Flag of the German Democratic Republic
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The flag of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany), was the same as that of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany), from establishment of the state in 1949 until 1959.
The East German Coat of Arms designed in 1955 was added to the national flag in 1959. It was placed in the centre to distinguish it from the West German flag containing three horizontal stripes of black, red and gold. It contains a hammer (symbolizing workers), and a compass (symbolizing intellectuals) inside ears of grain (symbolizing farmers).
The display of this flag was regarded as unconstitutional in West Germany and West Berlin and was prevented by the police. Only in 1969 did the West German government reverse this policy.
The current German flag was reinstated as the East German national flag in June 1990 which was just before official reunification in October that year.
The GDR flag continues to be controversial. Some fans of football clubs from the East like to display it in the stadium, but western fans often react very negatively to this, and some stadiums have banned it.
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