Flag dispute in Wolgast: Citizens protest on Dead Sunday!

Flag dispute in Wolgast: Citizens protest on Dead Sunday!

In Wolgast, a small town in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, numerous German flags were hung on public poles on Sunday night. These spontaneous actions, which were initiated by an unknown group, caused a stir and a clear reaction from Mayor Martin Schröter. According to that NDR He criticizes that the display of the flags is particularly inappropriate since it took place on the Sunday of the Dead. “In principle, I have no problem with the visibility of the German flag,” said Schröter, “but it shouldn’t be like that.”

The identity of the group responsible remains a mystery as it is currently unknown. What is interesting is that the police have recorded the incident, but will not initiate any further investigations. The reason: Attaching German flags, as long as they do not show any banned symbols, is legally harmless.

Regulations on flagging

In order to deepen our understanding of such incidents, it is worth taking a look at the current regulations for flagging public buildings in Germany. These are regulated in the Federal Government's Flag Decree, which not only defines the arrangement practice, but also the days of flagging and the type of flags to be hung. Daily flag hoistings are planned, for example, at the official buildings of the highest federal authorities in Berlin and Bonn as well as at Bundeswehr and Federal Police buildings Wikipedia reported.

But there are also clear guidelines for flagging at state and local levels. Although these often have to be based on federal regulations, they can take regional characteristics and historical flags into account. The Federal Minister of the Interior also has the option of ordering flags to be displayed on special occasions, which increases flexibility beyond the uniform rules.

Determination of flag display days

Examples of important flagging days include the national day of remembrance for the victims of terrorism on March 11th, on which mourning flags are required, or the day of remembrance for the victims of flight and displacement on June 20th, which is flagged at full height. Flag raising generally occurs from sunrise to sunset, but not before 8 a.m. to ensure uniform order. The regulations are designed in such a way that the order of the flags is easy to understand: from the international status of the flags to the federal status to the state and municipal flags, as in the guidelines of the Wikipedia can be read.

In summary, the unexpected action in Wolgast sheds an interesting light on the rules and customs when dealing with the German flag. Even though the mayor criticizes the spontaneous display of flags, the incident shows how diverse the perception and handling of national flags can be in Germany.