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.

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.	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.
1997–present	Hanging national flag (Bannerflagge)
1996–present	Hanging state flag

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.
1933–1935 (de facto up to 1934)	Standard of the president
1926–1933	Standard of the president
1919–1921	Flag of the president
1955–1960	Standard of the president of East Germany
1953–1955
1951–1953
1950–1951
1949–1950
1960–1990	Standard of the president of the State Council
1935–1945	Standard of the Führer

Date	Use	Description
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
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.
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
1437–1493	Banner of Emperor Frederick III	A black double-headed eagle with the coat of arms of Austria on a yellow field
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
800–1401	Banner of the Emperor of the Romans and of the King of Germany	An Imperial Eagle displayed with a halo sable armed and langued gules^[1]

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 centre 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	Featured the flag of the British royal family until George V's decision to change the house into Windsor.
1911–1918	Princely standard of Schaumburg-Lippe
1816–1837	Royal standard of the Kingdom of Hanover	Flag of the King of Great Britain in Hannover until Queen Victoria.

Flag	Date	Use	Description
Ensigns
	1956–	War ensign and jack (Seekriegsflagge und Gösch) of the German Navy	A swallowtail variant of the state flag
	1960–1990	Naval ensign (Seekriegsflagge) of the Volksmarine
	1938–1945	Naval ensign of Kriegsmarine
	1935–1938	Naval ensign of Kriegsmarine
	1933–1935	Reich war flag (Reichskriegsflagge) and marine jack
	1921–1933	Reich war flag (Reichskriegsflagge)
	1919–1921 (never used)	Reich war flag (Reichskriegsflagge)
	1903–1918 (1921)	Reich war flag
	1892–1903	Reich war flag (Reichskriegsflagge)
	1867–1892	Imperial Navy war ensign (Kriegsflagge)
	1848–1852	War ensign of the Reichsflotte
	1895–1918	Naval ensign of Prussian Navy
	1819–1895
	1816–1819
	12th century	Naval ensign of the State of the Teutonic Order
	1650–1694	Naval ensign of the Brandenburg Navy
	15th century	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.
	15th century		A square flag depicting a black eagle on a yellow field with a red bar on top
	c. 12th–early 14th centuries		A non-rectangular flag depicting a white cross on a red field
Jacks
	1956–	War ensign and jack (Seekriegsflagge und Gösch) of the German Navy	A swallowtail variant of the state flag
	1935–1945	Jack of Kriegsmarine
	1933–1935	Jack of Kriegsmarine
	1921–1933	Marine jack (Kriegsgösch)
	1903–1918 (1921)	Marine jack (Kriegsgösch)
	1867–1903	Marine jack (Kriegsschiffgösch)
	1848–1852	Jack of the Reichsflotte
Other
	1945–1947	Flag of the German Mine Sweeping Administration	The signal pennant "8"

Date	Use	Description
	Standard of the chancellor of Germany	A square variant of the Bundesdienstflagge with red border.
1957–	Standard of inspector general of the Bundeswehr
1964–	Troop colour (Truppenfahne) of the Bundeswehr	A variant of the Kriegsflagge with aspect ratio of 1:1.
1950–1994	Flag of Deutsche Bundespost
	Flag of the minister of Deutsche Bundespost
	Flag of the president of Deutsche Bundespost	A swallowtail variant of the postal flag
	Flag of the state secretary of Deutsche Bundespost

Date	Use	Description
1949–present	Merchant flag	A tricolour, made of three equal horizontal bands coloured black (top), red, and gold (bottom).
1973–1990	Merchant flag of German Democratic Republic (Handelsflagge)	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 of German Democratic Republic (Handelsflagge)
1946–1950	"C-Pennant" (C-Doppelstander) (provisional civil ensign)	Used during the Occupation Period to identify German ships according to international law.
1935–1945	Merchant flag of German Reich variant with the Iron Cross
1933–1935	Merchant flag of German Reich (Handelsflagge)	A red field, with a white disc with a black swastika at a 45-degree angle. Disc and swastika are exactly in the centre.^{[citation needed]}
	Merchant flag of German Reich variant with the Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz)
	Merchant flag of German Reich (Handelsflagge)	Black, white, and red horizontal tricolour. Used in conjunction with the Parteiflagge.
1921–1933	Merchant flag of Weimar Republic variant with the Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz)
1919–1933	Merchant flag of Weimar Republic (Handelsflagge)
1896–1918	Merchant flag variant with the Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz)
1871–1918	Merchant flag of German Empire (National- und Handelsflagge)
?–1918	Merchant flag of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
?–1864	Merchant flag of Duchy of Holstein
1816–1837	Merchant flag of Kingdom of Hanover

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.

