flag

democracy

Germany criminalises the burning of foreign flags

German parliament on Thursday made the burning of foreign flags a criminal offence, with a possible jail term of up to three years.

Politics

Is a pessimistic political mood affecting the German national team?

Many German fans were left stunned after the national team's first World Cup game against Mexico last Sunday ended in a 0-1 defeat. Some experts say die Mannschaft’s performance has to do with politics.

offbeat

Bangladeshi World Cup megafan unfurls kilometres-long German flag

A football-mad farmer in Bangladesh has unfurled a homemade German flag stretching 5.5 kilometres in a bizarre act of devotion to his favourite team ahead of the World Cup.

Angela Merkel

Merkel campaigns with German flag to steal a march on nationalists

Chancellor Angela Merkel's party on Thursday placed the German flag front and centre in its campaign advertising for September elections, in a bid to snatch back a claim on patriotism from anti-immigration populists.

Napoleon

Schwarz-Rot-Gold: A nation's history in colour

On March 9th 1848, the Federal Convention in Frankfurt made black, red and gold the German national colours. Like their French predecessors of 1789, the Germans now had a tricolour to symbolise nation and revolution.

Sex

German flag goes viral in China as sex trade sign

Images of the German flag have gone viral in China following a government clampdown on the sex trade. The flag has become both a pro-government and anti-government symbol.