Flag of Germany 70776 226076404 2008-07-16T18:49:30Z 217.83.94.237 {{Infobox flag | Name = Germany Flag | Article = | Nickname = ''Schwarz-Rot-Gold'' | Image = Flag of Germany.svg | Use = 110110 | Symbol = {{FIAV|normal}} | Proportion = 3:5 | Adoption = [[23 May]] [[1949]] | Design = A horizontal [[tricolour]] of [[black]], [[red]] and [[gold (color)|gold]]. | Image2 = Flag of Germany (state).svg | Use2 = 011010 | Symbol2 = {{FIAV|normal}} | Proportion2 = 3:5 | Adoption2 = [[7 June]] [[1950]] | Design2 = | Image3 = Naval Ensign of Germany.svg | Noborder3 = no | Use3 = 000001 | Symbol3 = {{FIAV|normal}} | Proportion3 = 3:5 | Adoption3 = [[25 May]] [[1956]] | Design3 = | Type = National }} The '''flag of [[Germany]]''' is a [[tricolour]] consisting of three equal horizontal bands displaying the [[national colours of Germany|national colours]] of [[Germany]]: [[black]], [[red]] and [[Gold (color)|gold]]. The black-red-gold tricolour first appeared in the early 19th century and achieved prominence during the [[Revolutions of 1848 in the German states|1848 revolution]]. The short-lived [[Frankfurt Parliament]] of 1848–50 proposed the tricolour as a [[flag]] for a united and democratic German state. With the formation of the [[Weimar Republic]] after [[World War I]], the tricolour was adopted as the national flag of Germany. Following [[World War II]], the tricolour was designated as the flag of both [[West Germany|West]] and [[East Germany]]. The two flags were identical until 1959, when [[socialism|socialist]] symbols were added to the East German flag. Since [[German reunification|reunification]] on [[3 October]] [[1990]], the black-red-gold tricolour has remained the flag of Germany. The flag of Germany has not always used black, red and gold as its colours. After the [[Austro–Prussian War]] in 1866, the [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]]n-dominated [[North German Confederation]] adopted a tricolour of black-white-red as its flag. This flag later became the flag of the [[German Empire]], formed following the [[unification of Germany]] in 1871, and was used until 1918. Black, white and red were reintroduced as the German national colours with the establishment of [[Nazi Germany]] in 1933. The colour schemes of black-red-gold and black-white-red have played an important role in the [[history of Germany]] and have had various meanings. The colours of the modern flag are associated with the [[republic]]an [[democracy]] formed after World War II, and represent German unity and [[freedom (philosophy)|freedom]]: not only the freedom of Germany, but also the personal freedom of the German people.<ref name="Bundestag2004">{{de icon}} {{cite web |url=http://www.bundestag.de/blickpunkt/105_Unter_der_Kuppel/0409014.html |title=Schwarz Rot Gold. Symbol der Einheit |author=Federal Parliament of Germany |date=[[2004-12-15]] |accessdate=2007-05-29 }}</ref> ==Flag variants== {{seealso|Flags of Germany}} ===Civil flag=== The German [[national flag]] or ''Bundesflagge'' (federal flag), containing only the black-red-gold tricolour, was introduced as part of the [[Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany|(West) German constitution]] in 1949.<ref name="constitutionDE"/> Following the creation of separate government and military flags in later years, the plain tricolour is now used as the German [[civil flag]] and [[civil ensign]]. This flag is also used by non-federal authorities to show their connection to the federal government – for example, the authorities of the [[States of Germany|German states]] use the German national flag together with [[Flags of German states|their own flag]]. ===Government flag=== The [[government flag]] of Germany is officially known as the ''Dienstflagge der Bundesbehörden'' (state flag of the federal authorities) or ''Bundesdienstflagge'' for short. Introduced in 1950, the government flag is the civil flag [[defacement (flag)|defaced]] with a badge known as the ''Bundesschild'' (federal badge or shield), which overlaps with up to one fifth of the black and gold bands.<ref name="flag1950"/> The ''Bundesschild'' is a variant of the [[coat of arms of Germany]], where the main differences are the illustration of the eagle and the shape of the shield: the ''Bundesschild'' is rounded, the standard coat of arms is not. The government flag may only be used by federal government authorities and its use by others is an offence, punishable with a fine.<ref>{{de icon}} {{cite web |url=http://bundesrecht.juris.de/owig_1968/__124.html |title=§ 124 OWiG: Benutzen von Wappen oder Dienstflaggen |author=Federal Government of Germany |date=[[24 May]] [[1968]] |accessdate=2008-02-24}}</ref> Public use of flags similar to the ''Bundesdienstflagge'' (e.g. using the actual coat of arms instead of the ''Bundesschild'') is tolerated and such flags are sometimes seen at international sporting events. <!-- (commenting out passage until supporting evidence can be found) Not all federal authorities use the state flag. Some of the highest federal authorities – the [[Bundestag]], the [[Bundesrat of Germany|Bundesrat]], the [[Bundesversammlung (Germany)|Bundesversammlung]], the [[Chancellor of Germany|Chancellery]] and the [[Federal Constitutional Court of Germany|Constitutional Court]] – use the national flag. --> [[Image:Flag of Germany (Hanging).svg|thumb|left|150x150px|Civil flag (hanging)]] [[Image:Flag of Germany (Hanging state flag).svg|thumb|150x150px|Government flag (hanging)]] ===Vertical flags=== In addition to the normal horizontal format, many public buildings in Germany use vertical flags. Most town halls fly their town flag together with the national flag in this way – many town flags in Germany exist only in vertical form. The proportions of these vertical flags are not specified<!-- (commented out until supporting evidence can be found), although a ratio of 5:2 is the most common-->. In 1996, a layout for the vertical version of the government flag was established: the ''Bundesschild'' is displayed in the centre of the flag, overlapping with up to one fifth of the black and yellow bands.<ref name="flag1996">{{de icon}} {{cite web |author= Federal Government of Germany |url=http://bundesrecht.juris.de/flaggano_1996/BJNR172900996.html |title=Anordnung über die deutschen Flaggen |work=Gesetze im Internet |date=[[1996-11-13]] |accessdate=2008-02-26}}</ref> When hung like a banner or draped, the black band should be on the left, as illustrated. When flown from a vertical flagpole, the black band must face the mast.<ref name="hangingflag">{{cite web |url=http://www.fotw.net/flags/de_hoist.html |title= Flag hoisting formats and terminology (Germany, Austria and adjacent countries) |work=[[Flags of the World]] |date=[[26 October]] [[2001]] |accessdate=2008-02-24}}</ref> ===Military flags=== Since the German armed forces (''[[Bundeswehr]]'') are a federal authority, the ''Bundesdienstflagge'' is also used as the German [[war flag]] on land. In 1956, the ''Dienstflagge der Seestreitkräfte der Bundeswehr'' (Flag of the [[German Navy]]) was introduced: the government flag ending in a [[swallowtail (flag)|swallowtail]].