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 () A tricolour, made of three equal horizontal bands coloured black (top), red, and gold (bottom). 1950–present State flag and ensign () and military flag (). 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 (). Unofficial version, the private use of which is not penalized. 1997–present Hanging national flag () 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 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
Imperial family standards
Flag Date Use Description 1871–1888 German Emperor's standard 1888–1918 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 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
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: , 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 DescriptionEnsigns 1956– War ensign and jack () of the German Navy A swallowtail variant of the state flag 1960–1990 Naval ensign () of the Volksmarine 1938–1945 Naval ensign of the Kriegsmarine 1935–1938 1933–1935 Reich war flag () and marine jack 1921–1933 Reich war flag () 1919–1921 (never used) 1903–1918 (1921) Reich war flag 1892–1903 Reich war flag () 1867–1892 Imperial Navy war ensign () 1848–1852 War ensign of the Reichsflotte 1895–1918 Naval ensign of the 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 – early 14th centuries A non-rectangular flag depicting a white cross on a red fieldJacks 1956– War ensign and jack () of the German Navy A swallowtail variant of the state flag 1935–1945 Jack of the Kriegsmarine 1933–1935 1921–1933 Marine jack () 1903–1918 (1921) 1867–1903 Marine jack () 1848–1852 Jack of the ReichsflotteOther 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 the inspector general of the 1964– Troop colour () of the A variant of the Kriegsflagge with aspect ratio of 1:1. 1950–1994 Flag of the Deutsche Bundespost Flag of the minister of the Deutsche Bundespost Flag of the president of the Deutsche Bundespost A swallowtail variant of the postal flag Flag of the state secretary of the 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 FlagDateUseDescription 1949–present Merchant flag A tricolour, made of three equal horizontal bands coloured black (top), red, and gold (bottom). 1973–1990 Merchant flag of the German Democratic Republic () 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 the German Democratic Republic () 1946–1950 "C-Pennant" () (provisional civil ensign) Used during the Occupation Period to identify German ships according to international law. 1935–1945 Merchant flag of the German Reich variant with the Iron Cross 1933–1935 Merchant flag of the German Reich () A red field, with a white disc with a black swastika at a 45-degree angle. Disc and swastika are exactly in the centre. Merchant flag of the German Reich variant with the Iron Cross () Merchant flag of the German Reich () Black, white, and red horizontal tricolour. Used in conjunction with the . 1921–1933 Merchant flag of the Weimar Republic variant with the Iron Cross () 1919–1933 Merchant flag of the Weimar Republic () 1896–1918 Merchant flag variant with the Iron Cross () 1871–1918 Merchant flag of the German Empire () ?–1918 Merchant flag of Mecklenburg-Schwerin ?–1864 Merchant flag of the Duchy of Holstein 1816–1837 Merchant flag of the Kingdom of Hanover
German Scouting flags FlagDateUseDescription ?–present Flag of the German Association of Guides and Scouts 1965–present Flag of the Deutsche Pfadfinderschaft Sankt Georg 1931–1965 Old flag of the Deutsche Pfadfinderschaft Sankt Georg 1973–present Flag of the Verband Christlicher Pfadfinder*innen White logo on a blue background.
Other youth organisations FlagDateUseDescription 1946–1989 Flag of the Free German Youth 1948–1990 Flag and pennant of the Ernst Thälmann Pioneer Organisation 1955–1994 Wiking-Jugend 1932–1945 Flag and pennant of the Deutsches Jungvolk 1926–1945 Flags and pennant of the Hitlerjugend 1926–1935 Pennants of the Hitlerjugend 1935–1945 Pennant of the League of German Girls 1904–present Socialist Youth of Germany – Falcons
Sport flags FlagDateUseDescription 1956, 1960 and 1964 Flag of the United Team of Germany at the Olympics 1952–1990 Flag of the Gesellschaft für Sport und Technik 1957–1990 Flag of the Deutscher Turn- und Sportbund 1936–1945 Flag of the Sports Office of the Third Reich 1934–1945 Flag of the Deutsche Jägerschaft 1930's–1945 Flag of the German Bicycle Union
Vexillology Associations flags FlagDateUseDescription 1995–present Flag of the German Vexillological Association Flag of the World Vexillological Research Institute
Flags of German states
Flags of German districts
Flags of German municipalities
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 FlagDateUseDescription 1952–present Flags of Baden A horizontal triband of yellow and red. 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
Political flags FlagDatePartyDescription 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 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–? 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 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) 1946–1989 Socialist Unity Party of Germany 1945–1990 Christian Democratic Union Liberal Democratic Party of Germany 1948–1990 Democratic Farmers' Party of Germany 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 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 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)