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1946–1989	Flag of Free German Youth
	1948–1990	Flag and pennant of Ernst Thälmann Pioneer Organisation
	1955–1994	Wiking-Jugend
	1932–1945	Flag and pennant of Deutsches Jungvolk
	1926–1945	Flags and pennant of Hitlerjugend
	1926–1935	Pennants of Hitlerjugend
	1935–1945	Pennant of League of German Girls
	1904–present	Socialist Youth of Germany – Falcons

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	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
	1936–1945	Flag of Sports Office of the Third Reich
	1934–1945	Flag of Deutsche Jägerschaft
	1930's–1945	Flag of German Bicycle Union

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1995–present	Flag of the German Vexillological Association
		Flag of World Vexillological Research Institute

Date	Use	Description
1952–present	Flags of Baden	A horizontal triband of yellow and red.
1952–present	Flags of Baden	A horizontal bicolour of red and yellow.
1990's–present	Flag of Franconia
1952–present	Flag of Mecklenburg
1816–present	Flag of Palatinate
1945–present	Flag of Pomerania
?–present	Flag of Westphalia
1945–present	Flag of Württemberg

Flag	Date	Party	Description
current
	Since 1991	Social Democratic Party of Germany
	Since 2023	Christian Democratic Union of Germany
	Since 2016	Christian Social Union in Bavaria
	Since 2015	Free Democratic Party
	1952–1968	Free Democratic Party
	Since 1993	Alliance 90/The Greens	"New" flag from 2023 with a change of colours to a darker shade of green and a slightly desaturated yellow.
	Since 2021	Alternative for Germany
	Since 2007	Die Linke
	Since 2004	South Schleswig Voters' Association
	Since 2013	National Democratic Party of Germany
	1964–?	National Democratic Party of Germany	Still appearing in street demonstrations.
	Since 2013	The III. Path
	Since 2022	Ecological-Left Liberal Democratic Party
	Since 2011	Marxist–Leninist Party of Germany
	Since 2005	Bergpartei, die "ÜberPartei"
	Since 2004	Front Deutscher Äpfel
	Since 2000s	Identitarian movement
	Since 1990	Communist Party of Germany
	Since 2021	Free Saxony
former
	2012–2025	The Right – Party for Referendum, Sovereignty and Homeland Protection
	1998–2005	Deutsche Heidnische Front
	1979–1995	Free German Workers' Party
	1977–1983	Action Front of National Socialists/National Activists
	1968–1986	Communist Party of Germany/Marxists–Leninists
	1949–1952	Socialist Reich Party
	1943–1945	National Committee for a Free Germany	Also used the Flag of Germany (1867–1918) without the heading
	1930–1933	Black Front
	1870–1933	Centre Party	Used before the Nazi period.
	1920–1924	Union of Upper Silesians
	1920–1945	National Socialist German Workers' Party
	1919–1946	Communist Party of Germany (obverse and reverse)
	1918–1933	German National People's Party	Flag of Germany (1867–1918)
East Germany
	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
	?–1990	Cultural Association of the GDR
other
	1990s–present	Antifa
	1933–1935	Der Stahlhelm, Bund der Frontsoldaten
	1918–1933	Der Stahlhelm, Bund der Frontsoldaten
	1932	Iron Front's Anti-Nazi Demonstration Flag
	1928–1933	Rural People's Movement
	1919–1921	Freikorps Roßbach

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Flag of Evangelical Church in Germany
former
	1990s–2000s	Flag of Heathen Front
	1932–1945	Flag of German Christians (movement)
	1900–c.1938	Flag of Order of the New Templars	Golden background as a symbol of eternity, lilies as a symbol of (racial) purity, and the red swastika as a symbol of growing arioheroism.
	1871–1918	Old Church pennant

