanged Union Jack. The red field was divided by a blue (see left imageabove) or black (see lright imageabove), both white fimbriated centred crossand a saltire of the same colours.
Source: cover of "125 Jahre Ruder-Union Arkona Berlin 1879- e.V.", Berlin 2004
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

### BRV "Hansa" (1899-1927/28)

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

3b) The Berliner Ruder-Verein "Hansa" e.V. was established on 13 July 1899.
Description of Hansa-flag (1899-1927/28)
It was a white flag divided by a blue cotized centred cross. In its centre was a white roundel surrounded by two blue circle lines with a blue "H". The flag had a canton of five alternating red and white horizontal stripes starting with a red one. The red stripes seemed to be slightly broader than the white ones.
Source: cover of "125 Jahre Ruder-Union Arkona Berlin 1879- e.V.", Berlin 2004
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

### "Hansa-Union" RK (1927/28-1962)

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

3) On 8 July 1927 both clubs merged forming the new "Hansa-Union Ruderklub e.V.".
Description of Hansa-Union-flag (1927/28-1962)
The flag was similar to that one of "Union" but the crossbars were more narrow and a little bit darker, nearly black. In the centre was a white roundel with a blue edge and a blue "H" half-surrounded by a bigger "U".
Sources: cover of "125 Jahre Ruder-Union Arkona Berlin 1879- e.V.", Berlin 2004 and Wassersport (weekly) 1927, no.28, p.799
Probably "Hansa" joined "Union", because the pattern of the latter was kept in many parts.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

### RC "Normannia" Berlin (1898-1930)

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008 | image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 16 Jan 2026 |  |

4a) The Ruder-Club "Normannia" Berlin e.V. was established on 15 May 1898.
Description of Normannia-flag (1898-1930)
It was a white flag divided by a black centred cross with a black 5-point star (see left image above) in the upper hoist. Until 1910 the star on upper hoist quarter had been red instead of black (see right image above).
Sources: cover of "125 Jahre Ruder-Union Arkona Berlin 1879- e.V.", Berlin 2004 and Wassersport 1901, no.9, p.85
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

### RC "Arcona" (1884-1903)

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

4b) According to source the club Berliner Ruder-Club "Arcona" was established on 1 March 1884. The existence of that flag can be proven at least for 1901.
Description of Flag (1884-1903):
This club had already the characteristic basic pattern of the nowadays flag, that is a 9-stripes flag with alternating white and red horizontal stripes, starting with a white one, and a canton. The canton of this club was red with unserifed white capital letters "RC" over "A"
Source: flag chart from "25 Jahre Geschichte des Berliner Ruder-Vereins von 1876", Berlin 1901
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

### RV "Arkona" (1903-1930)

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

4c) Finally on 20 June 1903 this renamed itself to Ruder-Verein "Arkona" Berlin e.V. .
Description of Flag (1903-1930)
It was a 9-striped flag with alternating white and red horizontal stripes and a canton. The canton of this club was red with dotted serifed white capital letters "R.V." over "A.".
Source: cover of "125 Jahre Ruder-Union Arkona Berlin 1879- e.V.", Berlin 2004
Mr. Kappmeier, being asked about both names, explicitly reconfirmed that both versions of the clubs name had existed. The renamed version can be proven at least in "Wassersportalmanach 1914".
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

### RV "Arkona-Normannia" (1930-1958)

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

4) On 2 January 1930 "Normannia" joined "Arkona". The new name was Ruder-Verein "Arkona-Normannia" e.V.
Description of Flag (1930-1958)
The pattern of the flag was based on the "Arkona"-9-stripes flag. But the canton since 1930 was the flag of "Normannia".
Source: cover of "125 Jahre Ruder-Union Arkona Berlin 1879- e.V.", Berlin 2004
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

