1873–1946, Flag of the Prussian Province of Hanover, ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: World Statesmen
23.08.1946–01.11.1946, Flag of the State of Hanover, ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: Königreich Hannover
01.11.1946–1951, Flag of the Country of Lower Saxony, ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: Königreich Hannover
since 1952, Flag of the former Hanoverian territories within the German federal country of Lower Saxony, ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: Niedersachsen und seine Staatssymbole
since 1952, unofficial, Flag of the former Hanoverian territories within the German federal country of Lower Saxony, ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: Königreich Hannover
Flag of the former country Oldenburg, ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: Flags of the World
Flag of the former country Brunswick, ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: Flags of the World
Flag of the former country Schaumburg-Lippe, ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: World Statesmen
1952–2007, Official flag for vessels and boats, ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: Flags of the World
The flag of Lower Saxony was officially adopted by the Lower Saxony state parliament on 3rd of April in 1951. It shows the colours black, red and gold with the coat of arms of the state in the middle, slightly shifted towards the mast. The coat of arms of the state is a semicircular shield with a leaping white horse in a red field. The flag was reaffirmed by the Lower Saxony Coat of Arms Act (NWappG) of 8rd of March in 2007, which came into force on 1st of June in 2007, last amended by Art. 3 § 2 of the Lower Saxony Act on Public Safety and Order and other laws of 20th of May in 2019 (Nds. GVBl. p. 88). At the same time, the Act on Coats of Arms, Flags and Seals of the 13th of October in 1952 (Nds.GVBl. Sb. I p.77), last amended by the Act of the 20th of June in 2001 (Nds.GVBl. p.372), and the Ordinance on the Flagging of Public Buildings of the 8th of May in 1991 (Nds.GVBl. p.181), last amended by the Ordinance of the 8th of April 2005 (Nds.GVBl. p.103), expired. The official and state flag, used at sea for governmental ships and boats, as a double-stander (swallow-tailed flag) is no longer mentioned separately in the current law and is therefore likely to have been abolished. It did go back to the Flag Law Act (BGBl. I 1994, p. 3140) of the federal government. It was used to mark seagoing and inland waterway vessels in the official and governmental service of the state of Lower Saxony. With this law, the former state flags of the four former states of Hanover, Brunswick, Oldenburg and Schaumburg-Lippe, which were merged to form Lower Saxony, are no longer recognised by the state as traditional regional flags, which had been awarded in 1952. The specifications for the public (official) hoisting of these flags were left to the lower authorities to regulate. In the areas of Hanover, however, the flag of the former Prussian Province of Hanover is used, and not the flag of the State of Hanover, which only existed for a few months in 1946. Like all official flags, the flag of the Minister President – a 30x30 cm wagon stander – was officially abolished by law on 29th of January in 2002 (Nds. MBl. p. 72), but it is still used unofficially for very rare protocol purposes (e.g. state visits).
The white horse in the coat of arms is the "Saxons Ross". It has its roots in the Tribal-Duchy of Saxony and was later adoped from the Welfen-Dynasty. Their symbol was actually a golden lion on red ground. In this way became it the heraldic animal of the Kingdom of Hannover (since 1866 Prussian Province of Hannover), of the Prussian Province of Westfalia and since 1922 of the Country of Brunswick. This tradition is continued in the FRG at those federal countries to which formerly Welfian territories belong. In this way they have until today the white horse in their coats of arms: Lower Saxony and North-Rhine Westfalia.
In old reproductions of coats of arms (at least until 1935) the Saxons Ross held its tail always upward. With the new-creation of the State of Hanover was that tradition broken after the Second World War, because the Saxons Ross held on its flag its tail downwards. That was continued in the Country of Lower Saxony – the successor of the State of Hanover. Because of that the Saxons Ross is called in Westfalia (wehre it holds the tail still upward) "Westfalia Horse", in contrast to the "Lower Saxony Horse".
"According to the Lower Saxony Coat of Arms Act, the coat of arms and the heraldic animal may only be used as a emblem by the authorities of the country. Use by third parties is prohibited. The so-called "Lower Saxony Sign" is available for all uses outside the state's administration. It is designed as a picture-word mark and consists of a white horse running in a red oval with the word "Niedersachsen" to the right. The sign is protected by trademark law." ¹
"... The "Lower Saxony Sign" is basically distributed - especially in the social, cultural and economic sphere - to all associations, associations, companies and private individuals who want to visually express their attachment to the state of Lower Saxony, available for free use. The decision on the use in individual cases is given by the Lower Saxony State Chancellery. Prerequisite is the conclusion of a user agreement. ²
