Flag of Germany
History of the German flag
Pictures of the 16 German states flags
The flag of Germany has three equal horizontal bands displaying our national colours black, red and gold. Additionally, each German state has its own state flag.
The German national flag is known as the Bundesflagge (federal flag).
It is also called civil flag because non-federal institutions and citizens are allowed to fly this flag as well.
The state or government flag includes the shield with the coat of arms (Bundesschild).
This flag is for the sole use of federal authorities. The official name of the government flag is Bundesdienstflagge (state flag of the federal authorities).
It is tolerated that flags including the coat of arms are used by the general public lawfully. Apart from the horizontal version of the black-red-gold tricolour vertical flags are often used. State parliament buildings, town halls and other public buildings often fly the vertical flag along with their local flags. Vertical flags on flagpoles should have the black band faced to the mast.
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History of the flag of Germany
The colours black, red and gold have been a symbol in German history since the Middle Ages. Although a German flag was not always common during the centuries, emperors of the Holy Roman Empire used a golden shield with a black eagle with a red beak and red claws.
After the end of the Holy Roman Empire and the Napoleonic Wars the colours black, red and gold represented the desire for an united Germany and freedom for all citizens.
However, with the foundation of the German Empire (1871-1918), a black-white-red tricolour became the flag of the empire (Deutsches Reich). It was also the German flag during the Nazi regime from 1933 to 1945, along with the swastika.
The Weimar Republic (1919-1933) reintroduced the black-red-gold flag again.
After World War II the black-red-gold tricolour became the flag of both German states, although East Germany added its coat of arms to the flag in 1959.
Since the German reunification in 1990 the plain black-red-gold tricolour has been the flag of the united Germany.
Flag Days in Germany
The use of the German flag is not very common in my country.
65 after the terror of the Nazi regime many Germans still feel apprehensive about showing too much national pride. Who can forget the pictures of large gatherings with flying flags which was an important part of nationalistic furore and Nazi propaganda?
Therefore, the national flag is mostly used on public building, by the authorities on the official flag days, or if the Federal Minister of the Interior announces a special event to fly the flag.
The use of the flag of Germany by the general public is rare and usually reserved for international sporting events.
The 2006 Soccer World Cup, held in Germany, was a big exception. For four weeks the entire country turned into a sea of black-red-gold flags as we celebrated a wonderful sport event together with international guests.
Since then flying the tricolour has been reduced to the official flag days again.
- 27th January - commemorates the liberation of the Ausschwitz concentration camp and the Victims of National Socialism.
- 1st May - International Worker's Day (Tag der Arbeit)
- 9th May - Europe Day
- 23rd May - Constitution Day, anniversary of the German constitution 1949
- 17th June - Anniversary of the Uprising in East Germany in 1953
- 20th July - Anniversary of the failed assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler in 1944
- 3rd October - Tag der Deutschen Einheit - Anniversary of German reunification in 1990
- National day of mourning (Volkstrauertag) - which is two Sundays before the first Advent - Commemoration of all killed during wartime
Below is a list of the German State Flags
Baden-Württemberg
Bavaria
Berlin
Brandenburg
Bremen
Hamburg
Hessen
Lower-Saxony
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
North Rhine-Wesphalia
Rhineland-Palatinate
Saarland
Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony
Schleswig-Holstein
Thuringia
