German Democratic Republic

Flags:

Flagge flag Staatsflagge DDR GDR Ostdeutschland East Germany

1959–1989,
state flag and jack,
ratio = 3:5,
Source by:
Flaggen und Wappen, Corel Draw 4

Flagge flag Handelsflagge DDR GDR Ostdeutschland East Germany

1959–1973,
merchant flag

ratio = 3:5,
Source by:
Die Welt der Flaggen, Corel Draw 4

Flagge flag Staatsflagge DDR GDR Ostdeutschland East Germany

1949–1959, 1989–1990,
state flag,
ratio = 3:5,
Quelle by:
Flags of the World, Corel Draw 4

Standarte Flagge flag Staatsratsvorsitzender DDR GDR Ostdeutschland East Germany

to 1989,
standard of the Chairman of the State Counsel,
ratio = 1:1,
Quelle by:
Flaggen und Wappen, Corel Draw 4

Flagge flag Vorsitzender des nationalen Verteidigungsrates DDR GDR Ostdeutschland East Germany

to 1989,
flag of the Chairman of the National Defense Board,
ratio = 3:5,
Quelle by:
Flags of the World, Corel Draw 4

Flagge flag Dienstflagge der Armee (Kriegsflagge) DDR GDR Ostdeutschland East Germany

1959–1989,
official flag of the army (war flag),
ratio = 3:5,
Quelle by:
Wappen und Flaggen aller Nationen, Corel Draw 4

Flagge flag Dienstflagge der Marine (Marineflagge) naval flag DDR GDR Ostdeutschland East Germany

to 1989,
official flag of the navy (naval flag),
ratio = 3:5,
Quelle by:
Flaggen und Wappen, Corel Draw 4

Flagge flag Hilfsschiffe aux ships DDR GDR Ostdeutschland East Germany

to 1989,
flag for aux ships,
ratio = 3:5,
Quelle by:
Flaggen und Wappen, Corel Draw 4

Flagge flag Dienstflagge der Grenztruppen border control patrol DDR GDR Ostdeutschland East Germany

to 1989,
official flag of the border patrol,
ratio = 3:5,
Quelle by:
Flags of the World, Corel Draw 4

Flagge flag Marineflagge der Grenztruppen naval flag border control patrol DDR GDR Ostdeutschland East Germany

to 1989,
naval flag of the border patrol,
ratio = 3:5,
Quelle by:
Flags of the World, Corel Draw 4

Flagge flag Stadtflagge Berlin Ost-Berlin East Berlin

since 1956,
flag of Great Berlin, in East Berlin, used for only few years
Quelle by:
Flags of the World, Corel Draw 4

Flagge flag Ost-Berlin East Berlin

1987,
unofficial flag, hoisted in East Berlin on the occasion of the 750th anniversary festivity,
Quelle by:
Flags of the World, Corel Draw 4

Meaning/Origin of the Flag:

The later flag of the GDR was already adoped in the Russian Occupation Zone on 18th of May in 1948. It showed then only three horizontal stripes in black, red and gold, so without a coat of arms. It should stand for the whole Germany and be a renewal of the german flag from 1848 and 1919.

In the Western Occupation Zone the same flag was officially introduced on the 23rd of May in 1949. It should as well stand for the whole Germany and be a renewal of the german flag from 1848 and 1919. At the foundation of the FRG it became took over on the 7th of September in 1949 as flag of the FRG.

After the foundation of the GDR on the 7th of October in 1949 was the in the Russian Occupation Zone on 18th of May in 1948 adoped flag likewise maintained. In this way the GDR in the Russian Occupation Zone had the same flag like the FRG in the Western Occupation Zone.

With the coming ultimate separation of the both german states must been created a better differentiatable symbolism. Because of this was introduced on 1st of october in 1952 the coat of arms of the GDR. The coat of arms stood for the unity of this people which is working in the industry (hammer), science (circle) and agriculture (ear wreath). Per law of the 1st of October in 1959 the coat of arms was added in the midddle of the flag.

From 1959 to 1973 the GDR had her own merchant flag. It had the coat of arms of the GDR in the upper canton. But more than once the flag was "only accidental by the Sea-Winds" several times swaddled around the flag-cord, the emblem of the GDR was not to recognize, and the flag was not to differentiate from the flag of the Federal Republic of Germany. Some Misters did not like this .... The flags of the GDR were abolished with the reunification of Germany on the 3rd of october in 1990.

Source: Die Welt der Flaggen

Coat of Arms:

Wappen coat of arms DDR GDR Ostdeutschland East Germany

first draft for the coat of arms of GDR,
Source: Iris Benner: Wettlauf um das Adlerwappen. In: museumsmagazin, H. 3/2008, Jürgen Kaltschmitt

Wappen coat of arms DDR GDR Ostdeutschland East Germany

1950-1953,
emblem of GDR,
Source: Wikipedia, Jürgen Kaltschmitt

Wappen coat of arms DDR GDR Ostdeutschland East Germany

1953-1955,
emblem of GDR,
Source: Wikipedia, Corel Draw 4

Wappen coat of arms DDR GDR Ostdeutschland East Germany

1955-1990,
emblem of GDR,
Source: Wikipedia, Corel Draw 4

Meaning/Origin of the Coat of Arms:

The first emblem of the GDR was introduced on 12th of January in 1950. It showed an hammer, surrounded by wheat ears. Yet in 1951 the provisional nature of this symbol was emphasized, designated as "emblem", and the term "coat of arms" was officially avoided. In the times before, there were plans to follow the German tradition and to introduce an eagle "looking to the east" as symbol of the state. With the establishment of the FRG, this idea disappeared.

On 28th of May in 1953 was introduced a new emblem - consiting in hammer, circles and ear wreath. The symbols stood for the unity of those who work in industry (hammer), science (circles) and agriculture (ear wreath). On 26th of September in 1955 a red background was added. The emblem was maintained in this form until the end of the GDR. It has only been merely banished from the public from the 31st of May in 1990.

Source: Wikipedia, Die Welt der Flaggen

History:

8th of May 1945 · capitulation of the German war-might, Russian occupation of middle Germany, eastern Germany gets subordinated under Polish administration
11th of June 1945 · communists take the political initiative under Soviet-Russian protection
1945–1949 · single measures in preparation of a communist seizure of power
7th of October 1949 · foundation of the GDR, communist seizure of power in Russian initiative
6th of July 1950 · GDR recognizes the enduring Polish occupation of eastern Germany
16th–17th of June 1953 · worker's revolt against communist forceed measures
13th of August 1961 · build of the "Berlin Wall"
Summer 1989 · wave of exit and escape
Autumn 1989 · mass demonstrations, initially for democratization, later for the reunification of Germany
9th of November 1989 · fall of the "Berlin Wall"
1st of July 1990 · currency-, economy - und social-union with the FRG
3rd of October 1990 · annexation of the GDR to FRG

author: Volker Preuss

Origin of the Country's Name:

The name "German Democratic Republic", was very contradictory. Here was indeed spoken German, but that state was not German. It was not sovereign and existed under the tutelage of the Soviet Union. This state was also not democratic, because it was a dictatorship, so that even the designation "republic" does not apply. In practice the word monster became oftenly shortened to "GDR" ("DDR"), further had been common "Central Germany, or" East Germany ", or "Soviet Zone".

Source: Volker Preuss