List of German flags

See also: Flag of Germany

This list of German flags details flags and standards that have been or are currently used by Germany between 1848 and the present.

National flags

Flag	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

Standards

Presidential standard

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	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 the president of the State Council
	1935–1945	Standard of the Führer

Imperial family standards

Further information: House of Hohenzollern

Flag	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

Other standards

Further information: House of Hohenzollern

Flag	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.

Military

German Navy

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
	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	Naval ensign of Prussian Navy
	1816–1819	Naval ensign of Prussian Navy
	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	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
	c. 12th–early 14th centuries	War flag of the Holy Roman Empire	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
	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"

Military and state flags

Flag	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
	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

Non-Governmental flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1933–1943	Flag of the Kyffhäuserbund	The red square with an iron cross and a Kyffhäuser Monument

Civil ensign

Flag	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.
	1933–1935	Merchant flag of German Reich variant with the Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz)
	1933–1935	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

German Scouting flags

Flag	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 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

Sport flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
Link to file	?–present	Flag of German Canoeing Associationde
	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

• 
  Pennant for the German Bicycle Union (1930's–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 the German Vexillological Association
		Flag of World Vexillological Research Institute

Flags of German states

Main article: Flags of German states

Flags of German districts

Main article: List of district flags of Germany

Flags of German municipalities

Main article: Lists of German municipal flags

Most municipalities have unique flags. Like state flags, most of them are with either a bicolour or tricolour 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
	?–present	Flag of Westphalia
	1945–present	Flag of Württemberg

Political flags

Flag	Date	Party	Description
current
	1991–present	Social Democratic Party of Germany
	2023–present	Christian Democratic Union of Germany
	2016–present	Christian Social Union in Bavaria
	2015–present	Free Democratic Party
	1952–1968
	1993–present	Alliance 90/The Greens	"New" flag from 2023 with a change of colours to a darker shade of green and a slightly desaturated yellow.
	2021–present	Alternative for Germany
	2007–present	Die Linke
	2004–present	South Schleswig Voters' Association
	2013–present	National Democratic Party of Germany
	1964–?		Still appearing in street demonstrations.
	2013–present	The III. Path
	2012–present	Ecological-Left Liberal Democratic Party
	2012–present	The Right – Party for Referendum, Sovereignty and Homeland Protection
	2011–present	Marxist–Leninist Party of Germany
	2005–present	Bergpartei, die "ÜberPartei"
	2004–present	Front Deutscher Äpfel
	2000s–present	Identitarian movement
	1990–present	Communist Party of Germany
	2021–present	Free Saxony
former
	1870–1933	Centre Party	Used before the Nazi period.
	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
	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
	1932	Iron Front's Anti-Nazi Demonstration Flag
	1928–1933	Rural People's Movement
	1919–1921	Freikorps Roßbach

Religious flags

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

Ethnic groups flags

Flag	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

Historical flags

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

Further information: Francia, Kingdom of Germany, and Holy Roman Empire

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	c. 9th century	Imperial Oriflamme of Charlemagne.	A 3 pointed green banner with 8 golden crosses and 6 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 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.

Teutonic Order State and Prussia (1226–1935)

Further information: State of the Teutonic Order and Prussia

Flag	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 – 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 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.

German Confederation (1815–1866)

Further information: German Confederation

Flag	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)

North German Confederation (1866–1871)

Further information: North German Confederation

Flag	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)

German Empire (1871–1918)

Further information: German Empire and Flag of the German Empire

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

Weimar Republic (1919–1933)

Further information: Weimar Republic

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

Nazi Germany (1933–1945)

See also: Nazi Germany, Flag of Nazi Germany, and Blutfahne

The flag with the swastika and white disc centered was used throughout (1920–1945) as the NSDAP flag (Parteiflagge). Between 1933 and 1935, it was used as the mandotary party flag with the national 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-centre 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
	1920–1945	NSDAP flag (Parteiflagge)	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 1935–1945	National flag Marine jack (Gösch) Merchant ensign (Reichshandelsflagge)	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 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)

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)

See also: East Germany and Flag of East Germany

Flag	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
	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

Baden-Württemberg

Baden

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

Hohenzollern-Hechingen and Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1576–1850	Flag of the Hohenzollern-Hechingen and Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen

Leyen

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

Württemberg

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

Bavaria

Bavaria

Flag	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

Other countries in today's Bavarian lands

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

Brandenburg

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

East Frisia

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

Hesse

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

Lower Saxony

Brunswick

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

Hanover

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

Oldenburg

Flag	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

Schaumburg-Lippe

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1647–1918	Flag of Principality of Schaumburg-Lippe

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

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

North Rhine-Westphalia

Lippe

Flag	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

Other

Flag	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

Rhineland-Palatinate

Palatinate

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

Mainz

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	medieval–1803	Banner of the Electorate of Mainz

Trier

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	medieval–1801	Banner of the Electorate of Trier

Saarland

Palatinate

Flag	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

Saxony

Flag	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

Saxony-Anhalt

Anhalt

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1806–1918	Flag of Duchy of Anhalt

Anhalt-Bernburg, Anhalt-Dessau and Anhalt-Köthen

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1252–1468, 1603–1863 1396–1561, 1603–1863 1396–1562, 1603–1853	Flag of Anhalt-Bernburg, Anhalt-Dessau and Anhalt-Köthen

Schleswig-Holstein

Heligoland

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1945–1952	Flag of British occupation zone in Germany	Union Flag
	1807–1890	Flag of British Heligoland
	1807–1890	Government Ensign of British Heligoland
	1807–1890	Flag of the Lieutenant-Governor of British Heligoland

