Flag of Germany. Colors, history, the meaning of the German flag

The modern flag of Germany, whose photo is below, was officially approved on March 9, 1948. It is a rectangular canvas, which consists of three horizontally arranged strips. The bottom of them has a golden color (it is generally assumed, even despite the fact that it is, in fact, yellow), the middle one is red, and the upper one is black. The width of this German national symbol refers to the length of three to five. For all of German history, he was repeatedly abolished. At first, the adherents of the empire did it, and then the fascists. Despite everything, the national symbol of the country was invariably revived.

The first cases of using the modern flag

The first historical reference to the use of such a combination of colors dates from the nineteenth century. Then it was made by representatives of the national student movement for freedom. They motivated their choice by the fact that such a coloring was used even in the time of the ancient empire. It happened in 1818. The next time this version of the symbol of the country was used for the Hambach holiday, held in 1832. Participation in it was attended by more than forty thousand Germans, most of whom were students and professors defending their patriotic and democratic views.

Among other things, the same flag of Germany was used during the revolution, which took place in the country in March 1848. In connection with these events, the parliament even appropriated it the status of a state banner. At the same time, the revolution was a fiasco. Immediately thereafter, the decision regarding the flag was abolished. In 1863, under this banner, a conference of German princes was held in Frankfurt. It should be noted that similar colors had previously had the uniform of German volunteer students who united to fight Napoleonic expansion in Europe.

Flag version of Otto von Bismarck

During his tenure as chancellor of the country, the legendary Otto von Bismarck introduced a flag that consisted of horizontal stripes of black, white and red. Initially, he played the banner of the commercial and naval German fleet. In 1892, the educated German Empire adopted this symbol. It was used until the appearance of the Weimar Republic. Only in its times such colors of the German flag as gold, red and black were officially recognized and even included in the national constitution.

The fate of the black and white-red symbol

At that time, there were many adherents of the national banner, proposed by Otto von Bismarck. In order to prevent a tense situation in society, the Weimar government made some concessions. More specifically, the black and white-red banner was recognized as a trade symbol. At the same time, in the upper part of it, state colors were still applied. Such a compromise is evidence that the German flag remained the subject of heated discussions. They lasted a very long time, and even led to the resignation of the government in 1926.

German flag before and after the war

In 1935, a new symbol was imposed by the National Democratic Party of the country, its own party flag with a swastika. The status of the national banner he received in connection with the adoption of the relevant law. After the defeat of the Nazis in the Second World War, it was decided to apply the flag of the 1848 model in the future. One representative of the government then said that this symbol means personal freedom, which in the future will become the basis of an entirely new state.

Banner of the GDR

In the second article of the Constitution of the German Democratic Republic, approved on October 7, 1949, the country's involvement in the golden-red-black colors was registered. This testified to her commitment to the unity of the nation, even despite being under socialist ideas. Ten years later, the emblem of the GDR was additionally affixed with a coat of arms that consisted of a compass, a hammer and a wreath of ears. It is interesting that both teams played the same team at the Olympic Games until 1968. In this case, the athletes used the golden-red-black flag of Germany, on which were put five rings.

In 1989, a peaceful revolution took place in the country. In the course of it, many Germans living in the eastern part of the capital demanded the reunification of the two countries. Demonstrating their desire, they everywhere carved the coat of arms, which was placed on the flag. On August 31, 1990 they achieved their goal, and the state united. Automatically, Article 22 of the FRG Constitution extended to new lands. Just over a month later, on October 3, 1990, the flag of Germany with golden, red and black stripes was installed in front of the parliament building (Reichstag).

Flag in local legislation

The government decree on German flags, dated November 13, 1996, regulates and determines the procedure for applying the state flag. As for its unified use for public and official buildings, it is provided for by the order of the federal government, a new version of which was adopted in 2005. It should be noted that every German has the right to use the national flag. At the same time, official symbols of federal agencies are not allowed to private citizens.

Symbolism of the German flag

It is impossible not to mention what the flag of Germany means. As already noted above, the canvas consists of three bands, which have a golden (yellow), red and black color. The lowest of them is associated with the future of the country, the middle means the modern political device, and the upper symbolizes the internal political situation of the state.

However, there is one more version concerning the symbolism incorporated in the flag of Germany. The meaning of flowers was prescribed even in the Constitution of Germany. Proceeding from it, they mean the unity, unity and freedom of the whole German people.

Coat of arms of Germany

The emblem of modern Germany is the image of an eagle ("Reichsadler"). His history has many centuries and goes back to the early days of human development and culture. In the ancient Germans and Greeks, this bird was associated with the life force and the sun, so it was very revered. One of the elements of the national symbolics of the eagle became roughly during the reign of Charlemagne. In 1200, his image on a golden background was recognized as the state emblem. In the fifteenth century, the imperialists began to use an eagle with two heads. Only at the end of the nineteenth century did the Weimar emperor abandon this symbol. Demonstrating its inseparable connection with democratic traditions, the government of the Federal Republic of Germany also began using the image of this bird on its coat of arms. In 1926, the final sketch of the national symbol was developed by Tobias Schwab.

The State Emblem, like the flag of Germany, now enjoys great authority among the Germans. In this regard, the image of the eagle can be found here on the service banners of various federal agencies and the presidential standard. Moreover, it is used in stamped seals, coins, stamps, and also on all kinds of departmental forms.