Germania (personification)

Germania is the personification of the German Nation or the Germans as whole, most commonly associated with the Romantic Era and the Revolutions of 1848, though the figure was later used by Imperial Germany. She is usually shown wielding Joyeuse, the personal sword of Charlemagne. Additionally, she is sometimes shown as carrying or wearing the Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire. She is often depicted as wearing armor, with long, flowing, reddish-blonde hair, and possesses a medieval-style shield. Sometimes, the shield bears the image of a black eagle on a gold field. In pre-1871 images, she is shown holding the black-red-gold flag of modern Germany, but in post-1871 depictions she is shown holding the black-white-red flag of the German Empire.

[edit] Meanings of some symbols

Attribute	Significance
Broken chains	Being freed
Breastplate with eagle	Symbol of the German empire - strength
Crown of oak leaves	Heroism
Sword	Readiness to fight
Olive branch around the sword	Willingness to make peace
Black, red and gold tricolour	Flag of the liberal-nationalists in 1848, banned by the dukes of the German states
Rays of the rising sun	Beginning of a new era