East Germany flag (1959-1990)

[Ferran]

State Flag 1959-1990 / Staatsflagge / Civil Ensign 1973-1990



This flag was adopted on 1 Oct 1959, and continued in use as the flag of East Germany until the reunification of the Germanies on 3 Oct 1990 - one year after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Ratio 3:5. The coat of arms shows a hammer and compass in a ring of rye, symbolising the working class, intelligentsia, and farmers.
Carl-Heinz Dirks, 12 Dec 1997

The black-red-gold with the arms (hammer and compass on a red disk surrounded by a wreath of two ears of wheat) in the center slightly overlapping the red stripe. In use as state flag 1959-1990, as merchant flag 1973-1990.
Norman Martin, Feb 1998

The coat of arms was added on 1 Oct 1959. At the beginning this flag was called Spalterflagge. Source: Schurdel 1995.
Mark Sensen, 21 Jun 2000

Spalterflagge was by no means an official, but a highly pejorative Western German term, as Spalter means trying to divide something apart bad-willingly.
Stephan E, 6 Jan 2005

East Germany 1949-1990

What kind of intelligentsia does this compass stand for? Do you think the description could be improved?

[Marulus]

Originally Posted by Ferran

What kind of intelligentsia does this compass stand for? Do you think the description could be improved?

The builders of certain "temple", I suppose.

[Ferran]

Originally Posted by Plethon

The builders of certain "temple", I suppose.

That compass/intelligentsia connection strikes me a lot as "light-bearer" stuff (in a modern sense).