Talk:Rickerman-Insel

I find it unlikely that they would have adopted that design as an official flag. For one thing, they wouldn't be able to fly it as sea. This doesn't mean that the design with the pirate flags couldn't be use in an unofficial capacity by, for example, sports fans.

Also, germany *here* used white ensigns with the national flag in canton and a distinctive badge on the flag for its colonies. There considering the difference in colours, it might instead be a yellow ensign.--Marc Pasquin 17:23, 11 October 2007 (PDT)

Two things to consider perhaps: (1) Rather than the Prussian Navy, it would have been the HRE navy, which was mostly Scandinavian. Methinks maybe it was a ship or ships under the command of the HRE and/or Prussia for some specific reason that would have taken control. (2) GW1 ended in a more-or-less draw. Some kind of justification is needed for why Prussia lost all but one of its colonies. Perhaps this was in return for some concession by the Allied Powers?

For what it is worth, I agree about the flag. However, pirate flags often had extra devices apart from the skull-and-bones. Such an "extra" device could have been used as a basis for the flag. Interesting bit of trivia--pirates that flew a flag with a red background were advertising that they took no prisoners. If you gave combat, they would kill everyone on board. FYI. Zahir 18:33, 11 October 2007 (PDT)

Marc's proposal

Marc's proposal #2

What about this, it still retain a connection with navy--Marc Pasquin 20:36, 11 October 2007 (PDT)

And just in case its a prussian colony instead, look at number 2--Marc Pasquin 20:44, 11 October 2007 (PDT)

If you go to Conculture you'll find that there are many very valid reasons why Bismarck's Prussia never developed a colonial empire (I had thought it was simply neglect, which is why I made the proposal.) So it looks like, in the end, this won't work. All the same, I really like these flags! Benkarnell 07:35, 12 October 2007 (PDT)

Yes I guess you are right. Abdul-aziz 08:29, 12 October 2007 (PDT)

Seems a shame to toss aside your work. What if a group of European Adventurers took over the island in a quasi-allegiance (unsolicited) to Prussia? Zahir 15:53, 12 October 2007 (PDT)

I'm wondering... Given Kristian's comments on Conculture, it seems likely we'll have to scratch the whole list of potential Prussian colonies. But in this particular case, I think we can find a way to make Ben's proposal stand. Kristian wrote: "Although I'm sure Brandenburg and/or Prussia might have attempted to start colonies of its own, these would not have been profitable in the long term, and they would quickly have been abandoned." So, what if this actually was the case here? Perhaps Prussia just paid the Øresund tax a couple of times? And even when Bismarck's successors couldn't afford that anymore, they simply abandoned the colony? How long would it have taken for somebody else to take possession of it, given its remote location? —IJzeren Jan ^Uszkiełtu? 01:15, 14 October 2007 (PDT)

Actually I suggested something similar on Conculture; but instead of Prussia paying the tax, I had them building port facilities in Hamburg and Bremerhaven during the era of the North German Confederation. I think it's possible. Prussia was, after all, a growing power in the region. Benkarnell 08:24, 14 October 2007 (PDT)

When I mentioned Brandenburg/Prussia starting colonies of its own, I was thinking more like 17th-18th century attempts that were more closer to home (like the West Indies or the Guinea Coast), rather than in the Pacific. As for Hamburg or Bremerhaven being a newly created port for Prussia in the 1860s, I don't think the SR would have even allowed Prussian ships (naval or merchant) to leave the coast given the contemporary conflict between them. Boreanesia 02:45, 18 October 2007 (PDT)

In the face of the daunting might of the Scandinavian Realm, I humbly withdraw my proposal. Benkarnell 05:49, 18 October 2007 (PDT)

Just a hint from a native German speaker: Norddeutscher Zollverein. Kyrmse 13:56, 4 November 2007 (PST)

It's been five years since I studied German, and even then I could never end my adjectives correctly.  :-) Benkarnell 14:21, 4 November 2007 (PST)

New version

To explain the new version: I have been reading a little about the network of tracking stations that the USA put together in the late 50s and wondering what the IB nations had done during their early spacefaring experiments. Germany would need a few facilities around the world in order to test its satellites. Since it would not be able to rely on a Cold War network of allies, most of its stations were probably put together using ad hoc arrangements like this one. Benkarnell 06:58, 26 November 2007 (PST)

Makes sense to moi. Zahir 10:33, 26 November 2007 (PST)

A brief description of the USSR's tracking network can be found here. Note that the USSR had trouble with their network because they did not negotiate with anybody to build stations outside their own territory. While the USSR covers a lot of the earth, they still had to rely on ships to track satellites on the far side. The USA, on the other hand, built a network of stations around the world. Wikipedia has a map of the network. I imagine that the HRE's network was modest and unreliable before it linked up with the SR. This island was one opportunity to build a station.

Actually, I wonder where and how the HRE tested their rockets. Missile ranges require a huge area to the east of the launch site where you can monitor the rocket's flight and figure out what changes to make. The Americans used the Caribbean and the Atlantic from Cape Canaveral to Ascension Island; the Soviets used Siberia. Where could the Germans have tested their rockets *there*? Not Germany certainly; the RTC wouldn't long stand for test rockets flying overhead! Benkarnell 12:55, 26 November 2007 (PST)

Deprop?

It's been a proposal for about two months in this form. I'm amazed that nobody's objected, but I'm all for removing the proposal label if nobody has any problems now. Benkarnell 09:19, 25 January 2008 (PST)

No objections on my part! —IJzeren Jan ^Uszkiełtu? 12:42, 25 January 2008 (PST)

Same here! Zahir 03:27, 26 January 2008 (PST)

How Come

Why didn't Germany go after Africa like it did *here*? Misterxeight 03:56, 11 July 2008 (UTC)

I'm not 100 percent why, but I think they were more focused on other things at the time, and thus did not devote the time and resources to establishing a global empire, and you must also understand that most likely it would have been the constituent state, not the HRE as a whole, to establish colonies. Seth 08:07 11 July 2008

If memory serve, the various german states lacked navy except for those condominium with the Scandinavian Realm.--Marc Pasquin 14:48, 11 July 2008 (UTC)

Hehe, was that ever a headache! This was my original idea, nixed and abandoned after the experts on northern Europe told me it was impossible: http://ib.frath.net/w/index.php?title=Rickerman-Insel&oldid=49289. Benkarnell 14:56, 11 July 2008 (UTC)