List of German flags

This is a list of flags used by and in Germany between 1848 and now. For more information about the current national flag, see flag of Germany.

National flags

FlagDateUseDescription
1949–presentNational and merchant flag (Bundes- und Handelsflagge)A tricolour, made of three equal horizontal bands coloured black (top), red, and gold (bottom).
1950–presentState flag and ensign (Bundesdienstflagge) and military flag (Kriegsflagge). This flag may only be used by federal government authorities.The national flag with the Bundesschild (a variant of the coat of arms of Germany) in the centre. The flag was originally used 1921–1933 in the Weimar Republic. While identical in heraldic terms to the original Weimar era flag, the modern exact design is slightly simplified.
National flag with coat of arms (Bundesflagge mit Bundeswappen). Unofficial version, the private use of which is not penalized.
1996–presentHanging national flag (Bannerflagge)
1996–presentHanging state flag

Presidential standard

FlagDateUseDescription
1921–1926;
since 1950
Standard of the President of GermanyThe standard depicts the elements of the coat of arms. A version of the standard that is identical in heraldic terms, but with a slightly different exact design, was used 1926–1933.

Military and state flags

FlagDateUseDescription
1956–War ensign and jack (Seekriegsflagge und Gösch) of the German NavyA swallowtail variant of the state flag
1957–Standard of Inspector General of the Bundeswehr
1964–Troop colour (Truppenfahne) of the Bundeswehr
1950–1994Flag of Deutsche Bundespost
1950–1994Flag of the Minister of Deutsche Bundespost
1950–1994Flag of the President of Deutsche BundespostA swallowtail variant of the postal flag
1950–1994Flag of the State Secretary of Deutsche Bundespost

Flags of German states

Civil flags

FlagDateUseDescription
Civil flag of Baden-Württemberg
Civil flag of Bavaria (striped variant)
Civil flag of Bavaria (lozengy variant)
Civil flag of Berlin
Civil flag of Brandenburg
Civil flag of Bremen
Civil flag of Bremen (with middle arms)
Civil flag of Bremen (with flag arms)
Civil flag of Hamburg
Civil flag of Hesse
Civil flag of Lower Saxony
Civil flag of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Civil flag of North Rhine-Westphalia
Civil flag of Rhineland-Palatinate
Civil flag of Saarland
Civil flag of Saxony
Civil flag of Saxony-Anhalt
Civil flag of Schleswig-Holstein
Civil flag of Thuringia

State flags

FlagDateUseDescription
State flag of Baden-Württemberg (lesser arms)
State flag of Baden-Württemberg (greater arms)
State flag of Bavaria (striped variant)
State flag of Bavaria (lozengy variant)
State flag of Berlin
State flag of Brandenburg
State flag of Bremen (with lesser arms)
State flag of Bremen (with flag arms)
State flag of Hamburg
Admiralty flag of Hamburg (used by state ships)[1]
State flag of Hesse
Flag of Lower Saxony (on land)
State ensign of Lower Saxony (at sea)
State flag of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
State flag of North Rhine-Westphalia
State flag of Rhineland-Palatinate
Flag of Saarland
State flag of Saxony
State flag of Saxony-Anhalt
State flag of Schleswig-Holstein
State flag of Thuringia

Minority flags

FlagDateUseDescription
Flag of SilesiansOfficial in Saxony.
Flag of SilesiansOfficial in Saxony.
Flag of SorbsOfficial in Saxony.

Historical flags

Francia, Kingdom of Germany, and the Holy Roman Empire (800-1806)

Flag Date Use Description
800-1401 Banner of the Emperor of the Romans and of the King of Germany A black eagle on a yellow field
c. 12th–early 14th centuries War flag of the Holy Roman Empire A non-rectangular flag depicting a white cross on a red field
1400s War flag of the Holy Roman Empire A non-rectangular flag depicting a black eagle on a yellow field with a red bar on top
1400s War flag of the Holy Roman Empire Red swords crossed on top of one another on a field. The top of the field is black and the bottom of the field is white.
early 1400s Imperial Banner of the Holy Roman Emperor An Imperial Eagle displayed with a halo sable armed and langued gules [2]
c. 1430-1806 Banner of the Holy Roman Emperor and state flag of the HRE A black double-headed eagle with haloes on a yellow field
c. 1430-1806 Another banner of the Holy Roman Emperor and state flag of the HRE A black double-headed eagle without haloes on a yellow field
1437–1493 Banner of Emperor Frederick III A black double-headed eagle with the coat of arms of Austria on a yellow field
1493–1556 Banner of Maximilian I. Charles V continued using this banner. A black double-headed eagle with the combined arms of Austria and Burgundy on a yellow field
1519–1556 Another imperial banner of Charles V A black double-headed eagle with an escutcheon of the coat of arms of Charles V on a yellow field

Teutonic Order State and Prussia (1226–1935)