Date	Use	Description
1989–present	Flag of East Frisians
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
1829–1945	Flag of Masurians

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1105–1191	Banner of Burgraviate of Nuremberg under the Raabs
	1398–1791	Hohenzollern banner of Principalitys of Ansbach and Bayreuth
	1803–1810	Flag of Principality of Regensburg
	1805–1814	Flag of Grand Duchy of Würzburg

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	?–1835	Flag of Lordship of Kniphausen^de
	1702–1751	Flag of Lordship of Kniphausen
	1689–1702	Banner of Lordship of Kniphausen

Date	Use	Description
1815–1918	Flag of Grand Duchy of Oldenburg	Flag proportions: 3:5 Cross proportions: 9-6-9:12-6-22
1810–1815	Flag of First French Empire
1774–1810	Flag of Duchy of Oldenburg	Flag proportions: 3:5 Cross proportions: 9-6-9:17-6-17
?–1774	Flag of County of Oldenburg

Date	Use	Description
1880–1918	Flag of Principality of Lippe
c.1858–1880	Flag of Principality of Lippe
1811–1814	Flag of department of Lippe	Flag of France

Date	Use	Description
c. 9th century	Imperial Oriflamme of Charlemagne.	A three-pointed green banner with eight golden crosses and six flowers.
c. 12th–early 14th centuries	War flag of the Holy Roman Empire	A non-rectangular flag depicting a white cross on a red field
1400–1523	Imperial Pavilion of Holy Roman Empire	A flag depicting a black eagle on a yellow field
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.

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 bicolour design – black and white, 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 centre 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.

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1871–1918	National and merchant flag (National- und Handelsflagge)
	1884–1918	Colonial flag
	1903–1919	War Ensign (Reichskriegsflagge)

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1919–1933	National flag (Nationalflagge)
	1921–1933	State flag (Dienstflagge zu Land)
	1921–1926	State ensign (Dienstflagge zur See)
	1926–1933	State ensign (Dienstflagge zur See)
	1919–1921	Flag of Defence Minister
	1921–1933	Flag of Defence Minister

Flag	Date	Use	Description
Flags used 1933–1935
	1920–1945	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	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	National flag^[2]	A red field, with a white disc with a black swastika at a 45-degree angle. Disk and swastika are slightly off-centre.
		Marine jack (Gösch)
		Merchant ensign (Reichshandelsflagge^[3])
	1933–1945	Banner (Bannerflagge) of Germany	Banners were of various lengths, which were hung vertically on public buildings.
	1933–1945	Banner (Bannerflagge) for the Schutzstaffel	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 (Reichsdienstflagge)
	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)
	1921–1945	Sturmabteilung (SA)
	1935–1945	National Socialist Motor Corps (NSKK)
	1936–1945	Flag of the Ordnungspolizei (OrPo) ("Order Police", the national regular police organization of National Socialist Germany)

Date	Use	Description
1949–1959	State flag (Staatsflagge)
1959–1990	State flag (Staatsflagge) 1959–1990	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
1959–1990	Merchant flag (Handelsflagge) 1973–1990
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
1962–1990	Flag of boats of the Border Troops

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1891–1918	Flag of Grand Duchy of Baden
	1862–1891	Flag of Grand Duchy of Baden
	1855–1862	Flag of Grand Duchy of Baden
	1848–1855	Flag of Grand Duchy of Baden
	1803–1848	Flag of Electorate of Baden and Grand Duchy of Baden
	medieval–1803	Banner of the Margraviate of Baden

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1806–1814	Flag of the Principality of Leyen
	until 1798	Flag of the County of Adendorf

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1817–1918	Flag of Kingdom of Württemberg
	1803–1816	Flag of Electorate of Württemberg and the first flag of the Kingdom of Württemberg
	medieval–1803	Banner of Duchy of Württemberg

Date	Use	Description
1945–1949	Flag of American Zone	Flag of the United States
1918	Flag of Bavarian Soviet Republic	Red flag
1805–1918	Flag of Kingdom of Bavaria
1623–1806	Banner of Electorate of Bavaria
1505–1623	Banner of Duchy of Bavaria
1392–1505	Banner of Bavaria-Munich
1353–1392	Banner of Bavaria-Landshut

