The flag of Alsace ( Alsatian: ' or ', "red and white") is the original red and white flag of the region, and can be traced to the red and white

banner A banner can be a flag or another piece of cloth bearing a symbol, logo, slogan or another message. A flag whose design is the same as the shield in a coat of arms (but usually in a square or rectangular shape) is called a banner of arms. Als ...

Gerard, Duke of Lorraine Gerard ( – 14 April 1070), also known as Gerard the Wonderful, was a Lotharingian nobleman. He was the count of Metz and Châtenois from 1047 to 1048, when his brother Duke Adalbert resigned them to him upon his becoming the Duke of Upper Lorr ...

in the 11th century. Particularly since the introduction of new French region

Grand Est Grand Est (; gsw-FR, Grossa Oschta; Moselle Franconian/ lb, Grouss Osten; Rhine Franconian: ''Groß Oschte''; german: Großer Osten ; en, "Great East") is an administrative region in Northeastern France. It superseded three former administra ...

, the traditional ' flag of

Alsace Alsace (, ; ; Low Alemannic German/ gsw-FR, Elsàss ; german: Elsass ; la, Alsatia) is a cultural region and a territorial collectivity in eastern France, on the west bank of the upper Rhine next to Germany and Switzerland. In 2020, it had ...

has been widely promoted by the advocates of the Alsace autonomous movement.

History

' (from the 11th century)

The original flag of Alsace, the ', dates back to the red and white

in the 11th century. Red and white colours are commonly found on the coat of arms of Alsatian cities such as Strasbourg,

Mulhouse Mulhouse (; Alsatian: or , ; ; meaning '' mill house'') is a city of the Haut-Rhin department, in the Grand Est region, eastern France, close to the Swiss and German borders. It is the largest city in Haut-Rhin and second largest in Alsace a ...

and

Sélestat Sélestat (; Alsatian: ''Schlettstàdt''; German: ''Schlettstadt'') is a commune in the Grand Est region of France. An administrative division (sous-préfecture) of the Bas-Rhin department, the town lies on the Ill river, from the Rhine and th ...

, and additionally of many Swiss cities, especially in the region of

Basel-Landschaft Basel-Landschaft or Basel-Country informally known as Baselland or Baselbiet (; german: Kanton Basel-Landschaft ; rm, Chantun Basilea-Champagna; french: Canton de Bâle-Campagne; it, Canton Basilea Campagna), is one of the 26 cantons forming ...

Departmental and regional flags

Perhaps as the ' marks the Germanic roots of Alsace, it was replaced in 1949 by a new flag, representing the union of the two ' of and , however without real historical relevance. It was subsequently modified to a slightly different appearance, yet also representing the two departments. The flag is currently used by the

European Collectivity of Alsace The European Collectivity of Alsace (french: Collectivité européenne d'Alsace; gsw-FR, D'Europäischa Gebiatskärwerschàft Elsàss; german: Europäische Gebietskörperschaft Elsass) is a territorial collectivity in the Alsace region of France. ...

created in January 2021. File:Banner of the Prince-Bishopric of Strassbourg I (1^1).svg,

Prince-Bishopric of Strasbourg The Prince-Bishopric of Strasburg (german: Fürstbistum Straßburg; gsw-FR, Fìrschtbischofsìtz Strossburi(g)) was an ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire from the 13th century until 1803. During the late 17th century, most of ...

(982–1803) File:Dienstflagge Elsaß-Lothringen Kaiserreich.svg,

Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine Imperial is that which relates to an empire, emperor, or imperialism. Imperial or The Imperial may also refer to: Places United States * Imperial, California * Imperial, Missouri * Imperial, Nebraska * Imperial, Pennsylvania * Imperial, Texa ...

(1871–1918) File:Flag of the Republic of Alsace-Lorraine.svg,

Alsace-Lorraine Soviet Republic November 1918 was the period of transition when the region of Alsace-Lorraine passed from German to French sovereignty at the end of World War I. During this month, international events were linked to domestic troubles, particularly the Germa ...

(1918) File:Flag of Alsace (old).svg, The official flag of

1949–2008, representing the two of and File:Flag of Alsace.svg, The official flag of

2008–present File:Flag of the former Region of Alsace.svg, Flag of the former Region of Alsace 2011-2016 File:Logo of Alsace.png, Official logo of the

2021–present

Recognition

There is controversy around the recognition of the Alsatian flag. With the purpose of "Francosizing" the region, the ' has not been recognised by the French government. Some French politicians have erroneously called this a "

Nazi Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in ...

invention" — while the ' is still known as the real historical

emblem An emblem is an abstract or representational pictorial image that represents a concept, like a moral truth, or an allegory, or a person, like a king or saint. Emblems vs. symbols Although the words ''emblem'' and '' symbol'' are often us ...

of the region by most of the population and the departments' parliaments. Subsequently, the ' has been widely used during protests against the creation of a new "super-region"

, gathering

Champagne-Ardennes Champagne-Ardenne () is a former administrative region of France, located in the northeast of the country, bordering Belgium. Mostly corresponding to the historic province of Champagne, the region is known for its sparkling white wine of th ...

Lorraine Lorraine , also , , ; Lorrain: ''Louréne''; Lorraine Franconian: ''Lottringe''; german: Lothringen ; lb, Loutrengen; nl, Lotharingen is a cultural and historical region in Northeastern France, now located in the administrative region of Gra ...

and Alsace, namely on Colmar's statue of liberty.

References

11th-century introductions Flag Flag Red and white flags Flags of France Flags of Germany {{Europe-flag-stub

History

' (from the 11th century)

Departmental and regional flags

Recognition

See also

References