<ref name="navyflag">{{de icon}} {{cite web |url=http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bpr_sflaggenano/BJNR004470956.html |title=Anordnung des Bundespräsidenten über die Dienstflagge der Seestreitkräfte der Bundeswehr |author= Federal Government of Germany |work=Gesetze im Internet |date=[[1956-05-25]] |accessdate=2008-02-10}}</ref> This naval flag is also used as a [[Maritime flags#Jacks|navy jack]]. ==Design== [[Image:Flag of Germany - dimensions.svg|350px|right|Specifications for the flag of Germany]] In the [[Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany]] – the German constitution – Article 22 states: "The federal flag shall be black, red and gold."<ref name="constitutionDE">[[Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany]] ([[23 May]] [[1949]]). [http://www.documentarchiv.de/brd/1949/grundgesetz.html German version] and [http://www.bundestag.de/htdocs_e/parliament/function/legal/germanbasiclaw.pdf English version (December 2000) (PDF)]. See Article 22. Retrieved on [[24 February]] [[2008]].</ref> Following specifications set by the (West) German government in 1950, the flag displays three bars of equal width and has a width–length ratio of 3:5;<ref name="flag1950">{{de icon}} {{cite web |url=http://www.documentarchiv.de/brd/1950/deutsche-flaggen_ao.html |title=Anordnung über die deutschen Flaggen |author= Federal Government of Germany |work=documentArchiv.de |date=[[1950-07-07]] |accessdate=2007-08-09}}</ref> the tricolour used during the Weimar Republic had a ratio of 2:3.<ref name="flag1921">{{de icon}} {{cite web |url=http://www.documentarchiv.de/wr/1921/flaggen1921_vo.html |title=Verordnung über die deutschen Flaggen |author=Government of the German Reich |date=[[1921-04-11]] |work=documentArchiv.de |accessdate=2007-08-09}}</ref> The exact colours used for the German flag were not officially defined at the time of the flag's adoption and have changed since then.<ref name="FOTWcolour">{{cite web |url=http://www.fotw.net/flags/de_color.html#spc |title=Colours of the Flag (Germany) |work=[[Flags of the World]] |date=[[5 August]] [[1998]] |accessdate=2008-02-24}} Contains a letter from the German Ministry of the Interior ([[30 July]] [[1998]])</ref> The [[Cabinet of Germany|federal cabinet]] introduced a [[corporate design]] for the German government on [[2 June]] [[1999]], which currently uses the following colours:<ref name="govt_design">{{de icon}} {{cite web |url=http://styleguide.bundesregierung.de/index_de.html?Content=basiselemente/farben/primaerfarben_de.html |title=Primärfarben |work=Corporate Design Documentation |author= Federal Government of Germany |date=[[17 December]] [[2007]] |accessdate=2008-02-26}}</ref> {| width="60%" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; border-collapse: collapse; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left" |- ! width=100|Colour scheme ! colspan=2 width=100|Black ! colspan=2 width=100|Red ! colspan=2 width=100|Gold |- align=center | [[RAL (color space system)|RAL]] | rowspan="5" style="background-color:#000000"| | 9005<br/>''Jet black'' | rowspan="5" style="background-color:#FF0000"| | 3020<br/>''Traffic red'' | rowspan="5" style="background-color:#FFCC00"| | 1021<br/>''Cadmium yellow'' |- align=center | [[HKS (colour system)|HKS]] | 0, 0, 0 | 5.0PB 3.0/12 | 6.0R 4.5/14 |- align=center | [[CMYK color model|CMYK]] | 0.0.0.100 | 0.100.100.0 | 0.12.100.5 |- align=center | [[Pantone]] | Black | 485 | 7405* |- align=center | [[Web colors|HTML]] | #000000 | #FF0000 | #FFCC00 |} <nowiki>*</nowiki><small>The value given here is an alternative to the following more-complicated combination: Yellow (765&nbsp;g), Red 032 (26&nbsp;g), Black (11&nbsp;g), Transp. White (198&nbsp;g)</small> ===Gold or yellow?=== [[Image:Schwarz Rot Gold.svg|thumb|A version of the German flag where the golden band is of a metallic golden colour. This version was sometimes used in official publications before the introduction of the federal government's corporate design in 1999.]] [[Vexillology]] rarely distinguishes between gold and yellow; in [[heraldry]], they are both ''[[Or (heraldry)|or]]''. For the German flag, such a distinction is made: the colour used in the flag is gold, not yellow. When the black-red-gold tricolour was adopted by the Weimar Republic as its flag, it was attacked by [[conservatism|conservatives]], [[monarchism|monarchists]] and the [[far right]], who referred to the colours with spiteful nicknames such as ''Schwarz-Rot-Gelb'' (black-red-yellow), ''Schwarz-Rot-Senf'' (black-red-mustard) or even ''Schwarz-Rot-Scheiße'' (black-red-shit).<ref name="Dreyhaupt2000">{{de icon}} {{cite journal |last=Dreyhaupt |first= Rüdiger F. |year=2000 |title=Flags of the Weimar Republic |journal=Der Flaggenkurier | volume=11 | pages=3–17}}</ref> When the Nazis came to power in 1933, the black-white-red colours of pre-1918 Imperial Germany were swiftly reintroduced and their propaganda machine continued to discredit the ''Schwarz-Rot-Gold'', using the same derogatory terms as previously used by the monarchists.<ref name="court1959"/> On [[16 November]] [[1959]], the [[Federal Court of Justice of Germany|Federal Court of Justice]] (''Bundesgerichtshof'') stated that the usage of "black-red-yellow" and the like had "through years of Nazi agitation, attained the significance of a malicious slander against the democratic symbols of the state" and is now an offence.<ref name="court1959">{{de icon}} Federal Court of Justice of Germany ([[16 November]] [[1959]]). 3 StR 45/59.</ref> As summarised by heraldist Arnold Rabbow in 1968, "the German colours are black-red-yellow but they are called black-red-gold."<ref name="Rabbow1968">{{de icon}} {{cite journal |last=Rabbow |first=Arnold |year=1968 |title=Schwarz-Rot-Gold oder Schwarz-Rot-Gelb? |journal=Neue Heraldische Mitteilungen / Kleeblatt-Jahrbuch |place=Hanover| volume=6+7 | pages=30–32 }}</ref> ==Flag days== [[Image:MuensterStadtweinhaus.jpg|thumb|The ''Stadtweinhaus'' in [[Münster]] with banners displayed in mourning (note the black ribbons atop each mast) after the death of former German president [[Johannes Rau]] in 2006]] Following federal [[decree]] on [[22 March]] [[2005]], the flag must be flown from public buildings on the following dates. Not all of these days are public holidays. {| class=wikitable style="font-size:85%" |- ! Date ! Name ! Reason |- | [[27 January]] | [[Nazism|Commemoration Day for the Victims of National Socialism]] <br/> ''Tag des Gedenkens an die Opfer des Nationalsozialismus'' | Anniversary of the liberation of [[Auschwitz concentration camp]], observed by the United Nations as [[International Holocaust Remembrance Day]] (half-mast) |- | [[1 May]] | [[International Workers' Day#Germany|International Workers' Day]] <br/> ''Tag der Arbeit'' | Was established for the German labour unions to demonstrate for the promotion of workers welfare. |- | [[9 May]] | [[Europe day]] <br/> ''Europatag'' | Anniversary of the [[Schuman Declaration]], leading to the [[European Union]] (1950) |- | [[23 May]] | [[Constitution Day]] | Anniversary of the [[Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany|German constitution]] (1949) |- | [[17 June]] | ''Jahrestag des 17. Juni 