Vivat ribbons

So called vivat ribbons (Latin: vivat – live!) enjoyed their greatest popularity during World War I. They were usually attached to one’s clothing on public holidays or Memorial Days and identified their wearer as a patriot.The ribbons are made from printed blended fabric and were brought out by the publisher C. Pernitzsch in Leipzig, Germany. This ribbon “Vivat Tanga!” was designed to commemorate the victory of German troops over the English on November 3 – 5, 1914. The portrait shows Heinrich Schnee (1871 – 1949), Governor of the German colonies in East Africa. The bay of Tanga with the German soldiers at the far right and burning English ships in the background serves to illustrate a victory song. The ribbon “Vivat Warsaw” commemorates the conquest of Warsaw on August 5, 1915, by Leopold von Bavaria; the “Vivat” slogan is inscribed in a laurel wreath on which the heraldic ‘Reichsadler’ eagle is enthroned. A heroized gallant is shown riding his horse across the coat of arms of vanquished Poland and a broken sword, confident of his victory. The ribbon “Vivat! Brussels” thematizes the occupation of Brussels by German troops on August 20, 1914. The triumph is illustrated by three German soldiers shown in front of the city hall of Brussels, one of them mounted and holding a flag.