The German flag features three colors. Each of these have the same size and the bands are arranged in a horizontal manner. The three colors of Germany are black, red and gold. In the past, the flag of Germany did not feature these colors. In 1866, after the Austro-Prussian War, the North German Confederation, which were generally controlled by the Prussians, displayed a tricolor flag that had the colors red, black and white. The flag of the German Empire was set up after Germany united in 1871. It became the official flag until 1918. When Nazi Germany was created in the 1930s, the black, red and white were again featured as the national colors of the country.
During the 19th century, the black, red and gold tones of the German flag surfaced. Weimar Republic was established after World War I and the new tricolor flag was displayed as the national flag. After World War II, the flag was chosen as the official flag of both East and West Germany. The two flags stayed the same until the East German flag had the coat of arms added in 1959. Because Germany reunited in 1990, the black, red and gold tricolor flag became the main German flag and it is still the same at present.
The current colors of the German flag represented republican democracy which was set up after World War II. The black, red and gold tones are known to stand for German freedom and unity. Because of Germany’s rich past, the tricolor also represents individual freedom which all Germans enjoy at present.