The flag of Nazi Germany, officially the flag of the German Reich, featured a red background with a black swastika on a white disc. This flag came into use initially as the banner of the Nazi Party (NSDAP) after its foundation. Following the appointment of Adolf Hitler as Chancellor in 1933, this flag was adopted as one of the nation's dual national flags, the other being the black-white-red triband of the German Empire.
A horizontal flag featuring a red background with a black swastika on a white disc
Imperial Flag
Proportion
3:5
Adopted
1933
Relinquished
1935
Design
A horizontal tricolour of black, white, and red
This dual flag arrangement ended on 15 September 1935, one year after the death of Reich President Paul von Hindenburg, and the Nazi flag became the only national flag of Germany. One reason for the change may have been the "Bremen incident" of 26 July 1935, in which a group of demonstrators in New York City boarded the ocean liner SS Bremen, tore the Nazi Party flag from the jackstaff, and tossed it into the Hudson River. When the German ambassador protested, US officials responded that the German national flag had not been harmed, only a political party symbol.[1] The new flag law was announced at the annual party rally in Nuremberg in 1935,[2] where Hermann Göring claimed the old black-white-red flag, while honoured, was the symbol of a bygone era and under threat of being used by "reactionaries".[3]
The old imperial flag of Germany (originally in use 1867–1918) was briefly re-adopted as a national flag from 1933 to 1935.
The flag of the Nazi Party. On this flag, the swastika is centered, which makes it slightly different from the state flag on which the swastika is off-center.
After rejecting many suggestions and colors, the process of choosing a new flag was described by Hitler as follows:
"I myself, meanwhile, after innumerable attempts, had laid down a final form; a flag with a red background, a white disk, and a black swastika in the middle. After long trials I also found a definite proportion between the size of the flag and the size of the white disk, as well as the shape and thickness of the swastika."
After Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany on 30 January 1933, the black-red-gold tricolour flag was discarded; a ruling on 12 March established two legal national flags: the reintroduced black-white-red imperial tricolour and the flag of the Nazi Party.[4][5]
A flag from Nazi Germany found near the south bank of the Rapido River about 4,000 feet (1,200 meters) west of Monte Cassino by J. McQuorkindale on the night of 17–18 February 1944. Note that the swastika appears to be left-facing in this image.
Nazi ensigns had a through and through image, so the "left-facing" and "right-facing" version were each present on one side. However, the Nazi flag on land was right-facing on both sides.[a]
An off-centred disk version of the swastika flag was used as the civil ensign on German-registered civilian ships and was used as the Jack on Kriegsmarine warships. There is debate as to whether the off-centred disk flag was the official national flag from 1935 to 1945, such as at the popular vexillogy site, Flags of the World.[7] The centred-disk flag was commonly used by civilians and the German armed forces aside from the navy.
Symbolism
The Nazi flag takes its colours from the imperial tricolour, with Hitler writing that he "was always for keeping the old colours," because he saw them as his "most sacred possession" as a soldier, and also because they suited his personal taste.[8] Hitler added new symbolism to the colours, stating that "[t]he red expressed the social thought underlying the movement. White the national thought," and that the black swastika was an emblem of the "Aryan race" and "the ideal of creative work which is in itself and always will be anti-Semitic."[8]
Participants in a Neo-Nazi march in Munich (2005) resorted to flying the Reichsflagge [de] and Reichsdienstflagge of 1933–1935 (de) (outlawed by the Nazi regime in 1935) due to § 86a.
Today, the Nazi flag remains in common use by neo-Nazi supporters and sympathisers, outside Germany, while within the country, neo-Nazis use the Fatherland Flag from the German Empire instead, due to ban on the Nazi flag use. However, the imperial flag did not originally have any racist or anti-Semitic meaning.[10]
The personal standard of Adolf Hitler (Führerstandarte) was designed after Reichspräsident Paul von Hindenburg had died on 2 August 1934. Hitler abolished the title "Reichspräsident" and in its place instituted the title of "Führer" which henceforth could only be used when referring to him personally. Hindenburg used a personal standard consisting of a black eagle on a square gold background edged by a border of black, white and red bands.[11] Hitler decided on 19 August 1934 to adopt a personal standard for himself, which was called "personal standard for Adolf Hitler as Leader and Chancellor of the German Nation". As he was also Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces it was somewhat later known as "the personal standard for Adolf Hitler as Leader and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces" (German: Standarte des Führers und Obersten Befehlshabers der Wehrmacht).
The standard was used for all purposes and consisted of a square of red material in a variety of regulated sizes. In the centre of the square was a white disk, containing a garland of gold-coloured oak-leaves. Set on the white disk was a black upright swastika. In each corner of the red field was a gold-coloured eagle emblem: In the upper left and lower right corner it was a Party eagle, whereas it was a Wehrmacht eagle in the upper right and lower left corner. The entire standard was edged on all four sides with a border of black and white bands.
