The National Flag of Germany was officially adopted on May 23, 1949.
The National Flag of Germany features three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold. These colors have played an important role in German history and can be traced back to the medieval banner of the Holy Roman Emperor, which had a black eagle with red claws and beak on a gold background. The black, red, and gold were taken from the uniforms of German soldiers during the Napoleonic Wars. Germans associate the colors of the modern flag with freedom and unity since they were adopted by the first attempt in the united German republic. The flag has a width-to-length proportion ratio of 3:5.
History of the Flag of Germany
The horizontal tricolor flag used today dates back to as early as 1778 and was popularized by the German Confederation in 1848. However, when the confederation failed, the flag was no longer used. When the Prussian king united Germany and became emperor in 1871, he adopted a black, white, and red flag for the German Empire. This tricolor, which came to be known as ‘imperial colors’, served until the defeat of the Second Reich during the First World War. In 1919, the black, red, and gold flag (known as the "republican colors") was adopted by the newly formed Weimar Republic. The colors black, red, and gold represented the colors of the centrist, republican and democratic political parties in the Weimer Republic, which had formed a coalition to avoid ascension to power by war-mongering or pacifist extremists. However, the switch from the imperial colors to the republican colors was controversial to many in the Weimer Republic at the time. When the Weimar Republic collapsed in 1933, and the Nazi Party was elected, the flag of Germany was reverted to the red, white, and black design of former years. The official flag of the Nazi Party, which featured a black swastika, was also simultaneously used to represent the country at this time.
When the Nazi Party gained full control of Germany, they discontinued the use of the red, white and black flag in favor of the flag of the Nazi party, which featured a black swastika. This flag was used to represent Germany until the end of World War II, which saw a ban on all Nazi symbols, including the flag. This ban on Nazi symbolism continues in many countries to this day, including Germany, where it is most strictly enforced.
Throughout the time of a divided Germany, a time spanning the years 1949 to 1989, East Germany and West Germany used different flags. Although there was some hesitancy to accept a national flag before eventual reunification, West Germany adopted the black, red, and gold flag of Germany that we know today. As East Germany was under Soviet rule, the flag did not yet represent them, although they used a similar flag. From the year 1959 onwards, East Germany used a flag that incorporated the black, red, and gold background with the Coat of Arms of East Germany on the flag. Use of this flag was banned in West Germany, as it was seen as a symbol against unification. Ever since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the black, red, and gold flag has officially stood for all of Germany.
Historical Flags of Germany
National Flag and Naval Jack of Germany
Flag of East Germany
Symbols of Germany
The National Coat of Arms of Germany
The country's coat of arms (featuring a dominant eagle) is said to have originated around 1200. Over the centuries many variations have been adopted for military and political reasons, but the eagle has remained as the central theme. The current official Coat of Arms was adopted by the Federal Republic of Germany on January 20, 1950. It features a single-headed black colored eagle, with open wings and possessing a red beak, a red foot, and a red tongue. The black eagle has been placed on a blazoned golden yellow shield. The eagle symbolizes Bundesadler (“Federal Eagle”). It is the world’s oldest Coat of Arms and the oldest European national symbols.
National Motto
"Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit." ("Unity and Justice and Freedom.")
National Anthem
- Anthem Title: "Das Lied der Deutschen" ("Deutschlandlied") ["The Song of the Germans"]
- Music Composer: Joseph Haydn
- Lyricist: August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben
- Date of Adoption: August 11, 1922; restored on: August 27, 1991
"Das Lied der Deutschen" ("Deutschlandlied") ["The Song of the Germans"] is the national anthem of Germany. The music of the anthem has been composed by Joseph Haydn - an Austrian composer. The lyrics have been authored by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben - a German linguist and poet. The anthem was chosen as the national song on August 11, 1922 by the Weimar Republic. It was officially adopted as the national anthem of West Germany in 1952. Upon the reunification of Germany on October 3, 1990 ,only the third stanza of the song was officially accepted and restored as the national anthem on August 27, 1991.
"Das Lied der Deutschen" (German)
Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
Für das deutsche Vaterland!
Danach lasst uns alle streben
Brüderlich mit Herz und Hand!
Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
Sind des Glückes Unterpfand –
|: Blüh' im Glanze dieses Glückes,
Blühe, deutsches Vaterland!:|
"The Song of the Germans"
Unity and justice and freedom
For the German fatherland!
Towards these let us all strive
Brotherly with heart and hand!
Unity and justice and freedom
Are the safeguards of fortune;
|: Flourish in the radiance of this fortune,
Flourish, German fatherland! :|
The Currency of Germany is the euro
Since 2002, the official currency of Germany is the euro (€). The euro symbol was designed by a Belgian named Alain Billiet. The € draws inspiration from the Greek epsilon (Є) which is a referral of the infancy of European civilization. The first letter stands for Europe and the two parallel lines signify the euro’s stability.
