On my way to work this morning, I saw a German flag at half-mast (or half-staff for some of you). I am in Duisburg, NRW if it makes any difference!

Thanks

There was a former Justice Minister who dies the other day. Maybe that's it.

It's probably for former Presidentin Annemarie Renger. From Bayern 5: Staatsakt im Bundestag für Annemarie Renger

maybe the storm blew it half way down?

I noticed the same down here in RP. I walk past the Gesundheitsamt every morning and they usually don't even fly it. And today it was definitely at half mast. No one at work knows why.

The US flag on base is also half mast??

Annemarie Renger was a former Bundestagspräsidentin (presiding the parliament); so far there hasn't been a female Bundespräsident, who is the head of state (but with mainly representative responsibilities and competence).

My bad.The 'on' in the title was the result of choosing between ' the flag on Alte Ruhrorter Str.' or 'the flag at Duisport' ( I finally decided against both). And the choice was because I found another flag flying at full mast nearby. Then I discovered that because the full mast one is a 'vertical flag', it's a German practice not to fly it at half-mast. Instead you just tie a, darn...here's it from Wiki

'When flags are required to be flown at half-mast, vertical flags are not lowered. A black mourning ribbon is instead attached, either atop the mast (if hung from a pole) or to each end of the flag’s supporting cross-beams (if flown like a banner).'

Phew! ...I guess I'm really bored at work today... and thanks of course ( for the replies to the OP and all the edits)...

I learned something new, too. Didn't know about the half-mast bit, which is apparently not followed correctly. And zis in Germany!

There's a national shortage of sausages?

Actually, every flag in the world should be at half mast, just in recognition of how fucked up everything is.

yeah...I guess they realized...there was no flag today...wiped out...gone...