The modern flag of Germany, whose photo is located below, was officially approved on March 9, 1948. It is a canvas of rectangular shape, which consists of three horizontal stripes. The lower one has a golden color (as is commonly believed, 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 state symbol refers to a length of three to five. Throughout German history, it has been canceled several times. At first, adherents of the empire did this, and then the Nazis. Despite everything, the national symbol of the country has invariably revived.
The first use of the modern flag
The first historical reference to the use of such a combination of colors dates from the nineteenth century. Then it was done by representatives of the national student movement for freedom. They motivated their choice by the fact that such a coloring was used back in the days of the ancient empire. It happened in 1818. The next time this version of the symbol of the country was used for the Hamburg holiday, which took place in 1832. More than forty thousand Germans took part in it, most of whom were students and professors who defended their patriotic and democratic views.
Among other things, the same German flag was used during the revolution that took place in the country in March 1848. In connection with these events, the parliament even assigned him the status of a state banner. Along with this, the revolution failed. Immediately after that, the decision regarding the flag was quashed. In 1863, under such a banner, a conference of German princes was held in Frankfurt. It should be noted that the uniforms of German volunteer students who had teamed up to combat Napoleonic expansion in Europe previously had similar colors.
Otto von Bismarck flag version
During his tenure as chancellor of the country, the legendary Otto von Bismarck introduced the flag, which consisted of horizontal stripes of black, white and red. Initially, he served as the banner of the merchant and navy of the German fleet. In 1892, the educated German Empire adopted this symbol. It was used until the advent of the Weimar Republic. Only in her days such colors of the flag of Germany as gold, red and black were officially recognized and even entered into the national constitution.
The fate of the black-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 certain concessions. More specifically, the black-and-white-red banner was recognized as a trademark. At the same time, state colors were still applied in its upper part. Such a compromise is evidence that the German flag remained the subject of heated debate. 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 on the National-Democratic Party of the country - its own party flag with a swastika. He received the status of a national banner in connection with the adoption of the relevant law. After the defeat of the Nazis in World War II, it was decided to use the flag of the 1848 model in the future. One of the representatives of the government then said that this symbol means personal freedom, which in the future will become the basis of a completely new state.
GDR banner
The second article of the Constitution of the German Democratic Republic, approved on October 7, 1949, prescribed the country's involvement in golden-red-black colors. This testified to her commitment to the unity of the nation, even despite being under socialist ideas. Ten years after this, the emblem was additionally applied to the GDR symbol, which consisted of a compass, a hammer and a wreath of ears. An interesting fact is that both teams acted as a single team at the Olympic Games until 1968. At the same time, the athletes used the golden-red-black flag of Germany, on which five rings were applied.
In 1989, a peaceful revolution took place in the country. During it, many Germans living in the eastern part of the capital demanded the reunification of the two countries. Demonstrating their desire, they everywhere carved a 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 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany spread to new lands. A little more than a month later, on October 3, 1990, the flag of Germany with stripes of gold, red and black was installed in front of the parliament building (Reichstag).
Flag in local law
A government decree on German flags, dated November 13, 1996, regulates and determines the application of the national flag. As for its unified use for buildings of state and official significance, it is provided for by 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 state flag. At the same time, private citizens are forbidden to wear official symbols of federal departments.
Symbolism of the German banner
One cannot but mention what the flag of Germany means. As already noted above, the canvas consists of three stripes having a golden (yellow), red and black color. The lowest of them is associated among the Germans with the future of the country, the middle means a modern political system, and the upper symbolizes the internal political situation of the state.
However, there is another version regarding the symbolism embedded in the flag of Germany. The meaning of flowers was spelled out even in the Constitution of Germany. Proceeding from it, they mean unity, unity and freedom of the entire German people.
Coat of arms of Germany
The emblem of modern Germany is the image of an eagle ("Reichsadler"). Its history spans many centuries and goes back to the early eras of human development and culture. The ancient Germans and Greeks associated this bird with vitality and the sun, so it was very revered. One of the elements of national symbolism, the eagle became tentatively 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 inextricable connection with democratic traditions, the government of the Federal Republic of Germany also began to use the image of this bird on its coat of arms. In 1926, the final sketch of the national symbol was designed by Tobias Schwab.
The national 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 departments and the presidential standard. Moreover, it is used in official seals, coins, stamps, as well as on all kinds of departmental forms.