The euro comes second immediately after the United States dollar as the most used currency worldwide.
Coins
The euro is subdivided into 100 cents. The coins circulating have a primary side bearing the map and values or denomination. The Latin version of the euro is used due to a larger number of languages used by different members together Arabic numerals. However, from 2007 or 2008 depending on the member state, the current currency has a map depicting nations outside Eurozone. Luc Luycx became the primary designer of all standard sides.
The denominations 2c, 1c, 10c, 20c, 50c, 1€, and 2€ coins are circulated. The black eagle features on the German one Euro and two Euro coins.
Banknotes
The notes have conventional designs on the two sides developed by Robert Kalina from Austria. The notes are circulated in the following denominations: 5€, 10€, 20€, 50€, 100€, €200, and €500. Every note came with its color, each marking a particular time in Europe's artistic period. Gateways or windows are designed on the front face of the notes and bridges on the back.
Euro Banknote
Euro Coin
Historical Currencies of Germany
From 1754-1873, the gulden was the currency used in the Southern German states. From 1857-1873, Vereinsthaler was the currency used in the Northern German states. From 1873-1914, the German gold mark was used as the currency in the German Empire. From 1914-1923, the German Papiermark was used as the currency in the Weimar Republic and the German Empire. The German Rentenmark was used as the currency in the Weimar Republic from 1923-1924. From 1924-1948, Reichsmark became the currency in Weimar Republic, Nazi Germany, and Allied-occupied Germany. The Saar mark and franc were the currency used in Saarland from 1947-1959. East Germany used the East German mark as their currency from 1948-1990. West Germany as well as Unified Germany started using Deutsche Mark as their currency from 1948. It was replaced by the euro as the official currency of Germany in 2002.
Gulden Banknotes
Gulden Coins
FAQs
What does Germany's flag symbolize? ›
The colors symbolized national unity and civic freedom. In 1848, in Frankfurt, the Bundestag (parliament), like the German National Assembly, declared black-red-gold to be the colors of the German Confederation or the German Reich that was to be founded.
What are Germany's symbols? ›| Symbol | |
|---|---|
| National anthem | Deutschlandlied |
| Majestic mark (Military) | Iron cross |
| National tree | Oak |
| German Reunification symbol | Brandenburg Gate |
Since the mid-19th century, Germany has two competing traditions of national colours, black-red-gold and black-white-red. Black-red-gold were the colours of the 1848 Revolutions, the Weimar Republic of 1919–1933 and the Federal Republic (since 1949). They were also adopted by the German Democratic Republic (1949–1990).
What does the 3 colors on the German flag mean? ›The tricolour horizontal bands consist of the official colours of Germany which are black, red, and gold. The colours used in the national flag of Germany date back to the republican democracy proposed in the 1800s to represent unity and freedom considered to be prevalent in Germany.
Why does the German flag have an eagle? ›The German Imperial Eagle (Reichsadler) originates from a proto-heraldic emblem believed to have been used by Charlemagne, the first Frankish ruler crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the Pope in 800, and derived ultimately from the Aquila or eagle standard, of the Roman army.
What are 5 interesting facts about Germany? ›- The largest train station in Europe is in Berlin.
- Berlin is 9 times bigger than Paris.
- There are more than 20,000 castles in Germany.
- Germany is the EU's largest economy.
- German is the third most widely taught language in the world.
- The German language has 35 dialects.
Adoption of the euro
The euro banknotes and coins were introduced in Germany on 1 January 2002, after a transitional period of three years when the euro was the official currency but only existed as 'book money'.
The term Reichskriegsflagge (German: [ˈʁaɪçsˌkʁiːksflaɡə], lit. 'National War Flag') refers to several war flags and war ensigns used by the German armed forces in history. A total of eight different designs were used in 1848–1849 and between 1867–1871 and 1945.
Does Belgium and Germany have the same flag? ›Belgium and Germany
Though the flags do share the same colours, the major difference is that Belgium's stripes are vertical while Germany's are horizontal.
Black-White-Red: The history of the “Reich war flag”
This flag was used by the North German Confederation (Norddeutsches Bund).
What does black stand for in German flag? ›
The German flag shows the national colors of black, red and gold in equal horizontal bands. Formerly the colors were said to represent: the darkness of servitude (black), the blood of conflict (red) and the light of freedom (gold). Now they stand for the freedom of Germany as a whole and its people.
What does the flag with 3 stars mean? ›The state of Andrew Jackson, or “Old Hickory,” Tennessee was the sixteenth state admitted to the Union—the original thirteen colonies plus three states—and, consequently, the flag bears three white stars.