Presidential standard

Imperial family standards

Other standards

German Navy

Other youth organisations

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

Teutonic Order State and Prussia (1226–1935)

German Confederation (1815–1866)

North German Confederation (1867–1871)

German Empire (1871–1918)

Weimar Republic (1919–1933)

Nazi Germany (1933–1945)

World War II aftermath in Germany

East Germany (1949–1990)

Baden-Württemberg

Baden

Hohenzollern-Hechingen and Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen

Leyen

Württemberg

Bavaria

Bavaria

Other countries in today's Bavarian lands

Brandenburg

East Frisia

Hesse

Lower Saxony

Brunswick

Hanover

Oldenburg

Schaumburg-Lippe

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

North Rhine-Westphalia

Lippe

Other

Rhineland-Palatinate

Palatinate

Mainz

Trier

Saarland

Palatinate

Saxony

Saxony-Anhalt

Anhalt

Anhalt-Bernburg, Anhalt-Dessau and Anhalt-Köthen

Schleswig-Holstein

Heligoland

Holstein

Lübeck

Saxe-Lauenburg

Schleswig

Thuringia

Reuss

Saxe-Altenburg

Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg

Saxe-Meiningen

Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach

Schwarzburg-Sondershausen

Other

Nazi Germany occupations (1939–1945)

German colonial empire (1884–1918)

German shipping company

German Chartered company

Other companies

Related Articles

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1660–1750	Flag of Margraviate of Brandenburg
	c. 1684	Flag of Margraviate of Brandenburg
	1340–1657	Banner of Margraviate of Brandenburg-Küstrin

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1919–1923	Flag of Free State of Bottleneck
	1806–1918	Flag of Grand Duchy of Hesse
	1806–1866	Flag of Duchy of Nassau
	?–1806	Flag of Nassau-Usingen
	?–1866	Flag of Free City of Frankfurt
	1810–1813	Flag of Grand Duchy of Frankfurt
	1806–1815	Flag of County of Isenburg
	1807–1813	Flag of Kingdom of Westphalia

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1830–1918	Flag of Duchy of Brunswick
	1814–1830	Flag of Duchy of Brunswick

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1946	Flag of State of Hanover
	1814–1866	Flag of Kingdom of Hanover
	1692–1814	Flag of Electorate of Hanover

Date	Use	Description
1813–1918	Flag of Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
1864–1918	Flag of Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
1630–1815	Flag of Swedish Pomerania	Flag of Sweden

Date	Use	Description
1945–1949	Flag of British occupation zone in Germany	Union Flag
1923	Flag of Rhenish Republic
1806–1808	Flag of Grand Duchy of Berg
1803–1810	Flag of Arenberg
1803–1806	Flag of County of Dülmen
1798–1811	Flag of County of Dülmen
1797–1802	Flag of Cisrhenian Republic
1770–1803	Flag of Prince-Bishopric of Münster
1166–1801	Flag of Free Imperial City of Aachen

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	before 1604–1776	Flag of Electorate of the Palatinate
	1604–?	Flag of Electorate of the Palatinate

Date	Use	Description
1947–1956	Flag of Saar Protectorate
1920–1935	Flag of Territory of the Saar Basin
1798–1814	Flag of department of Sarre	Flag of France

Date	Use	Description
1945–1949	Flag of Soviet occupation zone of Germany	Flag of the Soviet Union
1815–1918	Flag of Kingdom of Saxony
1356–1806	Electoral flag of Electorate of Saxony
10th cent.–1806	State flag of Electorate of Saxony
around 950	Saxon flag by the House of Ascania; associated for the Saxon Ostmark and battleflag for the Saxon Eastern March

Date	Use	Description
1252–1468	Flag of Anhalt-Bernburg	A square vertical bicolour of green and white.
1603–1863	Flag of Anhalt-Bernburg
1396–1561	Flag of Anhalt-Dessau
1603–1863	Flag of Anhalt-Dessau
1396–1562	Flag of Anhalt-Köthen
1603–1853	Flag of Anhalt-Köthen