Imperial German Pacific Protectorates, 1899

In 1884 Germany, under the auspices of their New Guinea Company, annexed what is now Papua New Guinea and established their colony. By the German–Spanish Treaty of 1899, Germany bought from Spain the Northern Mariana Islands and the Caroline Islands (Palau and the present FSM) for 25 million pesetas, equivalent to 16,6 million Goldmark. These islands became a protectorate and were administered from German New Guinea. Its flag was the black-white-red flag of the German Empire with the coat of arms on a white disk. It featured the Imperial Eagle surmounted by a crown and wearing a breast shield with the Prussian Arms.