German flags: How many can you name?The range of German flags is possibly the most varied in the world. These flags are categorized according to representation in modern times or their use during specific years in the German history. These include national flags of Germany, civil flags, military and state flags, those relating to East Germany or the Third Reich etc.

German flags in the National category include the national flag of Germany that was adopted in 1949. It is a tricolor of three horizontal bands of black, red and golden colors. The Bundesdienstflagge can be used only by German Government's federal authorities. It has the same design as the national flag of Germany but with the German coat of arms - known as the Bundesschild - in the middle of the flag. German flags also include a typical Presidential Standard that displays the German coat of arms. Then, there are the military flags and state flags. While the military ones include Standard of Inspector General, Bundeswehr and Troop Flag, Bundeswehr. the state flags include one for the German Post, German Post Minister, German Post President and the German Post State Secretary. Civil German flags include those representing Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia. Historical German flags include one adopted in 1848 at the Frankfurt assembly as the state and national flag and the war flag that was used from 1848 to 1852.

Prince.Prince.German flags used by the North Confederation from 1867 to 1871 included a state and national flag that had three bands of black, white and red - in that order from top to bottom and Gosch flag which was the marine jack. The Confederation also used a flag with a war insignia. German flags relating to the German Empire were used from 1871 to 1918 and included such flags as the Reichskriegsflagge, Reichskriegsflagge r those with the Imperial Family ensign like Emperor William I's Standard, German Emperor's Standard, Empress Augusta and Empress Frederick's Standard, Empress Augusta Viktoria's Standard and Standard of the Crown Prince.

Some of the most famous German flags were those used for the Third Reich or during the Nazi Germany period from 1933 to 1945. These included the Nationalflagge und Handelsflagge (national and merchant flag). These flags displayed a white disk in the center upon which was a black swastika or hakenkreuz. The arms of the swastika were at a 45 degree angle. German flags used during the Nazi times also included banners hung vertically in public places, Gösch Reichskriegsflagge (war flag), Reich Service Flag, Standard of President, Standard of Adolf Hitler, Flag of the Minister of Defence, Flag of the Wehrmacht Commander in Chief (replaced the Minister of Defence), Flag of the Schutzstaffel (SS), Flag of the Ordnungspolizei (OrPo) ('Order Police', the police of the Third Reich). Other German flags used once Allied control was established included a C-Pennant with a provisional civil ensign, flag of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany), Merchant flag, Flag of East German Post, Standard of the President, Flag of boats of border troops etc.You certainly cannot order these German flags for display but surely, you can get the national German flag if you want one - whether you're a German or not!