The color white links many iconic moments in Germany’s football history.
From Jurgen Klinsmann hoisting the Euro 96 trophy at Wembley to the legendary Miracle of Bern in 1954 and their 1974 World Cup triumph over the Netherlands, white has been a constant presence in their celebrated victories. Even as they aim for potential glory at Euro 2024 on home turf, the German football team’s association with white remains strong, despite it not being a color on their national flag of red, black, and yellow.
The roots of Germany’s white kit trace back nearly a thousand years to the late 1100s when the Teutonic Order, a religious military group, adopted a white flag featuring a black cross during their missions in the Holy Land. This emblematic color persisted even after the Order relocated to the Baltics and transitioned to a black eagle symbol.
The black eagle holds a deeply ingrained place in Germany’s history and continues to feature prominently in national iconography, including the country’s coat of arms. Dating back to the Prussian Empire, which existed until the early 20th century, the black eagle with a red beak and feet on a gold background remains a symbol closely tied to Germany.
When Germany’s national football team was established in 1899, it drew inspiration from the Prussian flag. Featuring white and black colors that symbolized the kingdom’s identity. Despite the dissolution of Prussia, these colors endured in the team’s kit design, reinforced by the presence of the black eagle in their crest.
While German football uniforms occasionally incorporate the red, black, and yellow from the national flag, white has consistently marked their most successful moments. As Julian Nagelsmann leads the team into Euro 2024, their white jerseys will once again symbolize their quest for success, starting with the tournament opener against Scotland in Munich, where the journey towards reclaiming football glory begins.
