Germany Flag

Illustration of a flag with black, red and yellow stripes with black text above and below on a white background

The current German flag was adopted in 1949 although it has been used various times before in German history. The tricolored flag was used during the Napoleonic wars and again when Germany became the Weimar Republic. During the Napoleonic wars the black, red and gold colors of the flag were based on the soldiers black coats with red braid and gold buttons. In 1919 when Germany was known as the Weimar Republic, the colors black, red and gold represented the colors of the democratic, centrist and republican political parties. When Germany reunited after World War II the black, red and gold flag was reinstated and today the colors represent the unification of Germany.