List of German flags

This list of German flags details flags and standards that have been or are currently used by Germany between 1848 and the present. For more information about the current national flag, see flag of Germany.

National flags

Date	Use	Description
1949–present	National and merchant flag (Bundes- und Handelsflagge)	A tricolour, made of three equal horizontal bands coloured black (top), red, and gold (bottom).
1950–present	State 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–present	Hanging national flag (Bannerflagge)
1996–present	Hanging state flag

Standards

Presidential standard

Date	Use	Description
1921–1926; since 1950	Standard of the President of Germany	The 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.
1955–1990	Standard of the President of East Germany
1953–1955	Standard of the President of East Germany
1951–1953	Standard of the President of East Germany
1950–1951	Standard of the President of East Germany
1949–1950	Standard of the President of East Germany
1960–1990	Standard of President of State Council
1935–1945	Standard of Adolf Hitler
1933–1935 (de facto up to 1934)	Standard of the President
1926–1933	Standard of the President
1921–1926	Standard of the President
1919–1921	Flag of the President

Imperial family standards

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1871	The King of Prussia's Standard
	1871–1888	German Emperor's Standard
	1888–1918	German Emperor's Standard
	1871–1901	Empress Augusta and Empress Victoria's Standard
	1888–1918	Empress Augusta Viktoria's Standard
	1871–1888	Standard of the Crown Prince
	1888–1918	Standard of the Crown Prince

Other standards

Date	Use	Description
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".
1844–1871	Old Royal Standard of the Emperor of Germany in Prussia (King of Prussia)
1871–1892	Royal Standard of the Crown Prince of Prussia	The same as the previous flag, but on a white field, instead of a red one.
1835–1918	Royal Standard of the King of Bavaria
1903–1918	Royal Standard of the Grand Duke of Hesse
1903–1918	Royal Standard of the Grand Duchess of Hesse
?–1918	Princely standard of Prince Reuss of Greiz
?–1918	Standard of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
1911-1918	Princely standard of Schaumbourg-Lippe

Military and state flags

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

Governmental flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	2001–present	Flag of the ZDF	A grey flag with the ZDF logo

German Scouting flags

Date	Use	Description
?–present	Flag of German Association of Guides and Scouts
1965–present	Flag of Deutsche Pfadfinderschaft Sankt Georg
1931-1965	Old flag of Deutsche Pfadfinderschaft Sankt Georg
1973–present	Flag of Verband Christlicher Pfadfinderinnen und Pfadfinder	White logo on a blue background.

Other youth organisations

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1946-1989	Flag of Free German Youth
	1948-1990	Flag and pannet of Ernst Thälmann Pioneer Organisation
	1932–1945	Flag and pannet of Deutsches Jungvolk
	1926-1945	Flags and pannet of Hitlerjugend
	1926-1935	Pannets of Hitlerjugend
	1935-1945	Pannet of League of German Girls

Sport flags

Flag	Date	Use
Link to file	?–present	Flag of German Canoeing Association^de
	1956, 1960 and 1964	Flag of United Team of Germany at the Olympics
	1952-1990	Flag of Gesellschaft für Sport und Technik
	1957-1990	Flag of Deutscher Turn- und Sportbund
	?-1945	Flag of Sports Office of the Third Reich
	1934-1945	Flag of Deutsche Jägerschaft
	?-1945	Flag of German Bicycle Union

Pennant for the German Bicycle Union (?-1945)
Pennant for the German Car Club (?-1945)
Pennant for the German Aeronautic Union (1933-1937)

Vexillology Associations flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1995–present	Flag of German Flag Society^de
		Flag of World Vexillological Research Institute

Flags of German states

Flags of German municipalities

Most municipalities have unique flags. Like state flags, most of them are with either a bicolor or tricolor stipes with or without the emblem ("wappen").

Unofficial regional flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1952–present	Flags of Baden
	1990's–present	Flag of Franconia
	2006–present	Flag of Frisia
	1952–present	Flag of Mecklenburg
	1816–present	Flag of Palatinate
	1945–present	Flag of Pomerania
	1945–present	Flag of Württemberg

