All German states have a (flag of the state, sometimes known as a civil flag), that may be used by anyone. Some states have another variant, often showing the state coat of arms, called the (service flag or government flag, sometimes known as a state flag), normally for use by official government offices only. In addition to these flags, in a few states there are variants exclusively for the state senate, or for state-operated ships. In some cases, there are specific flags for high-ranking officials, mainly used as car flags. Frequently, the flags are used in vertical variants. Current state flags Historical flags German Democratic Republic Greater German Reich Weimar Republic Provinces of Prussia Minority flags See also Coats of arms of German states Flags of districts of Germany Flags of municipalities in Germany ! Germany, states States States States of Germany-related lists