National flag
The national flag (national flag) symbolizes, among other things, certain historical developments or special characteristics of your country. It serves to identify the origin, e.g. B. of a ship. Flags, field symbols, flags or coats of arms have always had a high symbolic value. Soldiers are called to the flag, an ensign wore a flag or a standard earlier in battle to orient the soldiers of the unit. Today every country has its own national flag, which is often supplemented by numerous other flags inside.
The Union Jack is the traditional name of the national flag of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; it is called the “Union Flag” in official usage. The name “Jack” was used to designate bow flags on (war) ships.
The first Union Jack was created back in 1606 and has been changed many times since then. The Union Jack in common use today is a combination of the English, Scottish and Irish flags. The first Union Jack was an overlay of the flag of England (red cross on a white background), the so-called St. George’s Cross (George’s Cross) and the Scottish flag (white St. Andrew’s cross on a blue background). The Union Jack was first used from 1606 to 1649 used after the personal union between Scotland and England, then changed many times and partly supplemented by an Irish harp. From 1660 to 1801 the original Union Jack was used again.
In 1801, with the political integration of Ireland, the Irish flag (red St. In 1809, the Union Jack was officially declared the British national flag by Parliament.
The flag of Wales, the fourth British state, was never included in the Union Jack. In the Commonwealth countries, the Queen uses her own flags, which contain the country’s own coat of arms and which differ from the Union Jack. These are called “Royal Standards”.
The Union Jack in today’s Great Britain
Since the 1990s, against the background of the multicultural composition of the population of Great Britain, it has been discussed to change the flag by adding a black Andrew’s cross. The controversial slogan “There ain’t no Black in the Union Jack” was used in this context by both racist and anti-racist groups to advocate for or precisely against it.
Independence referendum
The referendum
On September 18, 2014, there was a referendum on the independence of Scotland from Great Britain. Of the approximately 5.3 million residents of Scotland, all residents over 16 years of age were eligible to vote, including foreigners – there were around 4.2 million. Scots who lived outside of Scotland at the time of the vote – even if they lived in England no voting rights. Alex Salmond, chairman of the Scottish Independence Party, played a major role in bringing about this fateful vote.. The question that was put to the vote was translated:
“Should Scotland become an independent country?”
The result
55.3% of the electorate vote against independence – Scotland remains part of Great Britain. The turnout was 84.5%.
The government in London promised to transfer further powers to Scotland by March 27, 2015.Embassies and consulates
Representations of Scotland in Germany
Scotland is part of Great Britain and is therefore represented by the “Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”.
The current embassy building was built on the site of the old British embassy, which was damaged by bombs during the war and completely destroyed by fire after the war. The remains were later removed by the GDR authorities, and the property was fallow until 1998. The plans for today’s embassy building come from the architecture firm Michael Wilford & Partners, London and Stuttgart, which had previously won a competition. The embassy was officially inaugurated on July 18, 2000 by Queen Elizabeth II. The building is located at the beginning of Wilhelmstrasse in the immediate vicinity of the Brandenburg Gate. This part of the street is closed to motor vehicle traffic for safety reasons.
Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Berlin
Wilhelmstr. 70
10117 Berlin
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 20 45 70
Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 20 45 75 79
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web: www.britischebotschaft.de
German representations in Scotland
Embassy
The embassy in London is responsible
Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Scotland
16 Eglinton Crescent
Edinburgh, EH12 5DG
Tel: 0044 – 131 – 337 23 23
Fax: 0044 – 131 – 346 15 78
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web: www.edinburgh.diplo. de
Austrian representations in Scotland
Embassy
The embassy in London is responsible
Honorary Consulate of the Federal Republic of Austria in Scotland
9, Howard Place
Edinburgh EH3 5JZ
Tel: 0044 – 131 – 55 81 955
Fax: 0044 – 131 – 55 81 802
E-Mail: [email protected]
Representations of Scotland in Austria
Embassy
The British embassy in Vienna is responsible
Swiss representations in Scotland
Embassy
The embassy in London is responsible
Consulate General of Switzerland in Scotland
255 C Colinton Road
Edinburgh EH14 1DW
Tel: 0044 – 131 – 441 40 44
Fax: 0044 – 131 – 441 72 38
E-Mail: [email protected]
Representations of Scotland in Switzerland
Embassy
The British embassy in Bern is responsible
Scotland Tourist Offices
Scotland`s National Tourism Board
PO Box 121
Livingston, EH54 8AF
Tel: 0044 – (0) 1506 – 832121
Visit Britain
1 Palace Street
London, SW1E 5HE
Tel: 0044 – (0) 207 – 578 1000
Web: www.visitbritain.org
Great Britain Tourist Office
Responsible for Germany, Austria, Switzerland
VisitBritain – British National Tourist Board
Dorotheenstr. 54
10117 Berlin
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 315 7190
Web: www.visitbritain.org
Northern Ireland Tourism Board
St. Anne’s Court
59 North Street
Belfast BT1 1NB
Tel: 0044 – (0) 28 – 9023122
Wales Tourist Board
Brunel House
First and 10th Floor
2 Fitzalan Road
Cardiff CF24 0UY
Tel: 0044 – (0) 2920 – 499909