Flags of the World,

Germany (Deutschland)
with Flags of the German States
(mit Flaggen der Bundesländer)

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Germany

German National Flag

Until the 19th century, Germany was a collection of feudal states. In 1848, an attempt was made to unite them, and although no union was established, a flag was produced. This was a black, red, and gold horizontal tricolor. The colors were modeled on the uniforms of the German soldiers who served in the Napoleonic Wars in the late 18th century.

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German State Flag

The black eagle in the federal coat of arms dates back to the symbol of authority of the Holy Roman Empire.

State of Baden-Württemberg

This flag was adopted in 1953. Its colors were based on the arms of Duke Frederick V of Swabia. The coat of arms dates back to 1265 and was adopted as the state arms in 1954.

Bavaria’s flag was adopted in 1950, but white and blue have been Bavarian colors since 1330. The quadrangle shapes first appeared on banners in the 15th century.

This flag was first adopted for West Berlin in 1950 and extended to the whole city in 1991. The bear dates from 1338 and the colors from 1861.

The colors of the flag are from the shield, dating from 1170, although red and white were also the colors of the medieval Hanseatic League. The flag was adopted in 1990.

The flag of Bremen predates its coat of arms, which was adopted in 1891. Before this, Bremen was a member of the Hanseatic League, where the flag originated.

Used since 1325, red and white are the Hanseatic colors. The castle is for Hamburg; the three towers for the Trinity; the cross for Christ; the stars for the Father and Holy Spirit.

The flag of Hessen was adopted in 1984. The coat of arms was that of Ludwig III of Thuringia in 1182. The red and white colors of the flag are taken from the lion in the arms.

This flag uses the national flag with Lower Saxony’s local coat of arms in the center. It was adopted in 1946, but the coat of arms dates from 1361, when it appeared on the seal of the ruler.

The flag, adopted in 1991, combines blue and white of Pomerania with blue, yellow, and red of Mecklenburg. The bull and the gryphon are also local emblems. Red and white recall the Hanseatic League.

The coat of arms depicts the Rhine River of the Rhineland, the horse of Wesphalia, and the rose of Lippe; the three territories that united to form the state. The colors of the flag are from the coat of arms.

The flag was adopted in 1948 when the arms were placed on the national flag. The coat of arms depicts the lion of the Palatnate dating from 1229, the cross of Trier from 1273, and the wheel of Mainz from 1335.

Adopted in 1957, the flag of Saarland recalls the different parts of the state. Depicted on the shield is the lion of Saarbrücken, the cross of Trier, the eagles of Lorraine, and the lion of Pfalz-Zweibrücken.

This flag was just like the one that Baden-Württemberg had until 1991, at which time the colors were reversed. The eagle recalls Prussia; the bicolored bands and rue crown, Saxony; and the bear and wall are the coat of arms of Anhalt.

This flag was adopted in 1991, but the coat of arms is the traditional arms of the rulers of Saxony: black and yellow bands and the green crown of rue. The white and green flag dates from the 19th century.

The flag shows two lions from the coat of arms of Schleswig and a nettle-leaf from those of Holstein. The colors of the flag, adopted in 1957, are taken from the coat of arms.

Another flag whose colors are based on the state coat of arms. It was adopted in 1991. The red and white lion was on the coat of arms of the Counts of Thuringia in the 12th century.

German Flag, 1935-1945

On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor with a cabinet in coalition with the German National Peopled’s Party (Deutschnationale Volkspartei, DNVP, a reactionary, largely monarchist party). Shortly after this, a fire broke out and largely destroyed the Reichstag building. The Nazis claimed this fire was part of a Communist coup attempt. Taking advantage of this, the government quickly called an election which gave the Nazi-German National government a majority in the parliament. The government quickly banned the Communist party (which gave the Nazis a majority without the German Nationals) and in July abolished all parties other than the Nazis.

Immediately after the March, 1933, elections, new flags were created, including the Swastika Flag (Hakenkreuzfahne) which was used until 1945. Its use and incorporation into other flags and ensigns were modified after the elections of late 1935. All of the “national flags” were replaced or modified.

You may return to the list of “German” flags or scroll up and down this page to see the other flags in this section.

Here are the lists of world-flag indexes if you want to go to another section or to repeat a previous unit.

Afghanistan to Azerbaijan | Bahamas to Burundi | Cambodia to Czech Republic | Denmark to French So. Teritories | Gabon to Hungary | Iceland to Jordan | Kazakstan to Luxembourg | Macao City to Myanmar | Namibia to Omar | Pakistan to Rwanda | Sami to Syria | Taiwan to Tuvalu | Uganda to Uzbekistan | Vanuatu to Zimbabwe | Special Flags Non-Country , International Organizations

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© by Senior Scribe Publications

Like other symbols, flags express the unity and identity of one group
as against all others; it is a way of asserting the bonds which link people
despite differences in their wealth, social standing, power, or age.

—Whitney Smith, Flags Through the Ages and Across the World