From the establishment of East Germany in 1949 to 1959, the East German flag was the same as the Flag of West Germany, and the current Flag of Germany. The Coat of Arms was designed in 1955, and was added to the East German national flag in 1959.

The three horizontal stripes in the flag of East Germany of black, red and gold are the same as in the West German flag, but the state emblem of East Germany is placed in the centre, to distinguish it from the West German flag. It contains a hammer (symbolizing the workers), and a pair of compasses (symbolizing the intellectuals) inside ears of grain (symbolizing the 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 Germany national flag in 1990, from June to October.