Flag of Baden-Württemberg

The state of Baden-Württemberg has several flags , a state flag and a state service flag in two variants, whereby the use of the service flags is subject to restrictions.

The country flag

The constitution of the state of Baden-Württemberg , announced on November 11, 1953, stipulates in Article 24, Paragraph 1:

"The national colors are black and gold"

Black represents the regions of Württemberg and Hohenzollern , while gold represents Baden . The state colors were not derived from the state coat of arms , but were determined before it. Along with the national colors, the national flag was set at the same time, namely as a stripe flag in precisely these colors. Everyone is free to use the national flag.

Flag of Württemberg
Flag of Baden

The state service flags

State service flag with a small coat of arms

The state service flags are regulated by the ordinance of the state government on the use of the state coat of arms of August 2, 1954. Paragraph 9 says:

"With the exception of the non-civil servant notaries, the agencies carrying the coat of arms are entitled to display the state coat of arms to be carried by them on the state flag [...] (state service flag). The shield holders remain off the large state coat of arms. [...] The Prime Minister can also allow other bodies to display the state service flag. [...] "

Since there is a large and a small state coat of arms (see coat of arms of Baden-Württemberg ), there are also two variants of the state service flag. The bodies bearing the coat of arms are listed in paragraph 1 of the same ordinance.

State service flag with a large coat of arms

The use of the state service flag is therefore reserved exclusively for those authorized to do so. The unauthorized use of the state service flag constitutes an administrative offense (Section 124 of the Law on Administrative Offenses of May 24, 1968).

Flagging decree

The flagging of public buildings in Baden-Württemberg is regulated by the announcement of the State Ministry on the flagging of official buildings of October 22, 1991. Accordingly, the days of flagging are based on the relevant federal decree , and flags must also be flagged in state elections.

Flagging in practice

As is usual in the German landlocked countries, the national flag is usually carried in a vertical form, i.e. H. as a banner , hanging flag or the like. Uses as a hoisting flag are rather rare.

The description of the national colors as black and gold leads in practice to the fact that the lower stripe is shown in a dark yellow tone similar to that of the federal flag . In principle, however, gold and yellow are the same, so that a normal yellow color would also be permissible.

Country flag
State service flag (small coat of arms)
State service flag (large coat of arms)

Similar flags

Kashubian flag (current)
The former state flag of Saxony-Anhalt ; formerly also the national colors of Austrian Silesia and the Canton of Uri
Flag of Saxony (until 1815), the Province of Saxony within Prussia , the Province of Saxony-Anhalt of the GDR , the Duchy of Saxony-Lauenburg , and of Saxony-Coburg and Gotha (until 1830)
Flag of the Habsburgs , i. e. of the Austrian Empire (until 1867), later Austria-Hungary (until 1869), and Lombardy-Venetia (until 1866)

literature

Baden-Württemberg sensitivities. The country and its symbols . Edited by Petra Schön, published by the Stuttgart State Archives. Book accompanying the exhibition of the same name at the Stuttgart Main State Archives. Stuttgart, 2002