1953'' | Anniversary of the [[Uprising of 1953 in East Germany]] |- | [[20 July]] | ''Jahrestag des 20. Juli 1944'' | Anniversary of the [[July 20 plot]], the failed assassination attempt on [[Adolf Hitler]] by [[Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg|Claus von Stauffenberg]] (1944) |- | [[3 October]] | [[German Unity Day]] <br/> ''Tag der Deutschen Einheit'' | Anniversary of [[German reunification]] (1990) |- | Two Sundays before the [[Advent Sunday|first Advent]] | National day of mourning <br/> ''[[Volkstrauertag]]'' | In memory of all killed during wartime (half-mast) |- | colspan="3" | <center>Source: Federal Government of Germany<ref name="flagday">{{de icon}} {{cite web |url=http://www.bund.de/nn_58840/Microsites/Protokoll/Beflaggung/Beflaggungserlass-der-Bundesregierung/Beflaggungserlass-knoten.html__nnn=true |title= Beflaggungserlass der Bundesregierung |author=Federal Government of Germany |date=[[2005-03-22]] |work=Verwaltung Online |accessdate=2008-02-24}}</ref></center> |} Election days for the [[Bundestag]] and the [[European Parliament]] are also flag days in some states, in addition to other state-specific flag days. The public display of flags to mark other events – such as the election of the [[President of Germany|president]] or the death of a prominent politician (whereupon flags would be at half-mast) – can be declared at the discretion of the [[Federal Ministry of the Interior (Germany)|Federal Ministry of the Interior]].<ref name="flagday"/> When flags are required to be flown at half-mast, vertical flags are not lowered. A black mourning ribbon is instead attached, either atop the mast (if hung from a pole) or to each end of the flag's supporting cross-beams (if flown like a banner).<ref name="flagprotocol">{{cite web |url=http://www.fotw.net/flags/de_law.html#pro |title= Flag Protocol (Germany) |work=[[Flags of the World]] |date=[[6 February]] [[2002]] |accessdate=2008-02-26}}</ref> ==History== ===Medieval period===<!-- [[Holy Roman Empire]] links to here --> {| style="float:right; border:solid #ccc 1px; margin:5px;" |- align="center" |[[Image:Flag Germany Emperors Banner.svg|999x80px]] [[Image:Banner of the Holy Roman Emperor (after 1400).svg|999x80px]] |- | style="padding:0 5px 0 5px; font-size:85%; line-height:14px;"|Banners of the [[Holy Roman Emperor]]<br/>(left: 14th century, right: 15th–19th century) |} [[Image:Flag of the Holy Roman Empire (1200-1350).svg|thumb|[[War flag]] of the Holy Roman Empire (13th–14th century)]] The [[Holy Roman Empire]] (10th century – 1806, known as the ''Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation'' after 1512) did not have a national flag, but black and gold were used as colours of the [[Holy Roman Emperor]] and featured in the imperial banner: a black eagle on a golden background. After the late 13th or early 14th century, the claws and beak of the eagle were coloured red. From the early 15th century, a [[double-headed eagle]] was used.<ref name="HRE">{{cite web |url=http://www.fotw.net/flags/de_roman.html |title= Holy Roman Empire |work=[[Flags of the World]] |accessdate=2008-02-26}}</ref> In 1804, [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon Bonaparte]] declared the [[First French Empire]]. In response to this, Holy Roman Emperor [[Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor|Francis II]] of the [[Habsburg Monarchy|Habsburg dynasty]] declared his personal domain to be the [[Austrian Empire]] and became Francis I of Austria. Taking the colours of the banner of the Holy Roman Emperor, the flag of the Austrian Empire was black and gold. Francis II was the last Holy Roman Emperor, with Napoleon forcing the empire's dissolution in 1806. After this point, these colours continued to be used as the [[flag of Austria]] until 1918. <!-- {| style="float:right; border:solid #ccc 1px; margin:5px;" |- align="center" |[[Image:Flag of the Holy Roman Empire (1200-1350).svg|999x80px]] [[Image:Hanse Lübeck.png|999x80px]] [[Image:Hanse Bremen.png|999x80px]] |- | style="padding:0 5px 0 5px; font-size:90%; line-height:14px;"|Left: [[War flag]] of the Holy Roman Empire (13th–14th century)<br/>Centre and Right: Early [[Hanseatic flags]]. Banners of the cities of Lübeck and Bremen |} --> The colours red and white were also significant during this period. When the Holy Roman Empire took part in the [[Crusades]], a [[war flag]] was flown alongside the black-gold imperial banner. This flag, known as the "Saint George Flag", was a white cross on a red background: the reverse of the [[St George's Cross]] used as the [[flag of England]].<ref name="HRE"/> Red and white were also colours of the [[Hanseatic League]] (13th–17th century). Hanseatic trading ships were identifiable by their red-white pennants and most Hanseatic cities adopted red and white as their city colours (see [[Hanseatic flags]]). Red and white still feature as the colours of many former Hanseatic cities such as [[Hamburg]]. ===Napoleonic Wars=== <!-- [[Confederation of the Rhine]] links to here --> [[Image:Ferdinand Hodler 001.jpg|thumb|Jena students in the [[Lützow Free Corps]], painting by [[Ferdinand Hodler]] (1909)]] With the collapse of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, many of its dukes and princes joined the [[Confederation of the Rhine]], a Napoleonic client state. The confederation had no flag of its own; instead it used the blue-white-red [[flag of France]] and the Imperial Standard of its "protector", [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon]].<ref name="confR">{{cite web |url=http://www.fotw.net/flags/de-rh806.html |title=Unidentified 'Rhine Republic' Flag 1806 (Germany) |work=[[Flags of the World]] |accessdate=2008-02-26}}</ref> During the [[Napoleonic Wars]], the German struggle against the occupying French forces were significantly symbolised by the colours of black, red and gold. This was largely attributed to the uniforms of the [[Lützow Free Corps]], a volunteer unit of the [[Prussian Army]]. The uniforms for this unit were black with red facings and gold buttons. The colour choice here was a pragmatic one, even though it was also a popularisation of the former black-red-gold colours used by the Holy Roman Empire.<ref name="Rabbow2007">{{de icon}} {{cite journal |last=Rabbow |first=Arnold |year=2007 |title=Schwarz-Rot-Gold: Einheit in Freiheit |journal=Der Flaggenkurier | volume=25 | pages=41–45}}</ref> Members of the corps were required to supply their own clothing and, in order to present a uniform appearance, it was easiest to dye all clothes black. Gold-coloured buttons were widely available and [[pennon]]s used by the [[lancer]]s in the unit were red and black. At the time, the colours were symbolised as: Out of the darkness (black) of servitude through bloody (red) conflict to the (golden) light of freedom.<ref>{{de icon}} Scheidler, Karl Hermann ([[1865-08-05]]) ''Illustrierte Zeitung'', Leipzig, 98</ref> As the members of this unit came from all over Germany and were mostly university students and academics, the Lützow Free Corps and their colours gained considerable prominence among the German people.