Ralik Islands Flag

MARSHALL & RALIK ISLANDS - HISTORY & FLAG
THE RALIK ISLANDS WERE A GERMAN SPONSORED REPUBLIC IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS FROM NOVEMBER 20, 1878 UNTIL AN IMPERIAL GERMAN PROTECTORATE WAS PROCLAIMED OCTOBER 15, 1885.
Map & Photo - Flags of other nations administering the islands

Ralik Islands - Western chain of islands in the Marshall Islands, including 15 atolls and three coral islands in a long chain about 750 miles in length. The more important atolls are Jaluit, Kwajalein, Wotho, and Eniwetok.

Historical Background

-Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Inc., Springfield: Massachusetts, 1988.

Flags and brief history of other nations administering the Ralik and Marshall Islands.

	Spain was recognized by other European nations as having nominal political over these islands from the early days of European exploration until 1878 when German businessmen established the Republic the Ralik Islands. In actual fact Spanish administration was purely nominal and often resisted by the local population.
	Germany took over the direct administration of the Ralik Islands in 1885 and governed them until the outbreak of World War I in 1914. Following the American War with Spain in 1898-1899 the Ralik Islands were combined with former Spanish islands purchased by Germany and administered as an Imperial Colony.
	Japan seized the German administered islands in 1914 and continued administration until World War II through a 1922 mandate from the League of Nations. Government of the Japanese islands was centered at Koror in the Palau Islands (Belau).
	During World War II many of these islands were fought over and occupied by the United States. Following the war the United States assumed a United Nations Trusteeship for all of the former Japanese islands north of the Equator. This trusteeship was administered through the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
	On October 26, 1986 the Marshall Islands became an independent republic in free association with the United States.

Uploaded July 14, 1997 - Revised March 1, 2000 - Comments to Phil Abbey: pr_abbey@hotmail.com