Political flags

Flag	Date	Party	Description
	?–present	Social Democratic Party of Germany
	?–present	Christian Democratic Union of Germany
	1993–present	Alliance 90/The Greens
	2007–present	Die Linke
	2005–present	Bergpartei, die "ÜberPartei"
	1990–present	Communist Party of Germany
	2011–present	Marxist–Leninist Party of Germany
	2013–present 1964-?	National Democratic Party of Germany
	2013–present	The III. Path
	2012–present	Social Liberal Democratic Party
	2004–present	Front Deutscher Äpfel
	1870-1933	Centre Party	Used before the Nazi period.
	1950s	Free Democratic Party
	1919-1946	Communist Party of Germany
	1918-1933	German National People's Party	Flag of Germany (1867–1918)
	1930-1933	Black Front
	1920–1945	National Socialist German Workers' Party
	1949-1952	Socialist Reich Party
	1946-1989	Socialist Unity Party of Germany
	1945-1990	Christian Democratic Union
	1945-1990	Liberal Democratic Party of Germany
	1948-1990	Democratic Farmers' Party of Germany
	1948-1990	National Democratic Party of Germany
	1945–present	People's Solidarity
	1945–1994	Peasants Mutual Aid Association
	1947–1990	Democratic Women's League of Germany
	1904–present	Socialist Youth of Germany – Falcons
	1979-1995	Free German Workers' Party
	1977-1983	Action Front of National Socialists/National Activists
	1955-1994	Wiking-Jugend
	1998-2005	Deutsche Heidnische Front
Link to file	1950-1965	Deutsche Reichspartei
	1924–1933 1953	Flag of the Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold	The 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.
	1918-1933 1933-1935	Der Stahlhelm, Bund der Frontsoldaten
	1932	Iron Front's Anti-Nazi Demonstration Flag
	1968-1986	Communist Party of Germany/Marxists–Leninists
	1914-1919	Spartacus League

Religious flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Flag of Evangelical Church in Germany
	1990s-2000s	Flag of Heathen Front
	1932-1945	Flag of German Christians (movement)

Ethnic groups flags

Date	Use	Description
1989–present	Flag of East Frisians
	Flag of German Turks
2004–present	Flag of North Frisians
	Flag of Plattdeutsch-speaking Germans
1848–present	Flag of Sorbs	Official in Saxony.
1955–present	Flag of South Schleswig Danes
	Flag of Yenish people

Historical flags

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


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 [1]
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)


Date	Use	Description
1226–1525	Flag of the Teutonic Order State	A black cross on a white field.
1466–1772	Flag of Royal Prussia
1525–1701	Flag of Ducal Prussia
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	A bicolor design – white and black, split horizontally.
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
1803–1892	Third flag of the Kingdom of Prussia	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
1892-1918	Fourth flag of the Kingdom of Prussia
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, an Iron Cross is shown.
1918–1933	Flag of the Free State of Prussia
1933–1935	Service flag of the Free State of Prussia	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 National Socialist swastika on the chest.

German Confederation (1815–1866)

Date	Use	Description
1848–1866	Flag 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)
1848–1852	War ensign of the Reichsflotte
1848–1852	Marine jack of the Reichsflotte

North German Confederation (1866–1871)

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

German Empire (1871–1918)

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

Weimar Republic (1919–1933)

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1919–1933	National flag (Nationalflagge)
	1921–1933	State flag (Dienstflagge zu Land)
	1919–1933	Merchant flag (Handelsflagge)
	1921–1933	Merchant flag variant with the Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz)
	1921–1926	State ensign (Dienstflagge zur See)
	1926–1933	State ensign (Dienstflagge zur See)
	1919–1921 (de jure)	Reich war flag (Reichskriegsflagge)
	1921–1933	Reich war flag
	1921–1933	Marine jack (Kriegsgösch)
	1919–1921	Flag of Defence Minister
	1921–1933	Flag of Defence Minister

National Socialist Germany (1933–1945)

The flag with the swastika and white disc centered was used throughout (1920–1945) as the NSDAP flag (Parteiflagge).[2] 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.

Flag	Date	Use	Description
Flags used 1933–1935
	1933–1935 1933–1935 1920–1945	National flag (Nationalflagge) Merchant flag (Handelsflagge) NSDAP flag (Parteiflagge)[2]	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.
	1933–1935	Merchant flag variant with the Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz)
	1933–1935	Reich war flag (Reichskriegsflagge) and marine jack
	1933	Reich service flag (Reichsdienstflagge) of the Wehrmacht
	1933–1935	Reich service flag
	1933–1935	Flag of the Minister of Defence
Flags used 1935–1945
	1935–1945 1935–1945	National flag[2] 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.
	1933–1945	Banner (Bannerflagge) of Germany	Banners were of various lengths, which were hung vertically on public buildings.
	1933–1945	Banner (Bannerflagge) for the SS	Banners that were also used by the national socialists (very rarely) along with the swastika.
	1935–1945	Merchant flag variant with the Iron Cross
	1935–1945	Reich service flag
	1935–1938	Flag of the Wehrmacht Commander in Chief (replaced the Minister of Defence)
	1935–1938	Kriegsmarine, Heer, Luftwaffe
	1938–1945	Kriegsmarine, Heer, Luftwaffe
	1935–1945	Schutzstaffel (SS)
	1936–1945	Flag of the Ordnungspolizei (OrPo) ("Order Police", the national regular police organization of National Socialist Germany)

World War II aftermath in Germany

Allied Control Council (1945–1949) and Saar Protectorate

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

East Germany (1949–1990)

Date	Use	Description
1949–1959	State flag (Staatsflagge)
1959–1990	State 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
1959–1973	Merchant flag (Handelsflagge)
1963–1990	Hanging state flag (Bannerflagge)
1955–1973	Flag of East German Post
1975–1990	Flag of East German Post
1960–1990	Flag of the National People's Army (Nationale Volksarmee or NVA)
1960–1990	Regimental colours (Truppenfahne) of Nationale Volksarmee
1960–1990	Naval ensign (Seekriegsflagge) of the Volksmarine
1962–1990	Flag of boats of the Border Troops
1989–1990	Defaced state flag	Used 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.

