Flag of North Rhine-Westphalia

The flag of the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia is a horizontal tricolor consisting of green, white and red.

North Rhine-Westphalia
Landesflagge
UseCivil flag and ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
Proportion3:5 (or 1:2)
Adopted1953 (in use from 1948)
DesignA horizontal tricolour of green, white, and red.
Landesdienstflagge
UseState flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
Proportion3:5 (or 1:2)
Adopted1953 (in use from 1948)
DesignThe civil flag with the addition of the coat of arms.

Overview

edit

After the establishment of North Rhine-Westphalia in 1946, the tricolor was first introduced in 1948, but was not formally adopted until 1953.[1] The plain variant of the tricolor is considered the civil flag and state ensign, while government authorities use the state flag (Landesdienstflagge) which is defaced with the state's coat of arms.[1]

The flag is a combination of the two former provinces of Prussia that comprise most of the state: the Rhine Province and Westphalia. The state ensign can easily be mistaken for the flag of Hungary, as well as the former civil flag of Iran (Persia) (1910–1980) and the flag of the Parti patriote. The same flag was used by the Rhenish Republic (1923–1924) as a symbol of independence and freedom.

Flags from preceding Prussian provinces:
   
Rhine Province
(1822–1946)
Westphalia
(1815–1946)

History

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Government of North Rhine-Westphalia (1953-03-10). "Gesetz über die Landesfarben, das Landeswappen und die Landesflagge" (in German). Archived from the original on 2005-03-12. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
edit