Holstein

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	?–1864	Civil Ensign of Duchy of Holstein

Lübeck

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	medieval–1918	Flag of Free City of Lübeck

Saxe-Lauenburg

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1814–1876	Flag of Saxe-Lauenburg

Schleswig

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	?–1866	Flag of Duchy of Schleswig

Thuringia

Reuss

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1806–1918	Flag of Principality of Reuss-Gera
	1778–1918	Flag of Principality of Reuss-Greiz

Saxe-Altenburg

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1893–1918	Flag of Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg

Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1911–1920	Flag of Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
	?–1826	Flag of Duchy of Saxe-Hildburghausen

Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1680–1826	Flag of Duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg

Saxe-Meiningen

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1826–1918	Flag of Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen

Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1897–1918	Flag of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
	1813–1897	Flag of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach

Schwarzburg-Sondershausen

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1599–1918	Flag of Principality of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen

Other

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1989–1990	Defaced state flag	Used by supporters of German reunification in East Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
	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.
	1914-1919	Spartacus League
	1816	Flag of Urburschenschaft
	1609–1635	Banner of the Catholic League
	1539	Banner of the Peasants' army
	medieval	Banner of the Swabian League

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 colour.

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 (Wirmer flag)
	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 of occupied Poland	Flag proposal for the newly General Government, known only from the description.
	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)

See also: Coats of arms of German colonies

Flag	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.
		Proposal for German Kamerun
		Proposal for German New Guinea
		Proposal for German Samoa
		Proposal for German South-West Africa
		Proposal for German Togoland

House Flags

German shipping company

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Aug. Bolten Wm. Miller’s Nachfolger
	?–present	Bossler shipping companies
	1819–present	F. A. Vinnen & Co.de
	1871–present	Hamburg Süd
	1920–present	Hugo Stinnes Schiffahrt
	1901–present	Johann M. K. Blumenthalde
	1903–present	Leonhardt & Blumbergde
	1920–present	Ludwig & Jakob Götzde
	1928–present	Reederei Baltrum-Liniede
	1900–present	Reederei Warringsde
	1982–present	Rickmers Group
	?–present	Schiffswerft Philipp Ebert und Söhnede
	1890–present	Unterweser Reedereide
	1946–present	Waibel KGde
	1885–present	Wyker Steamship Shipping Company Föhr-Amrumde
	1896–1922	Argo Reedereide
	1899–1969	A. Kirstende
	1875–2018	Cassens-Werftde
	1872–1926	Deutsche Dampfschiffahrtsgesellschaft Kosmosde
	1890–1942	Deutsche Ost-Afrika Linie
	1881–1980	DDG Hansa
	1873–1974	D. G. Neptunde
	1821–1918	D. H. Wätjen & Co.de
	1889–1970	Deutsche Levante-Liniede
	1898–1931	Emil R. Retzlaff
	1970s	Fendel-Stinnes
	1958–1973 and 1991–1997	Hamburg Atlantic Line
	1847–1970	Hamburg America Line
	1887–1939	Hamburg-Bremen-Africa-linede
	1907–1920s	Hugo Stinnes Linien GmbH
	1884–1914	Jantzen & Thormählen
	1850–1879	Liniendienst von Joh. Ces. Godeffroy & Sohn
	1924–1990	Lübeck Liniede
	1808–?	Mathias Stinnesde
	1857–1970	Norddeutscher Lloyd
	1882–2018	Oldenburg-Portugiesische Dampfschiffs-Rhedereide
	1869–1967	Reederei Robert Meyhoeferde
	1905–1959	Roland-Liniede
	1885–1942	Woermann-Linie

German Chartered company

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1882–1898	German New Guinea Company
	1884–1920	German East Africa Company
	1884–1885
	1885–1903	German West African Company
	1875–1939	Hernsheim & Co
	1887	Jaluit Societyde
	1888–?
	1878–1887	German trading and plantation company from the South Sea Islands

Other companies

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1935–1937	Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei
	1904–?	East African Railway Society

German yacht clubs

Flag	Club
	Academic Sailing Club in Kielde
	Blankeneser Segel-Clubde
	Flensburger Segel-Clubde
	Seebrucker Regatta-Verein
	Segelclub Rhe
	Segler Verein Wörthsee
	Segler-Gemeinschaft Utting e.V.
	Seglervereinigung 1903 Berlin
	Spandauer Yacht-Clubde
	Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee
	Württembergischer Yacht Club
	Yacht-Club Bad Wiessee e.V.
	The German Sea Sports Association HANSAde
	AYC-StAGde
	Hamburger Segel-Club
	Kaiserlicher Yacht Club
	Kieler Yacht-Club
	Lübecker Yacht-Club
	Marine-Regatta-Verein
	Norddeutscher Regatta Verein
	Yacht-Club Nürnbergde
	Segel-Club Oberhavelde
	Sailing Fellowship "The Coat of Arms of Bremen"de
	Segel-Motorboot-Club Friedrichshafende
	Stander ASV zu Halle
	Segel-Club "Ahoi"de
	Sailing club "Weser"de
	Water Sports Club 1921de
	Weser Yacht Club Bremerhavende
	Yacht-Club von Deutschland (Burgee)
	National Socialist Flyers Corps (NSFK)
	Feldgendarmerie (Field Military Police)
	Yacht-Club von Deutschland (Ensign)

External links

• Historical flags (Germany) at Flags of the World