I understand that vikings use the raven for many symbolic reasons but why does germany have a raven banner?

Question

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.americanrevolution.org/viking.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.americanrevolution.org/flags.html&h=150&w=146&sz=8&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=k_Jp775jCWdOGM:&tbnh=96&tbnw=93&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dviking%2Bbanner%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den

Answer 1

The symbol for Germany has historically been the eagle, I found no mention of a raven.

The eagle is the one of the oldest state symbols of Europe and is one of the oldest insignias in the world. Moreover, its history as an emblem began even earlier. To the Germanic tribes, the eagle was the bird of the god Odin. The Romans reserved aquiline imagery for only the most revered beings; namely, the supreme god and the emperor; and it served as a metaphor of invincibility. Later, through its rei rock eagle (adler), referred to in German as the Reichsadler, on German soil probably date back to the time of Charlemagne (742-814). Around the year 1200 the black eagle icon on a gold field was generally recognised as the imperial coat of arms. In 1433 the double-headed eagle was adopted for the first time.

Answer 2

I think you are mistaken. The first URL below shows German Flags back to 1816 and the only one with a "bird" in it is the Imperial War Flag. I believe that is a stylized Eagle. None of the pages at the URL you cite display a German flag.

The current flag of Germany, see second URL, is a tricolor with
Black on the top third, a "red" as the middle third, and a "yellow" as the bottom third.

No birds there.

Answer 3

I have to agree with William, some confusion there. Are you maybe confusing Germany with Germanic? They are two different things.

Answer 4

I don't have a straight answer. Been looking myself lately. It seems that they were at one time considered part of the same cultural group.