<ref name="Rabbow2007"/> ===German Confederation=== The 1815/6 [[Congress of Vienna]] led to the creation of the [[German Confederation]], a loose union of all remaining German states after the Napoleonic Wars. The Confederation was created as a replacement for the now-extinct Holy Roman Empire, with [[Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor|Francis I of Austria]] – the last Holy Roman Emperor – as its president. The confederation did not have a flag of its own, although the black-red-gold tricolour is sometimes mistakenly attributed to it.<ref name="GermConf">{{cite web |url=http://www.fotw.net/flags/de1848.html |title=German Confederation |work=[[Flags of the World]] |accessdate=2008-03-02}}</ref> [[Image:Hambacher Fest 1832.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Hambach Festival]] (May 1832), contemporary lithograph]] Upon returning from the war, veterans of the Lützow Free Corps founded the ''[[Urburschenschaft]]'' fraternity in [[Jena]] in June 1815. The Jena ''Urburschenschaft'' eventually adopted a flag with three equal horizontal bands of red, black and red, with gold trim and a golden oak branch across the black band, following the colours of the uniforms of the Free Corps.<ref name="Rabbow2007"/> Since the students who served in the Lützow Free Corps came from various German states, the idea of a unified German state began to gain momentum within the ''Urburschenschaft'' and similar ''[[Burschenschaft]]en'' that were subsequently formed throughout the Confederation. On [[18 October]] [[1817]], the fourth anniversary of the [[Battle of Leipzig]], hundreds of fraternity members and academics from across the Confederation states met in [[Wartburg]] in [[Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach]] (in modern [[Thuringia]]), calling for a free and unified German nation. The red-black-gold flag of the Jena ''Urburschenschaft'' featured prominently at this [[Wartburg festival]] and so the colours black, red and gold eventually became symbolic of this desire for a unified German state. Austria, in its determination to maintain the status quo,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-33361 |title=Austria: The Age of Metternich |year=2008 |work=[[Encyclopædia Britannica|Encyclopædia Britannica Online]] |accessdate=2008-03-05}}</ref> enacted the [[Carlsbad Decrees]] of 1819 that banned all student organisations, officially putting an end to the ''Burschenschaften''. In May 1832, around 30,000 people demonstrated at the [[Hambach Festival]] for freedom, unity and civil rights. The colours black, red and gold had become a well established symbol for the liberal, democratic and republican movement within the German states since the Wartburg Festival and flags in these colours were flown ''en masse'' at the Hambach Festival. While contemporary illustrations showed prominent use of a gold-red-black tricolour (an upside-down version of the modern German flag), surviving flags from the event were in black-red-gold. Such an example is the ''Ur-Fahne'', the flag flown from [[Hambach Castle]] during the festival: a black-red-gold tricolour where the red band contains the inscription ''Deutschlands Wiedergeburt'' (Germany's rebirth). This flag is now on permanent display at the castle.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hambacher-schloss.de/html_en/The_exhibition/The_Hambach_Festival.htm |title=The Hambach Festival |date=2007 |work=Official website of [[Hambach Castle]] |accessdate=2008-02-24}}</ref> ===Revolution and the Frankfurt Parliament=== [[Image:Maerz1848 berlin.jpg|thumb|200px|Revolutionaries in Berlin (March [[1848]])]] [[Image:flottenflagge 2zu3.jpg|thumb|War ensign of the [[Reichsflotte]]<br />(1848–1852)'']] In the [[Revolutions of 1848 in the German states|Springtime of the Peoples]] during the [[Revolutions of 1848]], revolutionaries took to the streets, many flying the tricolour. Liberals took power and, after prolonged deliberation, a national assembly was formulated. This [[Frankfurt Parliament]] declared the black-red-gold as the official colours of Germany and passed a law stating its [[civil ensign]] was the black-red-yellow tricolour.<ref name="flag1848">{{de icon}} {{cite web |url=http://www.documentarchiv.de/nzjh/1848/reichsflaggen1848_ges.html |title=Gesetz betreffend die Einführung einer deutschen Kriegs- und Handelsflagge |date=[[1848-11-12]] |author=Frankfurt Parliament |work=documentArchiv.de |accessdate=2007-08-09}}</ref> Also, a naval war ensign used these colours. In 1850, the Frankfurt Parliament collapsed and the [[German Confederation]] was restored under Austrian presidency, who suppressed the actions of the failed Frankfurt Parliament, including the tricolour. Afterwards, the most pressing issue was whether or not to include Austria in any future German nation, as Austria's status as a multi-ethnic empire complicated the dream of a united Greater Germany – the ''[[Großdeutschland|grossdeutsch]]'' solution. Alternatively, there was the ''[[Kleindeutschland|kleindeutsch]]'' (Lesser German) solution for a Germany that encompassed only German lands and excluded Austria. The Prussian–Austrian duality within the Confederation eventually led to the [[Austro–Prussian War]] in 1866. During the war, the southern states allied with Austria adopted the black-red-gold tricolour as its flag, and the 8th German Army Corps also wore black-red-gold armbands.<ref name="GermConf"/> The [[Kingdom of Prussia]] and its predominately north German allies defeated Austria and made way for the realisation of the Lesser German solution a few years later. ===North German Confederation and the German Empire=== [[Image:Flag of the German Empire.svg|thumb|2:3 {{FIAV|110110}}{{FIAV|historical}} Flag of the <br>[[North German Confederation]] (1866–71) and the<br> [[German Empire]] (1871–1918).<br/>Also used by [[Weimar Republic]] foreign services (1922–33)]] <!-- [[Image:Deutsches_Reich_Flaggen.jpg|thumb|Flags of the [[German Imperial Navy]] (date)]] --> Following the dissolution of the German Confederation, Prussia formed its unofficial successor, the [[North German Confederation]], in 1867. This coalition consisted of Prussia, the largest member state, and 21 other north-German states. The question regarding what flag should be adopted by the new confederation was first raised by the shipping sector and its desire to have an internationally recognisable identity. Virtually all international shipping that belonged to the confederation originated from either Prussia or the three former Hanseatic city-states of [[Bremen (state)|Bremen]], [[Hamburg]] and [[Free City of Lübeck|Lübeck]]. Based on this, Adolf Soetbeer, secretary of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, suggested in the ''Bremer Handelsblatt'' on [[22 September]] [[1866]] that any planned flag should combine the [[Flag of Prussia|colours of Prussia]] (black and white) with the [[Hanseatic flags|Hanseatic colours]] (red and white). In the following year, the [[North German Constitution|constitution of the North German Confederation]] was enacted, where a horizontal black-white-red tricolour was declared to be both the civil and war ensign.