4. Please describe how you are connected to the German flag.

When I trained as ship's mechanic at Hamburg Süd, I often had to hoist the German flag early at dawn and take it back in at dusk. Back then, I thought that this is a given and without sparing a second thought that this might have been a different flag.

For the free City of Bremen shipping has always played a key role and advocating maritime matters is an inherent part of my job working for the Bremen Senator for Economy, Ports and Transformation. As part of this and with the assistance of my excellent staff, I am regularly involved in measures to further the German Flag. That is why I am also a member of the advisory council of the Foundation "Schifffahrtsstandort Deutschland" at the same time.

Another link to the German Flag arises from my teaching job at the universities. In this context, I organize and oversee projects and work dealing with German Flag related issues from time to time.