https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Germany

The flag of Germany consists of three equal horizontal bands of: black, red and gold / yellow.

The flag was first adopted as the national flag of modern Germany in August 1919, during the

Weimar Republic with gold as the third colour. After the Second World War, in 1949, both West

and East Germany restored the old flag, but with yellow instead of gold.

Proportion 3:5

http://www.colorguides.net/pantone_flag_colors.html

The colors symbolize different concepts, being similar to the colours used by the Roman

Empire's imperial coat of arms, but the most common citation to the origin of the flag's colours

comes from the early 19th century: during that time German men volunteered to fight in the

Napoleonic wars; they wore black coats with red braids with golden buttons.

The first horizontal stripe is black. This colour is meant to represent the concept of determination. The second one, red, would mean hardiness and bravery, or strength and valor. The last horizontal stripe, gold or yellow, is meant to be a symbol of generosity.

Thought the current version of the German flag wasn't finally adopted until May 1949 the style it had been used before, however. It first appeared in 1848 but was abolished in 1852. It then reappeared as the flag for the Weimar Republic in 1919 but was again abolished in 1933 when the flag for the Third Reich replaced it.