Berlin officially adopted its flag in May 1954 as the flag of the free city of West Berlin.
Designed by vexillologist Ottfried Neubecker, the flag is a red-white-red horizontal triband with the city emblem in the centre.
It finished second in a 1952 contest, but the Senate of Berlin rejected the winner.
The bear emblem is a pun on the city’s name.
‘Little bear’ in German is Bärlein (pronounced like Berlin).
Why did Berliners chose a bear instead of an eagle for their coat of arms?
Perhaps they took inspiration from Albert the Bear (c.1100-1170), the first Margrave of Brandenburg.
Since German of reunification in 1990, the Landesflagge (state flag) has become the flag of the whole city.
Bonus fact: The flag of East Berlin featured two additional white stripes at top and bottom, as well as a crowned escutcheon around the bear.
Author: Alex Crouch, Flag Institute accredited journalist 2015/16.
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