List of German flags
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
Standards
Presidential standard
Imperial family standards
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
| 1871–1888 | German Emperor's Standard | ||
| 1888–1918 | German Emperor's Standard | ||
| 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 | Standard of the Crown Prince | ||
| 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 | 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: Gott mit uns, meaning: "God with us". | |
| 1844–1871 | Old Royal Standard of the Emperor of Germany in 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
Military and state flags
Non-Governmental flags
Civil ensign
German Scouting flags
Other youth organisations
Sport flags
Vexillology Associations flags
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.Unofficial regional flags
Political flags
Religious flags
Ethnic groups flags
Historical flags
Francia, Kingdom of Germany, and the Holy Roman Empire (800–1806)
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
| Imperial Oriflamme of Charlemagne. | A 3 pointed green banner with 8 golden crosses and 6 flowers. | ||
| –early 14th centuries | War flag of the Holy Roman Empire | A non-rectangular flag depicting a white cross on a red field | |
| 1400–1523 | Imperial Pavilion of Holy Roman Empire | A non-rectangular flag depicting a black eagle on a yellow field with a red bar on top | |
| 1400s | 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. |
Teutonic Order State and Prussia (1226–1935)
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
| 1226–1525 | Flag of the Teutonic Order State | A black cross on a white field. | |
| 1466–1772 | Flag of Royal Prussia | ||
| 1525–1701 | Flag of Ducal Prussia | ||
| 1701–1750 | First flag of the Kingdom in Prussia | A black eagle holding a rod and orb on a white field, a crown on top | |
| 1701–1935 | Civil flag of Prussia | A bicolour design – white and black, split horizontally. | |
| 1750–1801 | Second flag of the Kingdom in Prussia and first flag of the Kingdom of Prussia | A black eagle holding a sword and rod on a white field, a crown on top | |
| 1801–1803 | Second flag of the Kingdom of Prussia | ||
| 1803–1892 | Third flag of the Kingdom of Prussia | The same as the previous flag, but the crown in the top of the flag is smaller. | |
| 1816 | War flag of Prussia | A smaller black crowned eagle with yellow arm plates, a rod and orb, all on a white field with an Iron Cross in the upper-left corner | |
| 1892–1918 | Fourth flag of the Kingdom of Prussia | ||
| 1895–1918 | War flag of Prussia | A non-rectangular flag depicting an Imperial Eagle in the centre of a white field, and in the upper-left corner, an Iron Cross is shown. | |
| 1918–1933 | Flag of the Free State of Prussia | ||
| 1933–1935 | Service flag of the Free State of Prussia | The same as the previous flag, but the phrase Gott mit uns reappears, and the eagle is holding a sword and two lightning bolts. The eagle also has a National Socialist swastika on the chest. |
German Confederation (1815–1866)
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
| 1848–1866 | Flag of the German Confederation, used in 1848–1849 and again in 1863–1866. First appeared within the Fürstentum Reuß-Greiz after 12 May 1778 | Also used by the Empire of Germany |
North German Confederation (1866–1871)
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
| 1867–1871 | National and merchant flag | A tricolour, made of three equal horizontal bands coloured black, white, and red |
German Empire (1871–1918)
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
| 1871–1918 | National and merchant flag | ||
| 1884–1918 | Colonial flag | ||
| 1903–1919 | War Ensign |
Weimar Republic (1919–1933)
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
| 1919–1933 | National flag | ||
| 1921–1933 | State flag | ||
| 1921–1926 | State ensign | ||
| 1926–1933 | State ensign | ||
| 1919–1921 | Flag of Defence Minister | ||
| 1921–1933 | Flag of Defence Minister |
Nazi Germany (1933–1945)
The flag with the swastika and white disc centered was used throughout as the NSDAP flag. Between 1933 and 1935, it was used as the mandotary party flag with the national black-white-red horizontal tricolour last used by the German Empire. In 1935, the black-white-red horizontal tricolour was scrapped again, and the flag with the off-centre swastika and disc was instituted as the only national flag. The flag with the centered disc only continued to be used as the Parteiflagge after 1935.World War II aftermath in Germany
and Saar Protectorate| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
| 1946–1950 | "C-Pennant" | Used during the Occupation Period to identify German ships according to international law. | |
| 1947–1957 | Flag of Saar Protectorate | Flag of Saarland which was given by French Government. At this time period the Saar was a satellite state of France. |
East Germany (1949–1990)
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
| 1949–1959 | State flag | ||
| 1959–1990 | State flag 1959–1990 | Tricolour of black, red, and yellow, but bears the coat of arms of East Germany, consisting of a compass and a hammer encircled with rye | |
| 1959–1990 | Merchant flag 1973–1990 | Tricolour of black, red, and yellow, but bears the coat of arms of East Germany, consisting of a compass and a hammer encircled with rye | |
| 1963–1990 | Hanging state flag | ||
| 1955–1973 | Flag of East German Post | ||
| 1975–1990 | Flag of East German Post | ||
| 1960–1990 | Flag of the National People's Army | ||
| 1960–1990 | Regimental colours of Nationale Volksarmee | ||
| 1962–1990 | Flag of boats of the Border Troops |