Section VII paragraph 2 of the Federal Government Decree concerning flag displays at federal buildings refers to special provisions governing flag displays at official buildings, installations and facilities of the Bundeswehr (Federal Armed Forces). Joint guideline A2-2630/0-0-3 on military forms and ceremonies of the Bundeswehr governs flag regulations for the Bundeswehr; area regulation C1-200/0-3311 on flags, salutes and visit regulations for Bundeswehr vessels governs flag displays for such vessels. Bundeswehr installations and facilities display the federal institutions flag every day. Naval vessels fly the Bundeswehr ensign.

Flag ceremonies 

Federal institutions flag (Larger version opens in new window) Source: Protokoll Inland Federal institutions flag

Hoisting and lowering the flag every day is an element of military custom and part of the tradition maintained by the Bundeswehr. It is carried out every morning and evening. If no military guard is present, the federal institutions flag is to be raised and lowered with respect though without a specific ceremony.

Hoisted flags should be able to fly freely; if they have become tangled or caught, they should be lowered without ceremony and rehoisted. Flags should be handled with care.

The most senior person on site or the barracks commander determines the times for the flag ceremony in agreement with the commanders and heads of agencies. For military ceremonies, the flag may remain flying after sundown as long as it is illuminated by spotlights.

At naval bases or other military installations where naval vessels are anchored, one joint flag ceremony should be carried out on land and on board wherever possible.

Gates to the installations, facilities and official buildings are to remain closed while the flag is being raised or lowered. Traffic should be stopped in time so that no vehicles are parked in the immediate vicinity of the flagpole. Engines, radios and other playback devices for electronic media should be turned off. Troops and civilian staff of the Bundeswehr should get out of or down from their vehicles unless doing so would be an unreasonable hardship for them owing to physical infirmity. Commanders of armoured vehicles should stand at the open hatch of the vehicle. Pedestrians and marching units should stand at attention. While the federal institutions flag or other flags are being hoisted or lowered, those conducting the flag ceremony and all troops in uniform within a reasonable distance (in sight of the flag) should render the military salute. The salute should be rendered immediately after the command is given to hoist or lower the flag or to set it at half-mast; other than at the ceremonial colours, the salute ends with the command to carry on.

Command flag

The command flags of the Bundeswehr, black-red-gold with federal eagle, were donated by the Federal President by order of 18 September 1964 (Federal Law Gazette I, p. 817) for battalions and similar organizations “as an outward sign of the shared performance of duty in the service to the people and the state”.

The Federal Minister of Defence is authorized to issue the necessary provisions.