Flag of Germany
With the formation of the short-lived Weimar Republic after World War I, the tricolour was adopted as the national flag of Germany. Sixteen years later following World War II, the tricolour was again designated as the flag of both West and East Germany divided states in 1949. The two flags were identical until 1959, when the East German flag was augmented with the coat of arms of East Germany. Since reunification on 3 October 1990, the black-red-gold tricolour has become the flag of a reunified Federal Republic of Germany.
Law in Nazi Germany
This stated that the national colours of Germany were black, red and white, also affirming the swastika flag as the new national flag. In the words of Hitler, this was created to “repay a debt of gratitude to the movement, under whose symbol Germany regained its freedom, in that they fulfil a significant item on the program of the National Socialist Party.”