During World War I, the German Empire (1871–1918) used a dual flag system to represent the state, civil authority, and military forces. One design served as the national and civil standard, while a separate, more complex design was reserved for the armed forces. This meant the flag commonly seen by citizens differed significantly from the one displayed in combat zones and on the high seas. The two primary flags were the simple tricolor and the complex Imperial War Ensign.
The National Flag: Black, White, and Red
The standard national flag of the German Empire was a straightforward horizontal tricolor of black, white, and red. This design was officially adopted in 1892, continuing the tradition established by the North German Confederation in 1867. The Black-White-Red tricolor was designated for use by merchant vessels and civil authorities, serving as the primary symbol of the German state in non-military contexts.
The colors represented a unification of key German territories under Prussian leadership. Black and white were the traditional colors of the Kingdom of Prussia. The addition of red and white acknowledged the Hanseatic League, a commercial and defensive confederation of northern German cities, ensuring the inclusion of important maritime regions. This flag remained the official national symbol until the end of the German Empire in 1918.
The Highly Visible Imperial War Ensign
The flag most associated with German military action during the war was the Reichskriegsflagge, or Imperial War Ensign. This ensign, particularly the 1903–1919 pattern, was used by the Imperial Army and was the official naval flag of the Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial Navy).
The background of the War Ensign was a white field overlaid with a black cross that was offset toward the hoist side, similar to a Nordic cross design. In the center of the flag, over the intersection of the cross, was a white disc containing the black Prussian eagle, which had a crown and held a scepter and orb.
The upper-left corner, or canton, featured a miniature version of the Black-White-Red tricolor. Placed within this tricolor canton was a black Iron Cross. The Iron Cross was made thicker in the 1903 revision, and a solid circle was added around the eagle to avoid confusion with the British White Ensign.
The Flag’s Post-War Legacy
The Black-White-Red flag’s time as the national symbol ended abruptly with the German defeat in 1918 and the subsequent collapse of the monarchy. The newly formed democratic state, the Weimar Republic, immediately replaced the Imperial flag with the Black-Red-Gold tricolor in 1919. This change was meant to align the nation with the democratic traditions of the 1848 revolutions.
The Imperial Black-White-Red flag retained symbolic power for conservative and nationalist elements in Germany. They viewed the flag change as a humiliation tied to the defeat in World War I and used the old colors to protest the new republic. The flag became a rallying symbol for monarchists and right-wing political parties throughout the Weimar era, representing a desire to restore the former glory of the German Empire.