Why is there a bear on Germany flag? ›The bear emblem is a pun on the city's name. 'Little bear' in German is Bärlein, which sounds like Berlin. It is unknown why Berliners chose a bear for their own coat of arms in place of an eagle, but they may have taken inspiration from Albert the Bear (Albert I), the first Margrave of Brandenburg (c. 1100-1170).
What animal is Germany known for? ›What Is Germany's National Animal? The national animal of Germany is the black eagle (Hieraatus spilogaster). The German coat of arms and other official emblems all feature a black eagle.
What is the meaning of an Iron Cross? ›The Iron Cross was awarded for bravery in battle as well as other military contributions in a battlefield environment. The Iron Cross, 2nd class, came with a ribbon and the cross itself was worn in one of two different ways: From the second button in the tunic from the first day after award.
How do you greet a German woman? ›Men usually greet women first and wait for them to extend their hand. Close friends may hug to greet and younger people may kiss one another on the cheek. "Guten Tag" (Good day) or “Hallo” (Hello) are the most common verbal greetings used in Germany.
What is Germany's national animal? ›The symbol of German statehood with the richest traditions is the eagle. Its origins can be traced back to the early years of the Holy Roman Empire.
How much is 1 dollar in Germany? ›After the war, the name of the currency changed to "Rentenmark" (1923), "Reichsmark" (1924), "Deutsche Mark" (1948), and the "Euro" in 2002. Pfennig coins were in use until Germany adopted the Euro.
How much is a German dollar? ›What are the 10 symbols? ›
These symbols are: the sun, clouds, mountains, water, pine trees, turtles, deer, cranes, peaches, and the herb of eternal youth. The 10 Symbols of Longevity reveals a cultural tradition unique to Korea. Of the 10 symbols, not all of them last eternally as the sun and the mountains do.
What are the 5 universal symbols? ›Each of the five signs is universal, found in all cultures across all time periods. The square (foundation), the cross (relationship), the circle (individuation), the spiral (growth and change), and the triangle (visions and dreams) can be seen in paintings, architecture, decoration, and so forth, but Dr.
Which is the most powerful symbol? ›- The Hamsa, the healing hand. ...
- The Ankh, key of life. ...
- The Cross, an enduring symbol of infinite love, sacrifice, victory, and redemption. ...
- The Eye of Horus, the great protector. ...
- Om, harmony with the universe. ...
- The Lotus, flower of awakening.
"THE BULLSEYE—WORLD'S OLDEST SYMBOL" The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) 21 May 1938: 17 (The Argus Week-end Magazine).
What is the most universal symbol? ›Being possibly the most widely used symbol today, the heart speaks the universal language of love. This famous symbol when used in art and design can also signify bravery, integrity and compassion.
What is the oldest symbol on earth? ›The oldest symbol known to man is the etchings on the Ramle bone fragments. Many archaeologists have theorized that these symbols have existed for hundreds of thousands of years in other regions as well.
Does German Have 3 genders? ›Three grammatical genders.
German nouns—for humans and objects—are all in one of three noun categories: masculine, feminine, or neuter. These categories are unrelated to human gender, sexuality, or identity and are purely grammatical.
According to these church stats, Christianity is the largest religious group in Germany, with around 44.9 million adherents (53.9%) in 2020 of whom 22.2 million are Catholics (26.7%) and 20.2 million are Protestants (24.3%).
What is the oldest state in Germany? ›The Free State of Bavaria is one of 16 states in the Federal Republic of Germany. Bavaria is the largest and oldest state in Germany. With over 1000 years of history, Bavaria's cultural heritage is very much alive today and continues to define the region and its inhabitants.
What is the old German flag? ›When Germany was unified at the end of the 19th century, the national flag had stripes of black-white-red. After the defeat of the Second Reich in World War I, that flag was replaced by the black-red-yellow under the Weimar Republic.
Which 3 countries have the same flag? ›
Slovenia, Russia, and Slovakia. The white-blue-red horizontally striped Russian flag dates to the end of the 17th century and was modeled on the Dutch tricolor. It, in turn, inspired the flag design for many countries of eastern and southern Europe.
Is the Imperial German flag? ›...
Flag of the German Empire.
| Adopted | 1867 (first 2:3 ratio) 1933 (second 3:5 ratio) |
| Relinquished | 1919 (first 2:3 ratio) 1935 (second 3:5 ratio) |
| Design | A horizontal tricolour of black, white, and red |
The youngest federal entity in Belgium, the German-Speaking Community of Belgium is an integral part of Wallonia, just like the French and Flemish communities.