The flag was designed by Hitler personally. It was made in two forms: a normal cloth flag (which flew at the Reichs Chancellery when he was present), and a 'solid' type which was used on his car, at rallies, and other political events. Both types were also used at his residence at Obersalzberg.
The 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH) used a variant of the Führerstandarte as their regimental and battalion color that was introduced in September 1940 after the German victory over France. There was also a standard for the "Führer Escort Battalion". It had a great similarity to the guidon used by the LSSAH but could be distinguished, apart from other details, by the different color of the fringes: LSSAH used gold, while the FBB used silver.
^von Hindenburg, Paul (12 March 1933). "Erlaß des Reichspräsidenten über die vorläufige Regelung der Flaggenhissung" [Decree of the President for the provisional regulation of raising flags]. documentArchiv.de (in German). Retrieved 17 July 2010.
^Fornax. "The German Swastika Flag 1933–1945". Historical flags of our ancestors. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
^"Centred vs. Offset Disc and Swastika 1933–1945 (Germany)".
^Allied Control Council (30 August 1945). "Law N° 1 from the Control Council for Germany: Repealing of Nazi Laws". European Navigator. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
^Presidential Standard of Paul von Hindenburg (1933–1935)
External links
Provision in the German penal code making the display, ownership, manufacturing, trade or storage of the flag illegal (in German)
Imperial German Empire Army Colours 2014-01-02 at the Wayback Machine
February 27, 2023
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Flag of Nazi Germany news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message The flag of Nazi Germany officially the flag of the German Reich featured a red background with a black swastika on a white disc This flag came into use initially as the banner of the Nazi Party NSDAP after its foundation Following the appointment of Adolf Hitler as Chancellor in 1933 this flag was adopted as one of the nation s dual national flags the other being the black white red triband of the German Empire German ReichNazi flag Swastika flagUseNational flag and ensignProportion3 5Adopted1935Relinquished1945DesignA horizontal flag featuring a red background with a black swastika on a white discImperial FlagProportion3 5Adopted1933Relinquished1935DesignA horizontal tricolour of black white and redThis dual flag arrangement ended on 15 September 1935 one year after the death of Reich President Paul von Hindenburg and the Nazi flag became the only national flag of Germany One reason for the change may have been the Bremen incident of 26 July 1935 in which a group of demonstrators in New York City boarded the ocean liner SS Bremen tore the Nazi Party flag from the jackstaff and tossed it into the Hudson River When the German ambassador protested US officials responded that the German national flag had not been harmed only a political party symbol 1 The new flag law was announced at the annual party rally in Nuremberg in 1935 2 where Hermann Goring claimed the old black white red flag while honoured was the symbol of a bygone era and under threat of being used by reactionaries 3 Contents 1 History 1 1 Origins 1 2 Symbolism 1 3 Since 1945 2 Standard of Adolf Hitler 3 Trophy standards 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksHistory EditOrigins Edit The old imperial flag of Germany originally in use 1867 1918 was briefly re adopted as a national flag from 1933 to 1935 The flag of the Nazi Party On this flag the swastika is centered which makes it slightly different from the state flag on which the swastika is off center After rejecting many suggestions and colors the process of choosing a new flag was described by Hitler as follows I myself meanwhile after innumerable attempts had laid down a final form a flag with a red background a white disk and a black swastika in the middle After long trials I also found a definite proportion between the size of the flag and the size of the white disk as well as the shape and thickness of the swastika Adolf Hitler Mein Kampf 1925 After Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany on 30 January 1933 the black red gold tricolour flag was discarded a ruling on 12 March established two legal national flags the reintroduced black white red imperial tricolour and the flag of the Nazi Party 4 5 A flag from Nazi Germany found near the south bank of the Rapido River about 4 000 feet 1 200 meters west of Monte Cassino by J McQuorkindale on the night of 17 18 February 1944 Note that the swastika appears to be left facing in this image Nazi ensigns had a through and through image so the left facing and right facing version were each present on one side However the Nazi flag on land was right facing on both sides a Albert Speer in his book Inside the Third Reich stated that in only two other designs did he Adolf Hitler execute the same care as he did his Obersalzberg house that of the Reich War Flag and his own standard of Chief of State showing that Hitler was an avid vexillographer flag designer unreliable source An off centred disk version of the swastika flag was used as the civil ensign on German registered civilian ships and was used as the Jack on Kriegsmarine warships There is debate as to whether the off centred disk flag was the official national flag from 1935 to 1945 such as at the popular vexillogy site Flags of the World 7 The centred disk flag was commonly used by civilians and the German armed forces aside from the navy Symbolism Edit The Nazi flag takes its colours from the imperial tricolour with Hitler writing that he was always