Flag of Baden

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Flag of Baden (1891–1935, 1947–1952)

The flag of Baden shows a combination of yellow and red , derived from the heraldic colors of the House of Baden , whose members ruled the Margraviate of Baden and its splits, as well as the Electorate of Baden and the Grand Duchy of Baden .

Origin of the coloring

The origin and constant of all variants of Baden banners, flags and flags are the heraldic colors of the house of Baden. In heraldry , the metal silver is used instead of the color white and the metal gold is used instead of the color yellow. The heraldic tinctures of the house of Baden are red and gold. In flag lore, metals are no longer used; instead of gold, the color yellow is used. The description of the flag of Baden speaks of red-yellow or yellow-red.

Forerunner of the flag

In addition to the coat of arms with the red crossbar in the golden field, the House of Baden also used banners with the red crossbar in the golden field, as shown by a representation of the Battle of Sempach (1386) made in 1638 . Before that, rider flags appear on the seal images in addition to the coat of arms, although the color scheme cannot be seen here due to the lack of hatching. From other medieval and early modern representations it can be deduced that there were margravial Baden flags even before the founding of the Grand Duchy.

Flags of the Electorate and Grand Duchy

Variant of the flag of Baden as it was used at times in shipping

The short-lived Electorate of Baden (1803-1806) did not have an official state flag, and the Grand Duchy of Baden , which was formed in 1806, did not have one for a long time. Flags were mainly used in shipping on the Rhine (at least since 1838) and Lake Constance , whereby an unregulated multitude of forms developed, which, however, were all based on the national colors of red and yellow. At the same time, different flag variants were used in different parts of the country. In addition to the heraldically correct coloring red-yellow, there were also variants in yellow-red, yellow-red-yellow, red-yellow-red, yellow-red-yellow-red-yellow and other variants with several red and yellow stripes, mostly occurring in a horizontal arrangement but also in a vertical arrangement. "It is difficult and probably impossible to differentiate the variety of Baden flag types from the 19th century ..." "What is certain is that only the colors red and yellow were part of a Baden flag ...".

3: 5 ? Flag of Baden (1855 to 1891)Historic flag

It was not until the increasing custom of other states in Europe and the German Confederation to show national flags in 1855 that the grand ducal government specified a flag shape for its own consulates , whereby the consuls were free to choose whether to use this, it was only a matter of standardization in the event that that the flag was shown at all. This form seems to have become generally accepted, while variants were still used in some cases in shipping. In the work by Gritzner, published in 1878, the Baden state flag was shown with a red horizontal stripe over a yellow stripe.

There is no evidence for the repeated claim that the red-yellow bicolour was introduced in 1871 - in connection with the establishment of the German Empire - as the flag of the Grand Duchy of Baden.

With the announcement of the Grand Ducal State Ministry on December 17, 1891, a new national flag was determined. It shows "two yellow and one red longitudinal stripe of equal width". Previously, the flag only showed "two vertical stripes, the upper one being red and the lower one yellow".

Since the Principality of Lippe used the national colors of yellow and red, the new Baden flag made the distinction a little easier.

In addition to the state flag, there were the standards of the grand ducal house and flags of the military associations, which - like the standards - usually also showed the Baden coat of arms in addition to the colors or on a white background.

The flags of the Baden republics

After the abolition of the monarchy at the end of the First World War , the Republic of Baden was founded, which continued to use this tricolor . After the National Socialist German Workers' Party came to power in Germany in 1933, the individual German states and their symbols were eventually suppressed. After the Second World War , the southern half of Baden became part of the French occupation zone and in 1949, as the state of Baden, part of the Federal Republic of Germany. South Baden set the yellow-red-yellow tricolor as its flag. In 1952, the state of Baden became part of the state of Baden-Württemberg , with the result that the Baden flag lost its official character.

Today's use of the flag of Baden

The flag of Baden at Rötteln Castle in Loerrach

The flag can still be seen frequently in the Baden region today. The Baden state colors are usually part of the club emblems of the Baden sports associations (e.g. Badischer Turnerbund , Badischer Fußballverband ) and are also shown at festivals of local clubs. It is also present at the games of Karlsruher SC and SC Freiburg . In addition, many private individuals have a Baden flag, which they hoist on their house or garden property to show their regional ties.

literature

  • Jörg Hertenstein: Baden's colors, flags and flags. In: Badische Heimat . Mein Heimatland, Issue 1, March 1982, Volume 62, pp. 147–164
  • Jörg Hertenstein: “Flag and coat of arms for the Großh. Baden Consulate (Karlsruhe, 1855) “A rediscovery. In: Badische Heimat. Mein Heimatland, No. 2, July 1988, 68th volume, pp. 305–308

Web links

Commons : Badische Flags  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Battle Chapel of Sempach: Swiss Gevierthaufen in the Battle of Sempach on July 9, 1386, battle painting by Hans Ulrich Wegmann, 1638/41.
  2. ↑ see Hertenstein 1982, p. 148
  3. ↑ see Hertenstein 1982, p. 153
  4. ↑ see Hertenstein 1982, pp. 150–152
  5. ↑ see Hertenstein 1982, p. 153
  6. ↑ see Hertenstein 1988, p. 307
  7. ↑ see Maximilian Gritzner : Flags and Banners , Volume 1, 6th part of J. Siebmacher's: large and general Wappenbuch / in connection with several newly published and with historical, genealogical and heraldic notes accompanied by Otto Titan von Hefner. Nuremberg: Bauer & Raspe, 1878 plate 6
  8. ↑ August Holzmann: Baden's medals and decorations, coats of arms, standards and flags and the uniforms of the Grand Ducal Baden Civil State officials , Gutsch 1909, pp. 156–157
  9. ↑ s. Staats-Anzeiger for the Grand Duchy of Baden, year 1891, No. XXXIX, p. 397, quoted in Holzmann
  10. ↑ August Holzmann: Baden's medals and decorations, coats of arms, standards and flags and the uniforms of the Grand Ducal Baden Civil State Officials , Gutsch 1909, p. 156, footnote 1
  11. ↑ without any evidence, the website www.crwflags.com shows other forms of a "Baden" flag
  12. ↑ In the German War of 1866, troops from Baden and Lippe were in enemy camps.
  13. ↑ § 8 of the regulation. The Baden coat of arms and the official seals. of January 4, 1921. In: Badisches Gesetz- und Verordnungsblatt No. 12 of February 28, 1921, p. 46
  14. ↑ Article 55 of the constitution of the state of Baden stipulated: “The state colors are yellow-red. The Baden flag consists of two yellow and one red vertical stripes of the same width. "