Bautzen District Council: Flags for schools – symbolism or identity?

Bautzen District Council: Flags for schools – symbolism or identity?

In a groundbreaking decision, the Bautzen district council decided on June 23, 2025 to permanently display flags in front of district schools. The move comes in an area where the Sorbs, the smallest West Slavic people, have resided for centuries. Around 60,000 Sorbs live in the region and are committed to their roots and culture, as the Landkreis Bautzen reports.

The resolution provides for the Sorbian flag as well as the German and Saxon flags to be hoisted in the Sorbian settlement area. In the areas outside the Sorbian settlement area, the federal flag and, if possible, the state flag will be displayed in the future. This measure is implemented at locations with existing flagpoles, so that there is no major additional effort for the communities. At the district office locations in Bautzen and Kamenz, the variety of flags will be fully showcased with the European, federal, state and Sorbian flags.

A passionate plea for identity

The decision was made after intensive discussion in the district council, with CDU district councilor Dawid Statnik emphasizing that the flags should not only function as symbolic politics. He appealed to the relevance of representing Sorbian culture. On the other hand, SPD representative Gerhart Lemm expressed concerns about possible theft or damage to the flags. He suggested lowering the flags in the evening and raising them again in the morning, but this would impose an additional burden.

The discussion was shaped by different political camps. While the AfD supported the district administrator's proposal and called for the Saxon flag to be flown in non-Sorbian areas as well, the Alliance Left-Green faction was concerned about the possible negative impact of a permanent flag. They feared that this could push special days of remembrance into the background.

A question of production and cost

The mayor of Kamenz, Roland Dantz, hopes that the flag contract will be awarded to a regional producer and not go to China. The estimated cost of the entire flag package is around 2,500 euros. This shows that economic aspects also play a role in such cultural decisions.

The Sorbian language and culture are very important in the Bautzen district. Bilingualism is omnipresent in many communities, be it in signposts or in public facilities. The Sorbs, also known as Wends, are one of Germany's four recognized ethnic minorities. Their history goes back to the 6th century, when they settled in Upper and Lower Lusatia. However, they are currently facing challenges such as migration and the loss of culture and language, especially due to the coal phase-out, reports the [University Tübingen].

Overall, the Bautzen district council's decision represents an important gesture: it is not only an expression of respect for the cultural identity of the Sorbs, but also a step towards creating visibility for this ethical minority, which must be preserved.