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General German Automobile Club

Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil Club (ADAC)

Last modified: 2019-05-07 by german editorial team
Keywords: adac | allgemeiner deutscher automobil club | ddac |
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[ADAC 2010] 2:1, image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Dec 2010 See also:

Brief History

On 24 Mai 1903 Deutsche Motorradfahrer Vereinigung/(DMV) was founded as a lobbyist's club for motor cyclists. The number of members increased up to more than 10,000 members in 1905. In 1906 there was a co-operation with Kaiserlicher Automobil Club (KAC).
In 1907 DMV was renamed to Deutsche Motorfahrer Vereinigung, and in 1911 to Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil Club (ADAC) because then the club had about 17,000 members, among them more than 12,000 car owners.
In 1927, recommended by the club, unique traffic signs had been introduced in all German states.
On 24 Juli 1933 in Baden-Baden treatise the NS-Kraftfahrerkorps became into charge of all drivers affairs in Germany. On 27 September 1933, the drivers clubs ADAC, AvD, DTC and NDA were enforced by NS-government to merge. They formed Der Deutsche Automobil Club (DDAC).
In 1945 ADAC was reestablished but immediately forbidden by allied occupation government.
1946 the club was again reestablished exclusively in Bavaria but later on in the complete US-American occupation zone, in 1947 also in British zone and finally in 1949 in French zone.
Since then the number of members increased continously up to more than 20,000 members in 1953, to 1,000,000 members in 1965 and to more than 10,000,000 members in 1990.
In 1954 ADAC Straßenwacht, the so called "yellow angels", was established, a breakdown service for travellers on German motorways
In 1970 also a helicopter air rescue service was established by the club together with the fire brigades and the armed forces.
In 1990 the club supported the foundation of ADAC-Ost in the German Democratic Republik and on 3 October 1990 both ADAC-clubs in Germany merged due to the reunion of both states.
For further information click:here
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Dec 2010

The Flags

Current banner

It is a plain yellow banner with ratio approx 2:1. At the top edge is an inscription in black capitals "ADAC". Beneath the inscription is a grey eagle.
Source: I spotted this flag in Bielefeld fixed on a crane above the unfinished new building of ADAC on 22 September 2010
Klaus-Michael Schneider,

Pennant 1920

[ADAC 1920] 1:2 image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 30 Apr 2019

It is a white pennant with ADAC logo shifted to the hoist and divided by a tricolour cross of black-white-red, the then German colours, the eagle bears an inescutcheon is parted per bend sinister displaying the also the German colours, the logo is surrounded by a yellow fimbriation.
Source: here and
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 30 Apr 2019

Pennant 1933

[ADAC 1920] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 30 Apr 2019

It is a white pennant with ADAC logo shifted to the hoist and divided by a red cross cotised black-white, the logo has turned oval, the eagle with inescutcheon as in 1920 pennant now is armed Gules and the oval is double cotised black-white.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 30 Apr 2019

The German Automobile Club (Der Deutsche Automobil Club/DDAC) pennant (1933-1945)

[DDAC pennant] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Dec 2010

It is a white triangular pennant divided by a red cross cotized white and black, which is shifted to the hoist. The cross is superimposed by a logo. In a white oval cotized black-white-black there is a black eagle holding in his white claws a red wreath with a black swastika (unfortunately it was just the other way round in Germany). Upon the eagle's breast are white dotted letters D.D.A.C. Black-white-red were the German colours.
Its design seems to be the predessor of the post WWII yacht club pennants. The pennant is denoted as a car pennant, but I am in doubt, that it might have been a yacht club pennant.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Dec 2010

Flag reported 1953

[ADAC 1953] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Dec 2010

It is a white flag divided by an orangy red, off-centred cross cotized yellow and black. The cross is superimposed by a logo. In a white disc is a black eagle surrounded by black Gothic letters "ADAC". Black-red-gold are the German colours. The yacht club does no longer exist, as my next door neighbour told me. She is an employee of the club.
Source: based on description given by ?eljko Heimer on 6 Jul 2003
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Dec 2010

Flag reported 1960

[ADAC 1960] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Dec 2010

It is a plane yellow flag with the club logo in its centre. The logo shows a black eagle surrounded by black Gothic capitals "ADAC" in a white disc.
Source: ADAC touring map Germany
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Dec 2010

Subdivision banner

[ADAC OWL] 2:1, image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 27 Nov 2011

Often the name of the regional subdivision is added below in black capitals. The subdivisions are called districts (German: Gaue). In this case we have the Gau of Ostwestfalen-Lippe.
Source: I spotted this flag in Bielefeld fixed on a crane above the unfinished new building of ADAC on 24 November 2011
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 27 Nov 2011