<ref name="NDBconst">{{de icon}} {{cite web |url=http://www.documentarchiv.de/nzjh/ndbd/verfndbd.html |title=Constitution of the North German Confederation |work=documentArchiv.de |date=[[1867-06-27]] |accessdate=2008-02-24}} See Article 55.</ref> King [[William I, German Emperor|William I of Prussia]] was satisfied with the colour choice: the red and white were also taken to represent the [[Margraviate of Brandenburg]], the [[Prince-elector|Imperial elector state]] that was a predecessor of the Kingdom of Prussia.<ref name="Rabbow2007"/> The absence of gold from the flag also made it clear that this German state did not include the "black and gold" monarchy of Austria. Following the [[Franco–Prussian War]], the remaining southern German states allied with the North German Confederation, leading to the [[unification of Germany]] and the elevation of the [[House of Hohenzollern|Prussian monarch]] to Emperor of this new state in 1871. In its [[Constitution of the German Empire|constitution]], the [[German Empire]] retained black, white and red as its national colours,<ref name="GEconst">{{de icon}} {{cite web |url=http://www.documentarchiv.de/ksr/verfksr.html |title=Constitution of the German Empire |work=documentArchiv.de |date=[[1871-04-16]] |accessdate=2008-02-24}} See Article 55.</ref> with the tricolour previously used by the North German Confederation officially adopted as its flag in 1892. <!-- (commenting out this paragraph until clear supporting documentation can be found) Proponents of the black-red-gold tricolour during this period presented little resistance to this new flag: the formation of a unified German state was more important than the colours of its flag. However, a small section of the [[far right]] adopted black-red-gold as its colours as part of their desire for a Greater Germany: merging Germany with Austria. Here the black-red-gold tricolour took on a new meaning, combining the black-white-red of Germany with the black-gold of Austria. --> The black-white-red tricolour remained the flag of Germany until the end of the German Empire in 1918, in the final days of [[World War I]]. ===Weimar Republic===<!-- [[Weimar Republic]] links to here. [[Flag of the Weimar Republic]] redirects to here --> [[Image:Flag of Germany (2-3).svg|thumb|2:3 {{FIAV|110000}}{{FIAV|historical}} Flag of [[Weimar Republic|Weimar Germany]] (1919–33)]] [[Image:Plakat Lasst die alten Fahnen wehn 1932.jpg|thumb|150px|''"Let the old flags fly"'', election poster for the monarchist and nationalist [[German National People's Party|DNVP]], 1932]] Following the declaration of the German republic in 1918 and the ensuing [[German Revolution of 1918-19|revolutionary period]], the so-called [[Weimar Republic]] was founded in August 1919. To form a continuity between the anti-autocratic movement of the 19th century and the new democratic republic, the old black-red-gold tricolour was designated as the national German flag in the [[Weimar Constitution]] in 1919.<ref name="WRconst">{{de icon}} {{cite web |url=http://www.documentarchiv.de/wr/wrv.html |title=Constitution of the Weimar Republic |work=documentArchiv.de |date=[[1919-08-11]] |accessdate=2008-02-24}} See Article 3.</ref> As a civil ensign, the black-white-red-tricolour was retained, albeit with the new tricolour in the top left corner. This change was not welcomed by many people in Germany, who saw this new flag as a symbol of humiliation following Germany's defeat in World War I. In the ''[[Reichswehr]]'', the old colours continued to be used in various forms. Many conservatives wanted the old colours to return, while monarchists and the far right were far more vocal with their objections, referring to the new flag with various derogatory names (''see [[#Gold or yellow?|Gold or yellow?]] above''). As a compromise, the old black-white-red flag was reintroduced in 1922 to represent German diplomatic missions abroad.<ref name="flag1921"/> The symbols of Imperial Germany became symbols of monarchist and nationalist protest and were often used by monarchist and nationalist organisations (e.g. [[Stahlhelm, Bund der Frontsoldaten]]). This included the ''[[Reichskriegsflagge]]'' (war flag of the Reich), which has been revived in the present for similar use. Many nationalist political parties during the Weimar period – such as the [[German National People's Party]] (see poster) and the [[Nazi Party|National Socialist German Workers Party]] (Nazi Party) – used the imperial colours, a practice that has continued today with the [[National Democratic Party of Germany]]. On [[24 February]] [[1924]], the organisation ''Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold'' was founded in [[Magdeburg]] by the member parties of the [[Weimar Coalition]] ([[Centre Party (Germany)|Centre]], [[German Democratic Party|DDP]], [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]) and the [[trade union]]s. This organisation was formed to protect the fragile democracy of the Weimar Republic, which was under constant pressure by both the far right and far left. Through this organisation, the black-red-gold flag became not only a symbol of German democracy, but also of resistance to political extremism. This was summarised by the organisation's first chairman, Otto Hörsing, who described their task as a "struggle against the [[swastika]] and the [[Red star|Soviet star]]".<ref name="rbanner">{{de icon}} {{cite web |url=http://www.landtag.rlp.de/Internet-DE/med/623/623604fe-6922-3211-33e2-dcbf983c6eac,11111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111 |title=Symbol für Freiheit, Einheit und Demokratie |accessdate=2008-01-10 |author=State government of Rhineland-Palatinate |date=2007}}</ref> In the face of the increasingly violent conflicts between the communists and Nazis, the growing polarisation of the German population and a multitude of other factors, the Weimar Republic collapsed in 1933 with the Nazi seizure of power (''[[Machtergreifung]]'') and the appointment of [[Adolf Hitler]] as [[Chancellor of Germany|German chancellor]]. ===Nazi Germany===<!-- [[Flag of Nazi Germany]], [[Flag of nazi germany]], [[Flag of the Third Reich]], [[Nazi Flag]] and [[Swastika flag]] redirect to here --> [[Image:Flag of Germany 1933.svg|thumb|3:5 {{FIAV|historical}} Flag of the [[National Socialist German Workers Party]] (1920–45)<br/>National flag of Germany (1933–45)]] [[Image:National flag of Germany 1933-1935.svg|thumb|3:5 {{FIAV|historical}} Used jointly with the swastika flag (1933–35), then banned as "reactionary"]] With the establishment of [[Nazi Germany|Nazi regime]] in Germany on [[5 March]] [[1933]], the black-red-gold flag was swiftly scrapped: a ruling on [[12 March]] reintroduced the old black-white-red imperial tricolour and established the flag of the [[Nazi Party]] as the two legal national flags of Germany.