What's a Bavarian flag look like? ›There are officially two flags of Bavaria: the striped type and the lozenge type, both of which are white and blue. Both flags are historically associated with the royal Bavarian Wittelsbach family, which ruled Bavaria from 1180 to 1918. An array of 21 or more lozenges of blue and white, with or without arms.
How do German say Merry Christmas? ›“frohe Weihnachten!”
What is German national color? ›The national colours of the Federal Republic of Germany are officially black, red, and gold, defined with the adoption of the West German flag as a tricolour with these colours in 1949.
Why do Germany play in white? ›Germany: According to the book entitled “All the Colors of Football” by Sergio Salvi and Alessandro Savorelli, the Mannschaft wear white because the German Football Federation was founded in 1900 when white was the national color of the country between 1867 and 1918 as in the former flag of the German Empire Prussia.
What is the bird on the Prussian flag? ›Emperor Frederick II in 1229 granted them the right to use the black Eagle of the Holy Roman Empire. This "Prussian Eagle" remained the coats of arms of the successive Prussian states until 1947.
What is a gold star flag? ›These flags/banners were first flown by families during World War I. The flag included a blue star for every immediate family member serving in the armed forces of the United States. If that loved one died, the blue star was replaced by a gold star.
What is a 51 star flag? ›| Description | English: An artist's rendering of a potential American flag with 51 stars, to be used if a 51st U.S. state joins the United States of America. Created by jacobolus using Adobe Illustrator, and released into the public domain. |
|---|---|
| Other versions | Current American flag, used since 1960. |
What is the flag with 3 legs? ›
The flag of the Isle of Man or flag of Mann (Manx: brattagh Vannin) is a triskelion, composed of three armoured legs with golden spurs, upon a red background. It has been the official flag of the Isle of Mann since 1 December 1932 and is based on the Manx coat of arms, which dates back to the 13th century.
What is the German symbol of love? ›A blue flower (German: Blaue Blume) was a central symbol of inspiration for the Romanticism movement, and remains an enduring motif in Western art today. It stands for desire, love, and the metaphysical striving for the infinite and unreachable.
What represents German culture? ›Germany is known for its long and rich history, one that has put it at the forefront of European thought, politics, and art for over 1,000 years. This history has shaped a culture that combines predominantly Christian values with literature, art, philosophy, logic, reason, and, of course, a love of beer and sausages.
What are some symbols considered to be good luck in Germany? ›When you see a chimney sweep in Germany on the street or coming to your house make sure you touch him, because that assures you, that luck will be with you. Some other symbols of good luck in Germany are horseshoes, ladybugs, the red fly mushrooms, and of course the green four-leaf clover.
What is the German symbol for brave? ›Dating back to the 19th century, the iron cross has been a symbol of honor and heroism in both the Prussian and German armies. In 1939, Adolph Hitler proclaimed the iron cross as a German decoration.
What is the German Triangle? ›1890 - An estimated 2.8 million German-born immigrants lived in the United States. A majority of the German-born living in the United States were located in the "German triangle," whose three points were Cincinnati, Milwaukee, and St. Louis.
How do Germans express their love? ›Unlike other languages, the German expression “Ich liebe dich” is almost exclusively used in romantic relationships. Nevertheless, Germans like to express their love for their friends and family too. In most cases, they say “Ich hab' dich lieb,” which could be translated as “I have love for you.”
What is the emoji of Germany? ›🇩🇪 Flag: Germany
Unicode details for Flag: Germany (🇩🇪) emoji.
- Go crazy over Christmas markets.
- Hanging lost items on trees.
- The German Christmas tradition of Krampus.
- Oktoberfest.
- Birthday celebration traditions.
- FKK.
- Keeping thumbs crossed.
- Frische Luft.
This postcard set depicts Woolfalk's The Four Virtues: Fortitude, Justice, Prudence and Temperance. These works of archival inkjet print on Hahnemüle German Etching paper are currently on view in Saya's Woolfalk's current exhibit, Field Notes From The Empathic Universe at the Museum.
What is considered rude in German culture? ›
Basic Etiquette
It is rude to chew gum or keep one's hands in one's pockets whilst talking with someone. Cross your legs by putting one knee over the other. It is impolite to rest your feet on furniture. Tight punctuality (Pünktlichkeit) is expected in most professional and social situations.
- Torschlusspanik. ...
- Fernweh. ...
- Zweisamkeit. ...
- Backpfeifengesicht. ...
- Feierabend. ...
- Reisefieber. ...
- Vorfreude. ...
- Waldeinsamkeit.
Germany: No official motto, de facto: Unity and justice and freedom (German: Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit).
What color symbolizes Germany? ›The national colours of the Federal Republic of Germany are officially black, red, and gold, defined with the adoption of the West German flag as a tricolour with these colours in 1949.