Flag Date Use Description
1226–1525 Flag of the Teutonic Order State A black Nordic Cross on a white field
1466 – 1772 Flag of Royal Prussia A black eagle with a sword sticking out of its neck on a white field
1525-1701 Flag of Ducal Prussia A black eagle with the letter 's' on a white field
1701–1750 First flag of the Kingdom in Prussia A black eagle holding a rod and orb on a white field, a crown on top
1701-1935 Civil flag of Prussia The top of the flag is black and the bottom of the flag is white
1750–1801 Second flag of the Kingdom in Prussia and first flag of the Kingdom of Prussia A black eagle holding a sword and rod on a white field, a crown on top
1801-1803 Second flag of the Kingdom of Prussia Basically the same as the previous flag, but the crown in the top of the flag is larger, the rod is a bit different, and the black eagle doesn't have yellow arm plates.
1803-1892 Third flag of the Kingdom of Prussia Basically the same as the previous flag, but the crown in the top of the flag is smaller.
1816 War flag of Prussia A smaller black crowned eagle with yellow arm plates, a rod and orb, all on a white field with an Iron Cross in the upper-left corner
1871-1918 Royal Standard of the Emperor of Germany in Prussia (King of Prussia) On a red field, an Iron Cross is shown. in the center of the Iron Cross, the Imperial Eagle with a crown right on top of the eagle is shown. Around the eagle and crown, words spell the phrase: "Gott mit uns", meaning: "God with us."
1871-1892 Royal Standard of the Crown Prince of Prussia Basically the same as the previous flag, but on a white field, instead of a red one.
1892-1918 Fourth flag of the Kingdom of Prussia In the center of a white field, the Imperial Eagle is shown. Above and below the white field, black, thin lines are shown.
1895–1918 War flag of Prussia A non-rectangular flag depicting an Imperial Eagle in the center of a white field, and in the upper-left corner, a thinned-out Iron Cross is shown
1918-1933 Flag of the Free State of Prussia Basically the same as the fourth flag of the Kingdom of Prussia, but with a regular eagle, and the black lines are a bit thicker.
1933-1935 Service flag of the Free State of Prussia Basically the same as the previous flag, but the phrase "Gott mit uns" reappears, and the eagle is holding a sword and two lightning bolts. The eagle also has a Nazi swastika on the chest.

German Confederation (1815–1866)

FlagDateUseDescription
1848–1866Flag of the German Confederation, used in 1848-1849 and again in 1863–1866
First appeared within the Fürstentum Reuß-Greiz after 12 May 1778 (4:5 aspect ratio)
Also used by the Empire of Germany (1848-1849)
1848–1852War ensign of the Reichsflotte
1848–1852Marine jack of the Reichsflotte

North German Confederation (1866–1871)

FlagDateUseDescription
1867–1871National and merchant flag (National- und Handelsflagge)A tricolour, made of three equal horizontal bands coloured black (top), white, and red (bottom)
1867–1871War flag (Kriegsflagge)
1867–1871Marine jack (Kriegsschiffgösch)

German Empire (1871–1918)

FlagDateUseDescription
1871–1918National and merchant flag (National- und Handelsflagge)
1896–1918Merchant flag variant with the Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz)
1884–1918Colonial flag
1871–1892Imperial Navy war ensign (Kriegsflagge)
1892–1903Reich war flag (Reichskriegsflagge)
1903–1918 (1921)Reich war flag
1871–1903Marine jack (Kriegsschiffgösch)
1903–1918 (1921)Marine jack

Imperial family standards

FlagDateUseDescription
1871The King in Prussia's Standard
1871–1888German Emperor's Standard
1888–1918German Emperor's Standard
1871–1901Empress Augusta and
Empress Frederick's Standard
1888–1918Empress Augusta Viktoria's Standard
1871–1888Standard of the Crown Prince
1888–1918Standard of the Crown Prince

Weimar Republic (1919–1933)

FlagDateUseDescription
1919–1933National flag (Nationalflagge)
1921–1933State flag (Dienstflagge zu Land)
1919–1933Merchant flag (Handelsflagge)
1921–1933Merchant flag variant with the Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz)
1921–1926State ensign (Dienstflagge zur See)
1926–1933State ensign (Dienstflagge zur See)
1919–1921 (de jure)Reich war flag (Reichskriegsflagge)
1921–1933Reich war flag
1921–1933Marine jack (Kriegsgösch)
1921–1926Standard of the President
1926–1933Standard of the President
1919–1921Flag of the President
1919–1921Flag of Defence Minister
1921–1933Flag of Defence Minister
1924–1933;
since 1953
Flag of the Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-GoldThe Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold was an unofficial republican paramilitary organization dominated by social democrats, liberals, and members of the Catholic Centre Party, to defend the Weimar Republic against National Socialists, communists, and monarchists. Refounded in 1953 as an association for political education.

Nazi Germany (1933–1945)

The flag with the swastika and white disc centered was used throughout (1920–1945) as the NSDAP party flag (Parteiflagge).[3] Between 1933 and 1935, it was used as the national flag (Nationalflagge) and merchant flag (Handelsflagge) – interchangeably with the black-white-red horizontal tricolour last used (up to 1918) by the German Empire. In 1935, the black-white-red horizontal tricolour was scrapped again, and the flag with the off-center swastika and disc was instituted as the only national flag (and was to remain as such until 1945). The flag with the centered disc only continued to be used as the Parteiflagge after 1935.

