Last modified: 2009-05-03 by jarig bakker
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3:5; image by Marcus Schm�ger, 19 Nov 2002
used since 2002
The FDP was founded in 1948 and in 1949 it joined the federal coalition
under Chancellor Adenauer, where it remained (except for a short opposition
period 1957-1961) until 1966, when it went into opposition for another
three years. During 1969-1982 it was part of the SPD-FDP
coalition, from 1982-1998 part of the CDU-CSU-FDP
coalition under Chancellor Kohl. Since 1998 it is in federal opposition.
Although remaining the third or fourth largest parliamentary group in the
Bundestag,
the FDP constantly lost support in the L�nder and now it is only
represented in five out of 16
L�nder parliaments. Especially in
the new L�nder (former German Democratic Republic)
the FDP is very weak, in spite of its unification with the former East
German parties LDPD and
NDPD.
Marcus Schm�ger, 31 Mar 2001
The new FDP flag shows the new logo, however there are already several
variants available, depending on the manufacturer and depending on the
demands of the local party branches.
At this
webpage is the "Querformatflagge" (horizontal flag); size is
150x250cm (top)
Marcus Schm�ger, 19 Nov 2002
At this
webpage is the vertical variant ("Hochformatflagge"); size is
300x120cm.
Marcus Schm�ger, 19 Nov 2002
At this
webpage is the new variant of the paper flag, that is slightly different
from the horizontal textile flag. They also sell the old paper flags (with
the old logo) at this
webpage - I'm not sending a new gif for this one, as it is not much
different from the FDP flag already shown at FOTW.
Marcus Schm�ger, 19 Nov 2002
There is another manufacturer for FDP public relations with slightly
different flags. You can find the textile flag and paper flag, respectively,
at this
webpage and this
one.
Marcus Schm�ger, 19 Nov 2002
The FDP is now in coalition with the CSU in Bavaria, after having gained
a lot of support in the 2008 Landtag elections. The Ash Wednesday convention
was in a much smaller place, a rather traditional restaurant on Passau.
My flag observations from there:
1. On the building: there was one big vertical flag
displayed hanging from the restaurant building; this was the current flag.
2. Paper flags: There were a lot of paper flags on the tables.
Basically, they were the ones shown above, they
were a bit longer, though, and showed a darker shade of blue
Marcus Schm�ger, 7 Mar 2009
The flags used in the 1950's and their symbolism went out of use in the 1960's, according to Rabbow 1970. Since 1966 and even more since 1972 the FDP uses mainly the colours yellow and blue, now widely recognized in Germany as the FDP colours. Since 1969 the FDP uses the writing 'F.D.P.' (with dots) as its main symbol. This is also used on flags, in at least two variants. One is simply 'F.D.P.' and beneath 'Die Liberalen' [The Liberals] in blue on a yellow background. The other variant is the same on a white background with two yellow horizontal stripes near the top and bottom ('Israeli' pattern). The use of these flags is limited, though. I just found one recent event, when a flag of the second type was used. This was a demonstration against right extremism last year in Hamburg, where FDP followers also took part. During FDP meetings of several kinds one can at least see small paper flags of both variants. These were also available on the FDP website, but are gone now.
Sources: Rabbow 1970; Rabbow
1965; FDP-Bundesvorstand, Die Liberalen unter dem Vorsitz von Theodor
Heuss und Franz Bl�cher, Sitzungsprotokolle 1949-1952, Droste Verlag,
D�sseldorf; Brochure Wahlkampf und Werbung: Ein Leitfaden f�r die Wahlkampfleiter,
Propagandisten und Redner der Partei, 1953; Photo of a demonstration
in Hamburg in 2000, found in Internet; FDP
website ; Election posters at Friedrich
Naumann Foundation website
Marcus Schm�ger, 31 Mar 2001