Types of flagpoles in Germany – an overview

Not all flagpoles are the same. The differences lie less in appearance than in how the flag is attached to the pole and hoisted. Which type suits depends on which flag is to be shown, how often it is changed, whether the pole is publicly accessible and how much wind it gets. In Germany the term “Fahnenmast” is more common; officially it is “Flaggenmast”.

The main types of pole

Pole with external halyard

The classic flagpole: a line runs over a pulley in the pole head and is made fast on a cleat at the bottom. The flag is attached to the line with snap hooks or clamps and hoisted. This design is simple, inexpensive and easy to maintain. Setting a flag at half-mast is no problem. The drawbacks are that the line can slap against the pole in the wind and that unauthorised persons can take the flag down.

Pole with internal halyard

Here the line runs inside the pole. It is operated through a lockable hatch in the lower part. The flag is thus protected against theft and vandalism, and the line rattling largely disappears. That is why this design is common in public places and on company premises. It can also matter to the neighbours, because a slapping line can be heard a long way off at night.

Outrigger pole

An outrigger pole has a horizontal arm at the top. The outrigger flag hangs from the arm at the top and along the pole at the side. According to Protokoll Inland, it is thus fully visible even in light wind and still air. Many arms are mounted on bearings so that the flag does not wrap around the pole when the wind changes. This design is popular for company logos. According to Protokoll Inland, the federal flag as an outrigger flag is not permitted in official use.

Telescopic pole

Telescopic poles consist of several tubes that slide into one another and usually have no halyard. The flag is attached to rings that move up as the pole is extended. Such poles are often inserted into a ground sleeve and can easily be retracted in winter or before a storm. They are less common for permanently flown large flags and greater heights.

Flagstaff and wall bracket

Where there is no room for a pole, the flag is shown on a flagstaff attached horizontally or at an angle to the façade. Under the flag decree, this is the exception for public authorities: in principle, flags are flown on vertical poles. Protokoll Inland gives as examples offices that only use part of a building and the façades of diplomatic missions. A flag on a flagstaff cannot be set at half-mast; in mourning it gets a mourning ribbon.

Roof poles and pole groups

On public buildings, poles often stand on the roof. According to Protokoll Inland, flags there are also flown at half-mast in mourning. In front of town halls, ministries and company headquarters, groups of poles are common, often with three or four poles for the European, federal, state and municipal flags. How they are arranged is described in the guide to flag protocol.

Material and height

Aluminium flagpoles are common, alongside poles of glass-fibre reinforced plastic, steel and, rarely, wood. More in the guide to flagpole materials. Which heights are usual is in the guide to flagpole heights, and how the halyard, pulley and cleat work in the guide to flagpole mechanics.