FlagDateUseDescription
Flags used 1933–1935
  • 1933–1935
  • 1933–1935
  • 1920–1945
  • National flag (Nationalflagge)
  • Merchant flag (Handelsflagge)
  • Nazi Party flag (Parteiflagge)[3]
A red field, with a white disc with a black swastika at a 45 degree angle. Disc and swastika are exactly in the centre.
1933–1935
  • National flag (Nationalflagge)
  • Merchant flag (Handelsflagge)
Black, white, and red horizontal tricolour. Used in conjunction with the Parteiflagge.
1933–1935Merchant flag variant with the Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz)
1933–1935Reich war flag (Reichskriegsflagge) and marine jack
1933Reich service flag (Reichsdienstflagge) of the Wehrmacht
1933–1935Reich service flag
1933–1935 (de facto up to 1934)Standard of the President
1933–1935Flag of the Minister of Defence
Flags used 1935–1945
  • 1935–1945
  • 1935–1945
  • National flag[3]
  • Marine jack (Gösch)
A red field, with a white disc with a black swastika at a 45 degree angle. Disk and swastika are slightly off-centre.
1920–1945Nazi Party flag (Parteiflagge)[3]A red field, with a white disc with a black swastika at a 45 degree angle. Disk and swastika are exactly in the centre.
1933–1945Banner (Bannerflagge) of GermanyBanners were of various lengths, which were hung vertically on public buildings.
1935–1945Merchant flag variant with the Iron Cross
1935–1938Kriegsmarine, Heer, Luftwaffe
1938–1945Kriegsmarine, Heer, Luftwaffe
1935–1945Reich service flag
1935–1945Standard of Adolf Hitler
1935–1938Flag of the Wehrmacht Commander in Chief (replaced the Minister of Defence)
1935–1945Flag of the Schutzstaffel (SS)
1936–1945Flag of the Ordnungspolizei (OrPo) ("Order Police", the national regular police organization of Nazi Germany)
1933–1945Flag of the Hitler Youth, a youth organization in the Nazi Party

World War II aftermath in Germany

Allied Control Council (1945–1949) and Saar Protectorate

FlagDateUseDescription
1946–1950"C-Pennant" (C-Doppelstander) (provisional civil ensign)Used during the Occupation Period to identify German ships according to international law.
1947–1957Flag of Saar ProtectorateFlag of Saarland which was given by French Government. at this time period Saar was satellite state of France.

East Germany (1949–1990)

FlagDateUseDescription
1949–1959State flag (Staatsflagge)
1959–1990State flag (Staatsflagge) 1959–1990
Merchant flag (Handelsflagge) 1973–1990
Tricolour of black, red, and yellow (same as West German colours), but bears the coat of arms of East Germany, consisting of a compass and a hammer encircled with rye
1959–1973Merchant flag (Handelsflagge)
1963–1990Hanging state flag (Bannerflagge)
1955–1973Flag of East German Post
1975–1990Flag of East German Post
1955–1990Standard of the President
1960–1990Standard of President of State Council
1960–1990Flag of the National People's Army (Nationale Volksarmee or NVA)
1960–1990Regimental colours (Truppenfahne) of Nationale Volksarmee
1960–1990Naval ensign (Seekriegsflagge)
1962–1990Flag of boats of border troops
1989–1990Defaced state flagUsed by supporters of German reunification in East Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Historic flag proposals

Note: Ottfried Neubecker's proposal of 1919 and those of Josef Wirmer in 1944 and of his brother Ernst in 1948 are clearly modeled on the Nordic Cross flags used in all Nordic countries – the flags of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland all having the same horizontal cross, though differing in color.

FlagDateDescription
1817German unification flag at Wartburg Festival
1832German unification flag at Hambach Festival
1926Proposal for the flag for Germany by Ottfried Neubecker
1944Proposal for the flag of Germany after 1944 military coup d'état by Josef Wirmer
1948Proposal for the flag for West Germany, based on Josef Wirmer's 1944 design, created by his brother, Ernst
1948Proposal for the flag for West Germany by Paul Wentzcke, based on 1848 republican designs
1948Proposal for a national flag, by Robert Lehr

German colonial empire (1884–1918)

The flags of the German overseas colonies were first proposed in 1914, but were never implemented due to the breakout of World War I.

FlagDateDescription
1914Proposal for German East Africa
1914Proposal for German Kamerun
1914Proposal for German New Guinea
1914Proposal for German Samoa
1914Proposal for German South-West Africa
1914Proposal for German Togoland

References

  1. "The flags of Hamburg". Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  2. "Flags of the Holy Roman Empire", Wikipedia, 2020-09-24, retrieved 2021-01-25
  3. (in German) Herzfeld, Andreas (June 2001). "Einige unbekannte Flaggenänderungen 1933–1945". Der Flaggenkurier (in German). Hennigsdorf: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Flaggenkunde (13): 17–23. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17.
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