<ref name="flag1933">{{de icon}} {{cite web |url=http://www.documentarchiv.de/ns/flaggen.html |title=Erlaß des Reichspräsidenten über die vorläufige Regelung der Flaggenhissung |author=[[Paul von Hindenburg|von Hindenburg, Paul]] |work=documentArchiv.de |date=[[1933-03-12]] |accessdate=2008-02-09}}</ref> In 1935, one year after the death of [[President of Germany (Weimar Republic)|Reich President]] [[Paul von Hindenburg]] and Hitler's self-elevation to the position of ''[[Führer]]'', the dual flag arrangement ended with the exclusive use of the Nazi flag as the national flag of Germany,<ref name="flag1935">{{de icon}} {{cite web |url=http://www.documentarchiv.de/ns/1935/flaggen1935_ges.html |title=Reichsflaggengesetz |author=Government of the German Reich |work=documentArchiv.de |date=[[1935-09-15]] |accessdate=2007-12-23 }}</ref> while the old black-white-red flag was banned as "reactionary".<ref>{{de icon}} Statement by [[Hermann Göring]], in the ''[[Völkischer Beobachter]]'' ([[17 September]] [[1935]])</ref> The design of the Nazi flag was introduced by Hitler as the party flag in the summer of 1920: a flag with a red background, a white disk, and a black [[swastika]] in the middle. In addition to the flag forming a link to Imperial Germany via its colour choice, the Nazi flag had additional meaning, according to Hitler in ''[[Mein Kampf]]'': white for nationalism, red for socialism, and the swastika to symbolise the [[Aryan]] race. [[Albert Speer]] stated in his memoirs that "in only two other designs did he (Adolf Hitler) execute the same care as he did his [[Berghof (Hitler)|Obersalzberg house]]: that of the [[Reichskriegsflagge|Reich War Flag]] and his own [[Adolf Hitler's personal standard|standard of Chief of State]]".<ref>{{cite book |title=[[Inside the Third Reich]] |last=Speer |first=Albert |authorlink=Albert Speer |year=1970 |publisher=Macmillan |location=New York |isbn=0-684-82949-5}}</ref> An off-centred disk version of the swastika flag was used as the civil ensign on German-registered civilian ships and was used as the jack on ''[[Kriegsmarine]]'' (the name of the [[German Navy]], 1933–45) warships.<ref>{{de icon}} {{cite web |url=http://www.documentarchiv.de/ns/1933/flaggen-kauffahrteischiffe_vo.html |title=Verordnung über die vorläufige Regelung der Flaggenführung auf Kauffahrteischiffen |author=Government of the German Reich |work=documentArchiv.de |date=[[1933-12-20]] |accessdate=2007-12-23}}</ref> Nazi ensigns had a [[through and through]] image, so the "left-facing" and "right-facing" version were each present on one side. The Nazi flag on land was right-facing on both sides while the centred-disk flag was commonly used by civilians and the German armed forces aside from the navy. From 1933 to at least 1938, before any official swastika flag went into use, it had to take part in a ceremony where it touched the ''[[Blutfahne]]'' (blood flag), the swastika flag used by Nazi paramilitaries during the failed [[Beer Hall Putsch]] in 1923. This lengthy ceremony took place at every [[Nuremberg Rally]]. It is unknown whether this tradition was continued after the last Nuremberg rally in 1938. At the end of [[World War II]], the first law enacted by the [[Allied Control Council]] abolished all Nazi symbols and repealed all relevant laws.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ena.lu/?doc=16808&lang=2 |title=Law N° 1 from the Control Council for Germany: Repealing of Nazi Laws |author=[[Allied Control Council]] |work=European NAvigator |date=[[1945-08-30]] |accessdate=2007-12-23}}</ref> The possession of swastika flags is [[Swastika#Taboo in Western countries|forbidden in many Western countries]] since then, particularly in Germany.<br clear="all"> ===After World War II=== [[Image:Flag of Germany (1946-1949).svg|thumb|left|2:3 {{FIAV|000100}}{{FIAV|historical}} The C-Pennant (1946–49)]] After the defeat of Germany in World War II, the country was [[Allied-administered Germany|placed under Allied administration]]. Although there was no national German government and no German flag, German ships were required by international law to have a national ensign of some kind. As a provisional [[civil ensign]] of Germany, the Council designated the [[International maritime signal flags|international signal pennant]] representing the letter C ending in a [[swallowtail (flag)|swallowtail]], known as the C-Pennant ({{lang-de|C-Doppelstander}}). The Council ruled that "no ceremonial shall be accorded this flag which shall not be dipped in salute to warships or merchant ships of any nationality".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fotw.net/flags/de1945.html#law |title=Law No. 39 of the Allied Control Commission |author=[[Allied Control Council]] |work=[[Flags of the World]] |date=[[30 November]] [[1946]] |accessdate=2008-02-26}} See Article 1 #3.</ref> Similarly, the [[Flag of Japan#Historical|Japanese civil ensign]] used immediately following World War II was the signal pennant for the letter E ending in a swallow-tail. West of the [[Oder-Neisse line|Oder–Neisse line]], the German states were reorganised along the lines of the [[Allied Occupation Zones in Germany|zones of occupation]] and new state governments were established. Within the American zone, the northern halves of the former states of [[Free People's State of Württemberg|Württemberg]] and [[Republic of Baden|Baden]] were merged to form [[Württemberg-Baden]] in 1946. As its flag, Württemberg-Baden adopted the black-red-gold tricolour.<ref>{{de icon}} {{cite web |url=http://www.verfassungen.de/de/bw/wuerttemberg-baden/wuertt-b46-index.htm |title=Constitution of Württemberg-Baden |work=Verfassungen der Welt |date=[[1946-11-30]] |accessdate=2008-02-24}} See Article 45</ref> The choice of these colours was not based on the historical use of the tricolour, but the simple addition of gold to Württemberg's colours of red and black.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fotw.net/flags/de-wb947.html |title=Württemberg-Baden 1947-1952 (Germany) |work=[[Flags of the World]] |accessdate=2008-02-24}} Contains quotation from discussion of the constitution committee.</ref> Coincidentally, Baden's colours were red and yellow, so the colour choice could be mistaken for a combination of the two flags. In 1952, Württemberg-Baden became part of the modern German state of [[Baden-Württemberg]], whose flag is black and gold. Two other states that were created after the war, [[Rhineland-Palatinate]] (French zone) and [[Lower Saxony]] (British zone), chose to use the black-red-gold tricolour as their flag, defaced with the state's coat of arms.<ref>{{de icon}} {{cite web |url=http://verfassungen.de/de/rlp/rlp47-index.htm |title=Constitution of Rhineland-Palatinate |work=Verfassungen der Welt |date=[[1947-05-18]] |accessdate=2008-02-24}}</ref><ref>{{de icon}} {{cite web |url=http://verfassungen.de/de/nds/niedersachsen51.htm |title=Preliminary constitution of Lower Saxony |work=Verfassungen der Welt |date=[[1951-04-13]] |accessdate=2008-02-24}} See Article 1 #2</ref> These two states were formed from parts of other states and no colour combinations from these previous states were accepted as a new state flag. This led to the use of the black-red-gold for two reasons: the colours did not relate particularly to any one of the previous states, and using the old flag from the Weimar Republic was intended to be a symbol of the new democracy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/de-rp.html |title=Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany) |work=[[Flags of the World]] |accessdate=2008-03-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/de-ni.html |title=Lower Saxony (Germany) |work=[[Flags of the World]] |accessdate=2008-03-03}}</ref> ===Divided Germany===<!