FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
 

CURRENT COLORS & COMMAND FLAGS
ARMY, AIR FORCE, JOINT SUPPORT SERVICE & MEDICAL SERVICE
 

The state flag (Bundesdeinstflagge) of the Federal Republic of Germany—the black-red-gold tricolor with the national coat of arms added—is also the military service flag of the Bundeswehr, as the German armed forces are collectively known. A square version of this flag, with black-red-gold piping and a gold fringe, was adopted as the ceremonial color (Truppenfahne) of the Bundeswehr. The color itself is identical for all branches of the armed forces; for color-bearing units of the Army (Heer) a red streamer inscribed with the unit name or designation is attached to the staff. For the Air Force (Luftwaffe) and Navy (Marine) the streamers are light blue and dark blue respectively. Command flags are similar to those used up to 2004, but the reorganization of the Bundeswehr has led to the adoption of some new ones. The Joint Support Service (Streitkräftebasis) consolidates logistical support and military police units under a unified command; its command flags, without branch insignia, are the same as those originally adopted for the Army.

Medical support for all branches of the armed forces is now provided by the Medical Service (Sanitätsdienststellen). Its command flags display the insignia of the medical corps.

Note: In 2011-1212, a reorganization of the armed forces resulted in the consolidation of the Army Staff, the Army Administration Office and the Army Forces Command. The new organization, the Kommando Heer, is directly under the Army Chief of Staff. Thus the command flags for the Chief of Army Administration and the Chief of the Army Forces Command are probably no longer in use. The command structure of the Luftwaffe was similarly reorganized to consolidate the Air Force Staff, the Air Force Administration Office and Air Force Forces Command into a new Air Force Command: Kommando Luftwaffe.

For current naval flags, see Naval Ensigns and Flags Since 1956.