War 1866 between Austria and Prussia, engineered by the German chancellor Bismarck. It was nominally over the possession of Schleswig-Holstein, but it was actually to confirm Prussia's superseding Austria as the leading German state. The Prussian victory at the Battle of Sadowa was the culmination of General von Moltke's victories.
The flag's unusual 3:4 proportions are laid down by law. Green represents the forests. Blue symbolizes the Atlantic Ocean. Effective date: 9 August 1960.