History

The flag was first adopted in 1919. It was later readopted in May 1949, when the country established a new constitution. According to "Everything About Germany," during the Cold War and before the unification of Germany, East Germany and West Germany used different flags. East Germany introduced a communist emblem in the center of its flag. Use of the West German flag was banned and considered a criminal offense in East Germany.

Significance

Today, the German flag represents the country's struggle to create a democratic and unified Germany. The country was divided in the aftermath of World War II, but eventually reunited. Germany was officially united in October 1990.

Color Symbolism

The German flag has three horizontal stripes identical in size. The stripes are black, red and gold. The colors play an important role in German history and, according to World Flags, are traced to the early 19th century. The colors were based on the uniforms of soldiers that fought for Germany in the Napoleonic wars. The soldiers wore black coats with red braids and gold-colored buttons.

Considerations

The German flag has changed over the years. For example, from 1935 to 1945, the German flag had a red background with a black swastika in a white circle.

Flag Use

In some countries, use of the national flag is prevalent. In Germany, the flag is used modestly in public. It is normally only used by official authorities on special occasions or holidays.

Source:

World Flags 101

Everything About Germany

More Information:

German Flag History