Flag of Germany - Colours, Meaning, History 🇩🇪

The German flag features a simple tricolour with three horizontal stripes. The tricolour horizontal bands consist of the official colours of Germany which are black, red, and gold. The colours used in the national flag of Germany date back to the republican democracy proposed in the 1800s to represent unity and freedom considered to be prevalent in Germany. The flag of Germany was initially approved as the official flag of present-day Germany in 1919 under the Weimar Republic and was officially adopted on October 3rd, 1990 to represent a unified Germany.

Table of Contents

• History of the Flag of Germany
• What is the meaning behind the colours of the German Flag
• German Flag variations
• Interesting Facts about the Flag of Germany

History of the Flag of Germany

Germany’s association with the national flag colours dates back to the 1840s when the colours black, red, and gold represented the movement against the Conservative European Order, which was formed after Napoleon’s downfall. The first flag to be flown in Germany dates back to the Holy Roman Empire and featured a black eagle on a gold background.

Since the 19th century, Germany has had two competing colour schemes for the national colours, black-red-white and black-gold-red. Black-gold-red were the colours of the 1848 revolutions, the Weiner Republic of 1919-1933 and the federal republic since 1949. Between 1949-1990, black-red-gold was adopted by the German Democratic Republic which added the ‘socialist’ coat of arms in 1959. However, in 1989 there was an extensive removal of the coat of arms from the flag of Germany, only leaving the national colours of Germany to symbolize a united and democratic Germany.

On the other hand, black-white-red appeared in 1867 during the constitution of the North German Confederation. Later, between 1870-1871, following the expansion of the south German states under the name of the German empire, which consisted of the northern and central German states as well as the state of Prussia, maintained these colours. Afterward, black-white-red became the symbol of the political right, more specifically the radical right, monarchists and German royalty members who still hope for the peaceful restoration of the German democratic monarchy.

What is the meaning behind the colours of the German Flag?

Colours
The flag of Germany consists of three horizontal bands of equal sizes. The uppermost vertical band is black, the central band red and the lowest band yellow. These colours represent the national colours of Germany.

There are numerous theories regarding the origin of Germany’s national colours. One theory proposes that the colours were obtained from the Jena Student’s league. Another claim holds that the colours date back to the Lutzow Free Corps, whose uniforms featured black with red facings and gold buttons, which consisted of university students and was created during the fight against the armies of Napoleon. Another theory holds that the German flag colours resemble the colours of the coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire which consisted of a black eagle, with a red beak and claws on a gold background. However, in later years the origin of the tricolour used in the German flag sparked a lot of controversy among historians. Whatever the explanation of the origin of these colours, the black, red and gold colours were not only used to represent the student movement, the student league or the German coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire, but also became the national colours of the German people.

Shape
Following the conditions fixed by the German government in 1950, the flag should exhibit three bands of identical width and a width to length ratio of 3:5, compared to the Weimar republic Tricolour which featured a ratio of 2:3.

German Flag variations

Civil Flag
In 1949, the federal flag which featured the black-red-gold tricolour was presented in the German constitution. However, after the establishment of a distinct government and military flags in the following years, the plain tricolour became the German civil flag and civil ensign.

Government flag
Officially, the German government flag is referred to as Dienstflagge der Bundesbehörden, which means the ‘state flag of the federal authorities.’ The government flag was introduced in 1950. It consists of the civil flag marred with the federal shield, which overlays with a 1/5th of the black and gold bands. The national shield is a variation of the German coat of arms, with the main difference being in the demonstration of the eagle, shape of the shield, the curved base of the federal shield and the pointy coat of arms.

Vertical flags
Besides the conventional horizontal design of the German flag, the majority of public structures use vertical flags instead. Majority of town halls hoist the town flags, which only exist in the vertical form, alongside the German flag in this manner. When draped, resembling a banner, black must appear on the left, and when hung from a vertical flag post, the black must face the mast.

Military Flags
The armed forces of Germany are a federal authority; therefore, they can use the German government flag as a war flag. In 1956, the German navy flag was introduced.

Interesting facts about the Flag of Germany

• The national government authorities are the only ones allowed to use the government flag, and its use by others is considered a felony punishable with a fine.
• According to a federal decree set on March 22nd, 2005, the flag must be flown on specific days. These days include:
  • Commemoration Day for the victims of national socialism
  • Labour Day
  • Europe Day
  • Constitution Day
  • Anniversary of the Uprising of July 20th, 1944
  • Day of German Unity
  • People’s Mourning Day
• When flags are hoisted at half mast, vertical flags aren’t lowered. Instead, a black ribbon is affixed to the staff or the end of the crossbeams.
• During the rule of the Nazi party, the red-white-black flag was discontinued in favour of the Nazi party flag that consisted of a black swastika. This variation of the flag was used as a representation of Germany up to the conclusion of World war II, which led to the ban of all Nazi signs plus the flag.
• Between 1949-1989, East and West Germany used different flags. West Germany adopted the black-red and gold flag, while East Germany which was under Soviet rule used the black, red, and gold flag, featuring the coat of arms of East Germany on the flag. However, use of this flag was forbidden in West Germany because it was considered to be a sign against unification.
• Post World War II, the use of nationalistic signs, e.g. the flag, was greatly frowned upon in Germany. In fact, in 2006 during the FIFA World Cup, Germans were concerned when one of their fellow citizens publicly used the flag. However, the surprise and apprehension for public use of the flag declined after Germany won the Football World Cup in 2014.

Do you know any other interesting facts about the flag of Germany? Share your thoughts below.