-- [[Flag of the German Democratic Republic]] redirects to here --> [[Image:Flag of Germany.svg|thumb|3:5 {{FIAV|110110}}{{FIAV|normal}} Flag of the Federal Republic of Germany (1949–today)<br/>Flag of the German Democratic Republic (1949–59)]] With relations deteriorating between the [[Soviet Union]] and the [[United States]], the three western Allies met in March 1948 to merge their zones of occupation and allow the formation of a new German nation. This was the Federal Republic of Germany, previously known as [[West Germany]], now simply as Germany. Meanwhile, the eastern Soviet zone became the German Democratic Republic, commonly known as [[East Germany]]. During the preparation of the new constitution for West Germany, discussions regarding its national symbols took place in August 1948 during a meeting at [[Herrenchiemsee]]. Although there were objections to the creation of a national flag before reunification with the east, it was decided to proceed. This decision was primarily motivated by the proposed constitution by the eastern [[Socialist Unity Party of Germany|SED]] in November 1946,<ref>{{de icon}} {{cite book |last=Friedel |first=Alois |title=Deutsche Staatssymbole |year=1968 |publisher=Athenäum-Verlag |isbn=9783761051153}}</ref> where black-red-gold were suggested as the colours for a future German republic.<ref>{{de icon}} {{cite web |url=http://www.documentarchiv.de/ddr/1946/sed-verfassungsentwurf-ddr.html |title=SED-proposed constitution of the German Democratic Republic |work=documentArchiv.de |date=[[1946-11-14]] |accessdate=2008-02-24}}</ref> {| style="float:left; width:170px; border:solid #ccc 1px; margin:5px;" |- align="center" |[[Image:Proposed German National Flag 1948.svg|150px]] |- align="center" |[[Image:German Resistance Flag Proposal 1944.svg|150px]] |- | style="padding:0 5px 0 5px; font-size:85%; line-height:14px;"|{{FIAV|proposal}} Two variants of [[Josef Wirmer]]'s 1944 "Resistance" design, created by his brother Ernst. The top flag was proposed by conservative parties as a flag for West Germany (1948). |} While there were suggestions for the new flag for West Germany,<ref name="proposals">{{cite web |url=http://www.fotw.net/flags/de!1949.html |title= Proposals 1944-1949 (Germany) |work=[[Flags of the World]] |accessdate=2008-02-24}}</ref> the final choice was between two designs, both using black-red-gold. The [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democrats]] proposed the re-introduction of the old Weimar flag, while the conservative parties such as the [[Christian Democratic Union (Germany)|CDU]]/[[Christian Social Union of Bavaria|CSU]] and the [[German Party]] proposed a suggestion by Ernst Wirmer, a member of the ''[[Parlamentarischer Rat]]'' (parliamentary council) and future advisor of chancellor [[Konrad Adenauer]]. Wirmer suggested a variant of the 1944 "Resistance" flag designed by his brother and July 20 co-conspirator Josef.<ref name="proposal1944">{{cite journal |last=Rabbow |first=Arnold |year=1983 |month=May–August |title=A Flag Against Hitler. The 1944 National Flag Proposal of the German Resistance Movement |journal=Flag Bulletin |volume=100}}</ref> The tricolour was ultimately selected, largely to illustrate the continuity between the Weimar Republic and this new German state. With the enactment of the [[Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany|(West) German constitution]] on [[23 May]] [[1949]], the black-red-gold tricolour was adopted as the flag for the Federal Republic of Germany.<ref name="constitutionDE"/> In 1955, the inhabitants of the French-administered [[Saar (protectorate)|Saar Protectorate]] elected to join West Germany.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ena.lu/saar-referendum-23-october-1955-022100041.html |title=The Saar referendum |work=European Navigator |date=[[1955-10-23]] |accessdate=2008-02-24}}</ref> Since its establishment as a separate French protectorate in 1947, the Saar had a white Nordic cross on a blue and red background as its flag.<ref>{{de icon}} {{cite web |url=http://www.documentarchiv.de/de/saar/saarland47-index.htm |title=Constitution of the Saarland |work=documentArchiv.de |date=[[1947-12-15]] |accessdate=2008-02-24}} See Article 61.</ref> To demonstrate the commitment of the Saar to be a part of West Germany, a new flag was selected on [[9 July]] [[1956]]: the black-red-gold tricolour defaced with the new [[Coat of arms of Saarland|coat of arms]], also proposed on this day.<ref>{{de icon}} Government of the Saarland ([[1956-07-09]]) ''Gesetz Nr. 508 über die Flagge des Saarlandes'' and ''Gesetz Nr. 509 über das Wappen des Saarlandes''</ref> This flag came into force on [[1 January]] [[1957]], upon the establishment of the [[Saarland]] as a state of West Germany. [[Image:Flag of East Germany.svg|thumb|3:5 {{FIAV|110110}}{{FIAV|historical}} Flag of the German Democratic Republic (1959–90)]] While the use of black-red-gold had been suggested in the Soviet zone in 1946, the Second People's Congress in 1948 decided to adopt the old black-white-red tricolour as a national flag for East Germany. This choice was based on the use of these colours by the [[National Committee for a Free Germany]],<ref name="proposals"/> a German anti-[[Nazism|Nazi]] organisation that operated in the [[Soviet Union]] in the last two years of the war. In 1949, following a suggestion from [[Friedrich Ebert junior|Friedrich Ebert]], the black-red-gold tricolour was instead selected as the flag of the German Democratic Republic upon the formation of this state on [[7 October]] [[1949]].<ref name="DDRconst">{{de icon}} {{cite web |url=http://www.documentarchiv.de/ddr/verfddr1949.html |title=Constitution of the German Democratic Republic |work=documentArchiv.de |date=[[1949-10-07]] |accessdate=2008-02-24}} See Article 2.</ref> From 1949 to 1959, the flags of both West and East Germany were identical. On [[1 October]] [[1959]], the East German government changed its flag with the addition of [[Coat of arms of East Germany|its coat of arms]].