for keeping the old colours because he saw them as his most sacred possession as a soldier and also because they suited his personal taste 8 Hitler added new symbolism to the colours stating that t he red expressed the social thought underlying the movement White the national thought and that the black swastika was an emblem of the Aryan race and the ideal of creative work which is in itself and always will be anti Semitic 8 Since 1945 Edit At the end of World War II after the defeat of Nazi Germany the first law enacted by the Allied Control Council abolished all symbols and repealed all relevant laws of the Reich 9 The possession of swastika flags has been forbidden in several countries since then with the importation or display of them forbidden particularly in Germany Prominent alt right activists were instrumental in organising the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville Virginia United States in August 2017 Here rally participants carry Confederate battle flags Gadsden flags and a Nazi flag Participants in a Neo Nazi march in Munich 2005 resorted to flying the Reichsflagge de and Reichsdienstflagge of 1933 1935 de outlawed by the Nazi regime in 1935 due to 86a Today the Nazi flag remains in common use by neo Nazi supporters and sympathisers outside Germany while within the country neo Nazis use the Fatherland Flag from the German Empire instead due to ban on the Nazi flag use However the imperial flag did not originally have any racist or anti Semitic meaning 10 Standard of Adolf Hitler EditMain article Personal standard of Adolf Hitler Personal standard of Adolf Hitler The personal standard of Adolf Hitler Fuhrerstandarte was designed after Reichsprasident Paul von Hindenburg had died on 2 August 1934 Hitler abolished the title Reichsprasident and in its place instituted the title of Fuhrer which henceforth could only be used when referring to him personally Hindenburg used a personal standard consisting of a black eagle on a square gold background edged by a border of black white and red bands 11 Hitler decided on 19 August 1934 to adopt a personal standard for himself which was called personal standard for Adolf Hitler as Leader and Chancellor of the German Nation As he was also Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces it was somewhat later known as the personal standard for Adolf Hitler as Leader and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces German Standarte des Fuhrers und Obersten Befehlshabers der Wehrmacht The standard was used for all purposes and consisted of a square of red material in a variety of regulated sizes In the centre of the square was a white disk containing a garland of gold coloured oak leaves Set on the white disk was a black upright swastika In each corner of the red field was a gold coloured eagle emblem In the upper left and lower right corner it was a Party eagle whereas it was a Wehrmacht eagle in the upper right and lower left corner The entire standard was edged on all four sides with a border of black and white bands The flag was designed by Hitler personally It was made in two forms a normal cloth flag which flew at the Reichs Chancellery when he was present and a solid type which was used on his car at rallies and other political events Both types were also used at his residence at Obersalzberg The 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler LSSAH used a variant of the Fuhrerstandarte as their regimental and battalion color that was introduced in September 1940 after the German victory over France There was also a standard for the Fuhrer Escort Battalion It had a great similarity to the guidon used by the LSSAH but could be distinguished apart from other details by the different color of the fringes LSSAH used gold while the FBB used silver Trophy standards EditFurther information List of German standards at the Moscow Victory Parade of 1945 Following the Battle of Berlin many German standards and flags were taken to Moscow They were thrown at the foot of Lenin s Mausoleum in a gesture of enemy humiliation during the 1945 Moscow Victory Parade LSSAH Battalion colour LSSAH Artillery guidonSee also EditFlag of Germany List of German flags Reichskriegsflagge List of flags of the Wehrmacht and Heer 1933 1945 List of flags of the Luftwaffe 1933 1945 List of flags of the German Navy 1935 1945 Colours standards and guidonsNotes Edit As in the image at the bottom 6 References Edit Brian Leigh Davis Flags amp standards of the Third Reich Macdonald amp Jane s London 1975 ISBN 0 356 04879 9 GERMANY Little Man Big Doings Time 23 September 1935 Statement by Hermann Goring quoted in the Volkischer Beobachter 17 September 1935 in German von Hindenburg Paul 12 March 1933 Erlass des Reichsprasidenten uber die vorlaufige Regelung der Flaggenhissung Decree of the President for the provisional regulation of raising flags documentArchiv de in German Retrieved 17 July 2010 Fornax The German Swastika Flag 1933 1945 Historical flags of our ancestors Retrieved 17 July 2010 Centred vs Offset Disc and Swastika 1933 1945 Germany flag of Centred vs Offset Disc and Swastika 1933 1945 Germany flags Archived from the original on 2007 09 29 a b Mein Kampf at Project Gutenberg Allied Control Council 30 August 1945 Law N 1 from the Control Council for Germany Repealing of Nazi Laws European Navigator Retrieved 23 December 2007 Imperial German Flag Presidential Standard of Paul von Hindenburg 1933 1935 External links EditProvision in the German penal code making the display ownership manufacturing trade or storage of the flag illegal in German Imperial German Empire Army Colours Archived 2014 01 02 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Flag of Nazi Germany amp 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