### BRC "Favorite" (1900-1955)

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

5a) The Berliner Ruder-Club "Favorite" e.V. was established on 15 October 1900. The name was inspired by the namsake club in Hamburg, which had been very successful then.
Description of Favorite-flag (1900-1955):
It was a plain white flag divided per bend sinister by a blue stripe, which was red cotized. The white canton was edged by a blue double-line. In the canton was a blue capital "F". In the lower fly was a red 6-point star.
Source: cover of "125 Jahre Ruder-Union Arkona Berlin 1879- e.V.", Berlin 2004
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

### BRV "Markomannia" (1903-1955)

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

5b) The Berliner Ruderverein "Markomannia" e.V. was established on 4 November 1903.
Description of Markomannia-flag (1903-1955)
It was a white flag divided by three horizontal stripes, two blue ones and a red one in the middle. The red stripe was superimposed by a white square with a blue 5-point star. The white canton was edged by a blue line containing a red serifed capital "M".
Source: cover of "125 Jahre Ruder-Union Arkona Berlin 1879- e.V.", Berlin 2004
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

### BRVg "Favorite-Markomannia" (1955-1973)

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

5) Both clubs merged on 1 October 1955 forming the Berliner Ruder Vereinigung "Favorite-Markomannia" e.V.
Description of Favorite-Markomannia-flag (1955-1973)
The pattern was similar to that one of "Favorite" but with the blue 5-point star of "Markomannia" in the lower fly and a red edged canton with blue capitals "FM".
Source: cover of "125 Jahre Ruder-Union Arkona Berlin 1879- e.V.", Berlin 2004
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

### RVg "Neo-Alemannia" (1922-1934)

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

6) The Ruder-Vereinigung "Neo-Alemannia" e.V.(which has nothing to do with Berliner Ruder-Verein "Allemania"), which was established on 8 August 1903.
Description of Neo-Alemannia flag
It was a white flag divided by a black cotized centred cross with a white roundel with a black edge in its centre. The canton of the flag was a black over yellow over green horizontal tricolour.
Source: cover of "125 Jahre Ruder-Union Arkona Berlin 1879- e.V.", Berlin 2004
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

#### RVG "Neo-Alemannia" (1903-1922)

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider,16 Jan 2026

Description of 1st Neo-Alemannia flag
The 1st flag (reported 1922) was similar, but the cross was cotized and the central disc was bigger, white and cotized white-black, charged with a black fraternity circle.
Source: Wassersport 1922, no.2, p.14
Klaus-Michael Schneider,16 Jan 2026

### RV Siemens (1912-2001)

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

This club joined the Ruder-Verein "Siemens"Berlin e.V. in 1934. "Siemens"was established on 21 September 1912.
Description of Siemens-flag (1912-2001)
It was a white flag with one blue horizontal stripe in the upper half and one in the lower half and a blue shield with a white capital "S"in its centre.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

### Ruder-Union "Arkona" Berlin (1958-2001)

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

Ruder-Club "Berolina"e.V. (1), Berliner Ruder-Club "Teutonia" e.V.(2) and Ruder-Verein "Arkona-Normannia"e.V.(4) merged on 16 February 1958. On 2 November 1962 the "Hansa-Union Ruderklub" e.V.(3) joined the new club. At least since then the club had the new name "Ruder-Union Arkona Berlin 1879 e.V.". On 1 April 1973 the Berliner Ruder Vereinigung "Favorite-Markomannia" e.V.(5) joined the union.
Description of Flag (1958-2001)
The flag of Arkona-Normannia was mainly kept but the black star of "Normannia" was replaced by the blue star of "Teutonia"and the stripes from the canton of "Berolina" were added in the lower fly of the canton of the new flag.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

## "Ruder Union Arkona" (since 2001)

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

Finally on 10 November 2001 the Ruder-Verein "Siemens" Berlin e.V.(6) joined the union.
Description of Flag (since 2001)
In the flag a blue "S" for "Siemens" was added in the lower hoist of the canton.
Source: Rudersportalmanach 2004.
As usual as date of establishment that one of the oldest club was chosen, in this case that one of "All Right".
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Feb 2008

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