Q. Why do you use the black-white-red tricolour on your opening page? Isn't this the flag of old Imperial Germany? Why not use the Federal black-red-gold flag?

A. The black, white and red tricolour was the first flag of a united Germany (1871) and earlier of the North German Confederation (1866) and the only flag under which all the former provinces of Prussia were united. It was also founded upon the Prussian flag of Black-and-White and the Hanseatic colours of Red-and-White. The present flag of the Federal Republic of Germany or of the former Weimar Republic never flew over all of Prussia and therefore does not, I think, adequately symbolise the aspirations of Prussians for a restoration of all their lost provinces. I know there are those who disagree with this position in order to be "politically correct" and I respect that position. Part of their objection comes from the fact that the nazis also used the old Imperial Flag and it has become the symbol today of some extremist right-wing organisations. However, it is also important to remember that the Nazis also suppressed the Black-White-Red tricolour as 'reactionary' within a couple of years of taking power. Therefore it would not be true to say that the tricolour was 'nazi'.

Similarly, the Black-Red-Gold flag was the choice of totalitarian communist East Germany (the DDR) and could itself be objectionable on the same grounds. It represents revolutionary socialism and communism in the eyes of many. Finally, the Federal flag, in spite of having the Prussian black and red colour elements, was based not on the Prussian flag colours but on the older Austrian Black-and-Gold flag combined with the red of revolutionary socialism because the dream in the mid 1800's was the creation of a Großdeutschland that included Austria. In the end Austria (whose modern flag is Red-White-Red) was not included, making the Black-White-Red flag truer to the concept of Kleindeutschland that emerged in 1871.

One thing all Germans agreed at the end of the second world war was that the new flag should contain the old black, red and gold colours of the 1848 revolution. Before West and East Germany were granted independence again by the Allied powers in 1949 they used a very un-German flag indeed that looks a bit like that of Thailand or Holland:

The purpose of this insulting flag, imposed by the Allies, was humiliation, because it is a signal flag for the letter 'C' representing Germany's 'Capitulation'.

Germany, the German states, Prussia and the Prussian states have flown a large range of different flags during their history. The current Federal Flag originally belonged to the state of Reuss which joined the North German confederation under the leadership of Prussia in 1866. Post-war Germany might have had a very different flag indeed. Here were the contenders:

Top row (left to right):
1. Based on the United States flag with one star for each of the 10 Länder (states)
2. Representing a divided Germany, West and East
3. A vertical tricolour version, the primary version of Reuss, but potentially confusing with the Belgian flag. It was also one of the two revolutionary flags used in 1843
4. The present Federal Flag with a gold cross to distinguish the Christian West from the Communist East
Bottom Row
5-8. Looking very much like the Scandinavian flags of Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland, these are variations on the old German cross which may be seen in the old Imperial War Flag (above). Indeed, Given these choices, my vote would have gone to either the one that was actually chosen or to the 8th and last Scandinavian-like design (though this might have been confused with the Norwegian flag). Interestingly, the flag of the Holy Roman Empire (which was led by the German states) was almost identical to that of Denmark - a white cross on a red background - the reverse of the English St.George's Cross In the end the socialist preference for the horizontal tricolour prevailed over the conservative choice of a Scandinavian-type design.

East Germany (the DDR) has now gone leaving effectively only 'two' German flags - the current tricolour (top of page) and the one preferred by many but especially by those of us who wish to see the restoration of most of the old Germany of 1871 whose flag was the black-white-red (below).