Flags in mourning in Germany

Flags in mourning (Trauerbeflaggung) means in Germany that flags are lowered to half-mast or, where that is not possible, given a black mourning ribbon. Unlike many fixed flag days, mourning is usually ordered for a particular occasion. Who issues the order and for which buildings is governed by the Federal Government’s flag decree. How the flag is set in detail is described in the guide to half-mast.

Fixed days of remembrance with flags in mourning

Two days a year are set in the flag decree as half-mast days:

• 27 January – Day of Remembrance for the Victims of National Socialism. It recalls the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1945 and has been one of the regular flag days since the flag decree of 2000.
• National Day of Mourning (Volkstrauertag). It is the second Sunday before the first Sunday of Advent and remembers the dead of war and tyranny.

In addition there is 11 March, the National Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Terrorist Violence. It is not a regular flag day within the meaning of the decree, but according to Protokoll Inland the Federal Ministry of the Interior has ordered nationwide flags at half-mast every year since 2022.

Flags in mourning on special occasions

Beyond the fixed days, the Federal Ministry of the Interior orders flags in mourning for federal buildings, where appropriate in agreement with the ministries concerned. In cases of particular importance, under section III of the decree, the Federal Government decides. Protokoll Inland publishes such orders as flag orders.

The decree provides special rules for the death of foreign heads of state and ambassadors:

In both cases, the Federal Ministry of the Interior issues the order in agreement with the Federal Foreign Office. If an occasion concerns only a single administration, under the decree its responsible body can order flags for its own buildings.

Federation and states

The federal states order flags in mourning for their own authorities. According to Protokoll Inland, whenever a state orders mourning, the Federation considers whether and to what extent federal offices in that state also fly flags in mourning. Conversely, a federal order initially applies only to the federal and European flags; state and municipal flags stay at full mast unless there is a separate order. If the Federal Ministry of the Interior seeks a uniform approach by states and municipalities, under the decree it informs the state governments.

Flags in mourning during a state visit

If mourning coincides with a state visit, Protokoll Inland describes a special solution: the federal and European flags get a mourning ribbon instead of being lowered to half-mast. This shows respect both for the guest and for the bereavement, without half-mast and full mast being seen side by side. Protokoll Inland describes a rare special case on 27 January 2010: with Israel’s consent, the Israeli flags along the protocol route were also lowered to half-mast during the visit of President Peres.

The flag at a state funeral

At state funeral ceremonies, according to Protokoll Inland, the federal service flag covers the coffin. The standard of the Federal President is lowered to half-mast only on the death of the incumbent Federal President.

Mourning in private life

For private individuals, associations and businesses there is no rule on when flags fly at half-mast. Whether a flag is flown at half-mast after a death in the family, the club or the company is a personal decision. Anyone joining official mourning can choose the same times and procedure as the authorities. More in the guides to half-mast and flag protocol.