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1817	German unification flag at Wartburg Festival
	1832	German unification flag at Hambach Festival
	1926	Ottfried Neubecker's Proposal
	1944	Proposal for the flag of Germany after 1944 military coup d'état by Josef Wirmer; later considered for adoption by the Constitutional Convention at Herrenchiemsee
	1948	Proposal for the flag for West Germany, based on Josef Wirmer's 1944 design, created by his brother, Ernst
	1948	Proposal for the flag for West Germany by Paul Wentzcke, based on 1848 republican designs
	1948	Proposal for the flag for West Germany by Edwin Redslob
	1948	Proposal for a national flag, by Robert Lehr

Nazi Germany occupations (1939–1945)

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1940	Proposal flag for General Government	Flag proposal for the newly General Government, known only from the description.[3]
	1939–1945	Unofficial flag of New Swabia	Flag of Reichskolonialbund and common flag for all German colonies during the Nazi period, in practice only for the New Swabia.

German colonial empire (1884–1918)

Date	Use	Description
1914	Proposal for German East Africa	The flags of the German overseas colonies were first proposed in 1914, but were never implemented due to the breakout of World War I.
1914	Proposal for German Kamerun
1914	Proposal for German New Guinea
1914	Proposal for German Samoa
1914	Proposal for German South-West Africa
1914	Proposal for German Togoland

German shipping company

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Aug. Bolten Wm. Miller’s Nachfolger
	1871–present	Hamburg Süd
	1901–present	Johann M. K. Blumenthal^de
	1903–present	Leonhardt & Blumberg^de
	1920–present	Ludwig & Jakob Götz^de
	1982–present	Rickmers Group
	1890–present	Unterweser Reederei^de
	1819–present	F. A. Vinnen & Co.^de
	1896–1922	Argo Reederei^de
	1899–1969	A. Kirsten^de
	1958-1973 and 1991-1997	Hamburg Atlantic Line
	1873-1974	D. G. Neptun^de
	1821-1918	D. H. Wätjen & Co.^de
	1889-1970	Deutsche Levante-Linie^de
	1872-1926	Deutsche Dampfschiffahrtsgesellschaft Kosmos^de
	1881-1980	DDG Hansa
	1869-1967	Reederei Robert Meyhoefer^de
	1905-1959	Roland-Linie^de
	1887-1939	Hamburg-Bremen-Africa-line^de
	1857-1970	Norddeutscher Lloyd
	1885-1942	Woermann-Linie
	1890-1942	Deutsche Ost-Afrika Linie
	1847-1970	Hamburg America Line
	1850-1879	Liniendienst von Joh. Ces. Godeffroy & Sohn

German Chartered company

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1882-1898	German New Guinea Company
	1884-1920	German East Africa Company
	1885-1903	German West African Company
	1875-1939	Hernsheim & Co

German yacht clubs

Flag	Club
	Academic Sailing Club in Kiel^de
	Blankeneser Segel-Club^de
	Flensburger Segel-Club^de
	Seebrucker Regatta-Verein
	Segelclub Rhe
	Segler Verein Wörthsee
	Segler-Gemeinschaft Utting e.V.
	Seglervereinigung 1903 Berlin
	Spandauer Yacht-Club^de
	Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee
	Württembergischer Yacht Club
	Yacht-Club Bad Wiessee e.V.
	The German Sea Sports Association HANSA^de
	AYC-StAG^de
	Hamburger Segel-Club
	Kaiserlicher Yacht Club
	Kieler Yacht-Club
	Lübecker Yacht-Club
	Marine-Regatta-Verein
	Norddeutscher Regatta Verein
	Yacht-Club Nürnberg^de
	Segel-Club Oberhavel^de
	Sailing Fellowship "The Coat of Arms of Bremen"^de
	Segel-Motorboot-Club Friedrichshafen^de
	Stander ASV zu Halle
	Segel-Club "Ahoi"^de
	Sailing club "Weser"^de
	Water Sports Club 1921^de
	Weser Yacht Club Bremerhaven^de
	Yacht-Club von Deutschland (Burgee)
	Yacht-Club von Deutschland (Ensign)

References

"Flags of the Holy Roman Empire", Wikipedia, 2020-09-24, retrieved 2021-01-25
(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.
https://www.fotw.info/flags/de%5E1939-.html#gg

External links

Historical flags (Germany) at Flags of the World

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[1] "Flags of the Holy Roman Empire", Wikipedia, 2020-09-24, retrieved 2021-01-25

[Herzfeld-2] (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.

[3] ttps://www.fotw.info/flags/de%5E1939-.html#gg

Flags of Germany
Nation	Flag of Germany
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Districts	Berlin Bremen Hamburg
Municipalities	Northern Germany Western Germany Central Germany Eastern Germany Southern Germany
Historical	Elsass Baden Prussia Nazi Germany East Germany Hanseatic flags