Last modified: 2005-01-15 by santiago dotor
Keywords: germany | historical | east germany | german democratic republic | gdr | deutsche demokratische republik | ddr | coat of arms (east germany) | wreath | compass | hammer | rye |
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![[State Flag 1959-1990 (East Germany)]](../images/d/de-ddr.gif)
3:5 
by Jaume Ollé
Flag adopted 1st October 1959, abolished 3rd October 1990 (civil ensign 1973-1990)
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After the German defeat in World War Two, for a number of years there was no central German government, although state governments were fairly rapidly created (each of these adopted flags). In 1946, the Allied Control Council adopted a merchant flag, a swallow tailed version of the international signal flag C (illustrated in Smith 1975, p. 122). After republics were formed in east and west Germany and the use of their black-red-gold flags was authorized, this flag was used less and less and it was finally abandoned in 1952. The German Communists (officially the Socialist Unity Party), sponsored by the Soviet occupation authorities, formed the German Democratic Republic.
Norman Martin, February 1998
From Myers 2001:
In 1949, two new German states arose and immediately laid claim to the same territory and to the best of the German political and cultural heritage. That shared heritage was subject to competing interpretations by the two regimes as they sought to shape public memory and identity in their quest for legitimation. By the late 1950s, the battles to reinterpret German national symbols frequently took place on the streets of Berlin, focal point of the contested German-German border, and in the arenas of international athletic competitions. (...)Unwilling to signal the permanent division of Germany, the founders of the Federal Republic had declared that while Berlin remained the capital of "Germany," Bonn would serve as a provisional seat of government for the Federal Republic. Thus, both states acknowledged Berlin as the German capital but had vastly different interpretations of the city's meanings for German national identity. Nevertheless, in a rare spirit of cooperation, the officials of East and West Berlin agreed in 1956 to work together to restore the Brandenburg Gate. This cooperation disintegrated in 1958, however, when East Berlin's magistrates decided to restore the Quadriga statue without the Iron Cross on the goddess's staff. In the West, this act served as evidence of the Communists' disregard for the national heritage, whereas the uproar in the West further convinced the Communists that militarism was alive and well on the other side of the German-German border.
As tensions rose between the two Germanies, it became ever more important for the Communists to distance themselves from the Federal Republic. By 1959, the GDR's leaders found it awkward to continue to share the tricolor flag with the Federal Republic. For West German leaders, the tricolor represented the liberal ideals of the nineteenth century, while for East German leaders it stood for the German revolutionary tradition. Finally, the East German regime sought to make visible its interpretation of the flag by superimposing on it the Communists' state seal. This act led to street scuffles in Berlin, and to West German diplomatic maneuvers aimed at prohibiting the "desecrated" flag from flying at international sports events. Each side claimed a Cold War victory whenever its position on the flag issue prevailed. Instead of uniting the two Germanies, the use and interpretation of national symbols drove them further apart.
Pascal Vagnat, 8 November 2001
![[State Flag 1949-1959 (East Germany)]](../images/d/de.gif)
3:5 
by António Martins
Colours adopted 1949, flag adopted 26 September 1955, abolished 1st October 1959
Identical with the black-red-gold national flag of the Weimar Republic. Because it was also adopted by the Federal Republic, it was only in use from 1949 to 1959.
Norman Martin, February 1998
The first constitution of the German Democratic Republic (adopted when the GDR was founded) did not mention a flag, just that the national colours were black-red-gold. On 26 September 1955 the first flag law was adopted, which described the flag as black-red-gold in equal stripes. Source: Schurdel 1995.
Mark Sensen, 21 June 2000
According to Rabbow 1970 the black-red-gold flag of the German Democratic Republic was adopted 19 March 1949. On 26 September 1955 the flag, which was identical to the flag of the German Federal Republic, was reaffirmed (Law on State Coat of Arms and State flag). On 1 October 1959 the GDR government put the Arms on the state flag.
Jarig Bakker, 21 June 2000
3:5
by Jaume Ollé
Flag adopted 1st October 1959, abolished 3rd October 1990 (civil ensign 1973-1990)
This flag was adopted on 1 October 1959, and continued in use as the flag of East Germany until the reunification of the Germanies on 3 October 1990 [one year after the fall of the Berlin Wall]. Ratio 3:5. The coat of arms shows a hammer and compass in a ring of rye, symbolising the working class, intelligentsia, and farmers.
Carl-Heinz Dirks, 12 December 1997
The black-red-gold with the arms (hammer and compass on a red disk surrounded by a wreath of two ears of wheat) in the center slightly overlapping the red stripe. In use as state flag 1959-1990, as merchant flag 1973-1990.
Norman Martin, February 1998
The coat-of-arms was added on 1 October 1959. At the beginning this flag was called Spalterflagge. Source: Schurdel 1995.
Mark Sensen, 21 June 2000
Spalterflagge was by no means an official, but a highly pejorative Western German term, as Spalter means trying to divide something apart bad-willingly.
Stephan E., 6 January 2005
![[Civil Ensign 1959-1973 (East Germany)]](../images/d/de-merch.gif)
3:5 
by Jaume Ollé
Like the 1959 State Flag, except the arms are 1/3 the height of the flag and set near the upper hoist, overlapping the black and red stripes equally. In use 1959-1973.
Norman Martin, February 1998
![[Postal Flag 1955-1973 (Germany)]](../images/d/de-w-pos.gif)
3:5 
N.B. the three stripes should be of equal width
by Jaume Ollé (?)
Flag adopted 27th October 1955, abolished 1st May 1973
Except for minor details of the horn, identical with the 1919-1921 Postal Flag. In use 1955-1973. Illustrated Kannik 1957, p. 37.
Norman Martin, February 1998
Adopted 27 October 1955 and abolished 1 May 1973. Source: a paper by Emil Dreyer in the Reports of the 15th International Congress of Vexillology.
Norman Martin, 10 December 1999
The German Democratic Republic introduced a postal flag with the regulation of 27th September 1955 (in force 27th October 1955). The flag had three equally wide stripes (not a widened red stripe!) and post horn emblem similar, but not identical to the one used in the West German postal flag. The flag was abolished with the regulation of 23rd January 1973 (in force 1st May 1973). Sources: Pfriem 1996, Dreyer 1999 and Hecker and Hoog 1978.
Marcus Schmöger, 29 March 2001
![[Chairman of the State Council 1960-1990 (East Germany)]](../images/d/de-ddrsc.gif)
1:1
by Jaume Ollé
Same as the 1955-1960 President's Flag, except for having a black-red-gold fringe instead of the border. Illustrated Pedersen 1971, p. 33, Smith 1975, p. 228 and Crampton 1990 p. 46. In use 1960-1990.
Norman Martin, February 1998
![[First Secretary of the Central Committee (East Germany)]](../images/d/de-ddrdc.gif)
3:5
by Jaume Ollé
A red flag with the coat of arms surrounded by an outer wreath. Ratio 3:5. In use 1973-1990. Illustrated in Oliver 1993, p. 16.
Norman Martin, February 1998