An Imperial German Naval Ensign (of the type used between 1903-1918). Cotton canvas printed with a black Nordic Cross and an Imperial German (Prussian) eagle in the central reserve; the top left quadrant has black, white and red tricolour with an 'iron cross'.

During the First World War Ireland was a united country; however, there were religious and cultural tensions which the Germans realised they may be able to capitalise on to distract the British war effort. This ensign was found onboard the vessel masquerading as Norwegian steamer the Aud which contained guns and other munitions being sent to Ireland by Germany to aid the Irish Republican Rising of 1916. On the 22 April 1916 the Aud was intercepted by a British warship and scuttled by her crew while being escorted into Cork Harbour; the crew were interned for the rest of the war. The wreck was subsequently depth-charged, but not before Royal Navy divers had recovered some of its cargo and this ensign.

The SS Aud was built in Hull as the SS Castro, a cargo vessel. In August 1914 she was captured by the German Navy and renamed the SMS Libau, before later impersonating the SS Aud.