The civil flag of Hesse, Germany consists of a bicolor of a red top and a bottom white stripe, in the proportion 3:5. The state flag is similar, except it is emblazoned with the state coat of arms in the centre, and may only be used by government departments and services.

Hesse
"Landesflagge"
UseCivil flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
Proportion3:5 (or 1:2)
AdoptedUnknown, believed 1948
DesignA bicolour of red over white.
Landesdienstflagge des Landes Hessen
UseState flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
Proportion3:5 (or 1:2)
AdoptedUnknown, believed 1948
DesignThe civil flag with the addition of the coat of arms.

The colours red and white are based on that of the Ludovingian coat of arms, showing a lion with a ninefold horizontal white and red division. The coat of arms was inherited by the House of Hesse upon its split from the Duchy of Thuringia in 1247, and the flag came into use in the early modern Landgraviate of Hesse; the modern Grand Duchy of Hesse used a flag with two red stripes, as did the People's State of Hesse until 1933.

The flag of Thuringia was introduced in 1920, with its formation out of the fragmented Thuringian states (the Duchy of Thuringia had been absorbed into Saxony in 1400), as the reverse of the flag of Hesse.[1]

The civil flag of Hesse resembles that of Monaco's and, particularly, Indonesia's.

It also resembles one of the flags of Alsace.

The Hessian Ministry of the Interior designated several official flag days. On these days, the flag of Hesse (alongside with the Flag of the European Union and Germany) must be flown on all official buildings.[2] These days include:

Date Name Reason
27 January Commemoration Day for the Victims of National Socialism Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp (1945)
1 May Labour Day Established for German labour Unions to demonstrate for the promotion of workers' rights
9 May Europe Day Anniversary of the Schuman Declaration (1950)
23 May Constitution Day Anniversary of the German Basic Law (1949)
17 June Anniversary of 17 June 1953 Anniversary of the Uprising of 1953 in the GDR
20 July Anniversary of 20 June 1944 Anniversary of the failed assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler by Claus von Stauffenberg (1944)
Second Sunday in September Hessian Memorial Day for Victims of Deportation To honour all persons living in Hesse who suffered from deportation
3 October Day of German Unity Anniversary of German reunification (1990)
The Second Sunday before Advent People's Mourning Day In memory of all killed during wartime
1 December Hessian Constitution Day Anniversary of the Hessian Constitution (1946)

On the Commemoration Day for the Victims of National Socialism and on People's Mourning Day, flags are flown at half-mast. Additionally, flags must be flown on days to the election to the European Parliament, the Bundestag, the Hessian Landtag and municipal elections.

History edit

References edit

  1. ^ State Chancellery (1948), Gesetz über die Hoheitszeichen des Landes Hessenn (in German), retrieved 25 November 2008
  2. ^ "Beflaggungstermine in Hessen | Hessisches Ministerium des Innern und für Sport". innen.hessen.de. Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.