<ref name="DDR1959">{{de icon}} {{cite web |url=http://www.documentarchiv.de/ddr/1959/ddr-staatswappen-staatsflagge-aender_ges.html |title=Gesetz zur Änderung des Gesetzes über das Staatswappen und die Staatsflagge der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik |author=Government of the German Democratic Republic |work=documentArchiv.de |date=[[1959-10-01]] |accessdate=2008-02-24}}</ref> In West Germany, these changes were seen as a deliberate attempt to divide the two Germanys. Displaying this flag in West Germany and West Berlin – where it became known as the ''Spalterflagge'' (divider-flag) – was seen as a breach of the constitution and subsequently banned until the late 1960s. [[Image:Flag of Germany-1960-Olympics.svg|thumb|Flag of the [[United Team of Germany]], as used 1960 to 1968]] From 1956 to 1964, West and East Germany attended the [[Winter Olympic Games|Winter]] and [[Summer Olympic Games]] as a single team, known as the [[United Team of Germany]]. After the East German national flag was changed in 1959, neither country accepted the flag of the other. As a compromise, a new flag was used from 1960 to 1968, featuring the black-red-gold tricolour [[Defacement (flag)|defaced]] with white [[Olympic rings]] in the red stripe. ===1989 to today=== [[Image:Flag of East Germany with cut out emblem.svg|thumb|right|{{FIAV|reconstructed}} The East German flag with the emblem cut out, displayed by many East Germans before reunification (1989)]] After the [[fall of the Berlin Wall]] in November 1989, many East Germans cut the coat of arms out of their flags, as [[Hungarian Revolution of 1956|Hungarians had done in 1956]],<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_the_Hungarian_Revolution_%281956%29.svg Flag of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution on Wikipedia]</ref><ref>Image:MindszentyPlaza Cleveland.JPG</ref> and as Romanians would soon do during the [[Romanian Revolution of 1989|fall of Ceauşescu]]. The widespread act of removing the coat of arms from the East German flag implied the plain black-red-gold tricolour as symbol for a united and democratic Germany. Finally, on [[3 October]] [[1990]], as the area of the German Democratic Republic was absorbed into the Federal Republic of Germany, the black-red-gold tricolour became the flag of a [[German reunification|reunified Germany]]. In 1998, the [[Foundation for the Reconciliation of the SED Dictatorship]] was formed. The duty of this organisation, directly responsible to the federal government, is to examine the consequences of the former East German regime. As its logo, the foundation uses this cut-out version of the East German flag.<ref>[http://www.stiftung-aufarbeitung.de/downloads/pdf/english.pdf Information pamphlet] by the [[Foundation for the Reconciliation of the SED Dictatorship]]. Retrieved on [[9 March]] [[2008]].</ref> [[Image:Neonazi 2.4.2005 München.jpg|thumb|left|Neo-Nazi march in Munich (2005)]] The old black-white-red tricolour of the German Empire is still used by [[monarchism|monarchists]] and those members of German royalty who long for the peaceful reintroduction of a German democratic monarchy.<ref name="pro-monarchy">[http://www.promonarchie.de Home page] of monarchist organisation ''[[Tradition und Leben]]''. See German section for more detailed text. Retrieved on [[24 February]] [[2008]].</ref> This use of the old flag is almost completely overshadowed by its prevalent use by the far right; since the swastika is illegal in Germany the far right have been forced to forego any Nazi flags and instead use the old tricolour – which the Nazis themselves banned in 1935.<ref name="flag1935"/> The ban of Nazi symbols in some countries is the main reason why many [[List of World War II video games|computer games related to World War II]] do not feature the Nazi flag, sometimes replacing it with the anachronistic flag of pre-1918 Germany. The utilisation of the old imperial tricolour by the far right and its attempts to associate the tricolour with its antidemocratic and xenophobic ideals are strongly objected to by modern German monarchists.<ref name="pro-monarchy"/> [[Image:World Cup 2006 German fans at Bochum.jpg|thumb|German football fans during the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]]. Some flags seen here contain the [[Coat of arms of Germany|federal coat of arms]] and [[#Government_flag|must not be confused]] with the state flag, which displays the ''Bundesschild''.]] In Germany, the use of the flag and other national symbols is relatively low – a reaction against the widespread use of flags by the Nazi Party, and against the nationalistic furore of the Nazis in general.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,424373,00.html |title=Dr. Strangelove: How Germans Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Flag |author=Sontheimer, Michael |work=[[Der Spiegel|Spiegel Online]] |date=[[2006-06-29]] |accessdate=2008-03-05}}</ref> The flag is used primarily by official authorities on special occasions or by citizens during international sporting events. In some states (e.g. [[Bavaria]], [[Schleswig-Holstein]]) or sub-state historical regions (e.g. [[Baden]], [[Franconia]]) residents may prefer the use of regional flags instead of the national flag. During the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]], which took place in Germany, public use of the national flag increased dramatically.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,421241,00.html |title=Germany flies the flag |author=Young, Marc |work=[[Der Spiegel|Spiegel Online]] |date=[[2006-06-14]] |accessdate=2008-02-24}}</ref> Although this explosion in the flag's popularity was initially greeted by many Germans with a mixture of surprise and apprehension,<ref name="NYT2006">{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/18/world/europe/18germany.html |title=In World Cup Surprise, Flags Fly With German Pride |author=Bernstein, Richard |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=[[2006-06-14]] |accessdate=2008-03-05}}</ref> the decades-old fear that German flag-waving and national pride was inextricably associated with its Nazi past was dismissed by the end of the tournament by Germans and non-Germans alike.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,426063,00.html |title=Germany's World Cup Recovery: From Humorless to Carefree in 30 Days |author=Crossland, David |work=[[Der Spiegel|Spiegel Online]] |date=[[2006-07-10]] |accessdate=2008-03-05}}</ref> ==See also== *[[List of German flags]] *[[Flags of German states]] *[[Coat of arms of Germany]] *[[Hanseatic flags]] *[[Flag of Prussia]] *[[Reichskriegsflagge]] ==References== {{Reflist|2}} ==External links== {{Commons|Flags of Germany}} * {{FOTW|title=Germany|id=de}} * [http://www.flaggenlexikon.de/fdtlhi1r.htm All medieval flags of Germany] {{GermanFlags}} {{Flag of Europe}} {{nationalflags}} {{featured article}} [[Category:National symbols of Germany]] [[Category:National flags|Germany]] [[Category:Flags of Germany| ]] [[hy:Գերմանիայի դրոշը]] [[ar:علم ألمانيا]] [[ast:Bandera d'Alemaña]] [[bs:Zastava Njemačke]] [[bg:Национално знаме на Германия]] [[ca:Bandera d'Alemanya]] [[cs:Německá vlajka]] [[cy:Baner yr Almaen]] [[da:Tysklands flag]] [[de:Flagge Deutschlands]] [[et:Saksamaa lipp]] [[el:Σημαία της Γερμανίας]] [[es:Bandera de Alemania]] [[eu:Alemaniako bandera]] [[fr:Drapeau de l'Allemagne]] [[gl:Bandeira de Alemaña]] [[ko:독일의 국기]] [[hy:Գերմանիայի դրոշը]] [[hr:Zastava Njemačke]] [[bpy:জার্মানির ফিরালহান]] [[id:Bendera Jerman]] [[it:Bandiera tedesca]] [[he:דגל גרמניה]] [[ku:Ala Almanyayê]] [[lv:Vācijas karogs]] [[lt:Vokietijos vėliava]] [[hu:Németország zászlaja]] [[ms:Bendera Jerman]] [[nah:Teutotitlān pāntli]] [[nl:Vlag van Duitsland]] [[ja:ドイツの国旗]] [[no:Tysklands flagg]] [[nn:Det tyske flagget]] [[pl:Flaga Niemiec]] [[pt:Bandeira da Alemanha]] [[ro:Drapelul Germaniei]] [[ru:Флаг Германии]] [[sq:Flamuri i Gjermanisë]] [[simple:Flag of Germany]] [[sk:Vlajka Nemecka]] [[sr:Застава Немачке]] [[sh:Zastava Njemačke]] [[fi:Saksan lippu]] [[sv:Tysklands flagga]] [[th:ธงชาติเยอรมนี]] [[tr:Almanya Bayrağı]] [[uk:Прапор Німеччини]] [[zh:德国国旗]]