Schleswig-Holstein

Schleswig-Holstein
Country	Germany
Adopted	January 18, 1957; in use since 1844.
Designed by	"anti-Danish, pro-German forces"
Proportions	3:5
Country	Germany
Adopted	1949
Proportions	3:5

The civil flag of Schleswig-Holstein, a federal land of Germany, is a horizontal tricolour of blue (upper stripe), white, and red.

The state flag is the same but with the coat of arms in the centre.

Symbolism

According to the German heraldic tradition, the colours of the flag reflect the colours of the coat of arms. The flag and the coat of arms combine the colours of the former duchies of Schleswig (blue and yellow) and Holstein (silver and red). The second colour of Schleswig (yellow) is not represented, partially because the 19th century's citizens wanted their flag to be similar to the tricolour of France.

History

The flag of Schleswig-Holstein was introduced in June of 1844 at a song festival in the city of Schleswig. The flag was further used by anti-Danish rallies for a unification of Schleswig-Holstein and Germany.

The flag was then banned in 1845. It was reintroduced in 1867 after the Prussian conquest of Schleswig-Holstein. It was again abolished in 1935.

After the British Military Government made Schleswig-Holstein a German state in 1946, this flag was first hoisted after some debate on August 29, 1946. It was formally established as the flag on January 18, 1957.

Trivia

• If this flag was turned upside-down, it would look like the flag of the Netherlands.

References

• Flag of Schleswig-Holstein on Wikipedia