Flag of Czech Republic

What does the flag of the Czech Republic look like, what exact proportions? What symbolize his colors? Who and when he developed him? Read the answers in our article.

What does the flag of the Czech Republic and exact proportions look like

Visually all proportions are shown in the picture below, click on the picture to enlarge full screen.

Sizes and proportions determines the "Law on State Symbols of the Czech Republic" No. 3/1993.

Aspect ratio (width / height): 3: 2.

Height of horizontal red and white stripes: 50% of the height of the flag.

Blue wedge is made in the form of an equilibrium triangle with vertices in the exact center and left corners.

The exact colors in the law are not defined. However, Czech printing enterprises traditionally use: Blue – Pantone 293, Red – Pantone 485.

Form and proportions are not fastened. If necessary, the flag of the Czech Republic can be completed with another aspect ratio, or the top of the blue wedge can be shifted to the left or right in reasonable limits.

What colors mean

Some deep symbolism in colors do not.

Red and white – these are traditional colors of the symbols of Bohemia.

Blue – This is the traditional color of Moravia symbols.

However, since these colors are taken from the coat of arms of the Middle Ages, it is quite possible to take a symbolism of medieval heraldry.

White symbolizes peace and honesty.

Red symbolizes persistence, bold, strength and courage.

Blue symbolizes vigilance, truthfulness, dedication, resistance and justice.

Do all these properties comply with the modern Czech state and the Czech people? Do not judge us.

Flag of president

According to Article 14 of the Constitution of the Czech Republic, the president’s flag is one of the official symbols of the country.

The flag raise the president’s residence when it is located in the country, as well as on vehicles that the President enjoys. An example of a service author of the president with this flag, see photos.

The flag is insanely interesting. Watch the picture on the left, click on the picture to enlarge.

Approved by law of December 17, 1992, entered into force on January 1, 1993. Design developed Jiří Lound, he was the author of the modern coat of arms of the Czech Republic.

The first question that occurs from readers: "What does the inscription say?". Answer: "True wins". This slogan was used by Czech kings in the Middle Ages.

Banner with the inscription hold the golden linden branches. This symbol was also used in Czech kings from the 13th century.

In the center of the coat of arms of the Czech Republic. Herb of Bohemia was depicted on it, once the coat of arms of Moravia, and in the lower left corner of the coat of arms of Silesia, although only a small piece of the historical region of Silesia is now located on the territory of the Czech Republic.

Along the edges are flames in the national colors of the Czech Republic.

History of the flag of the Czech Republic

The flag of modern Czech Republic begins its history from the 13th century. The coat of arms of medieval Bohemia was red with white (silver) Lvom in the Golden Crown. Looks like that. The most ancient preserved image of this coat of arms can be seen in the Castle of Gozzoburg, this image dates back to 1270s. The most ancient description of the coat of arms is found in the book "Martyrologist Iguman Kumigunde", the book dates back to the 1310s.

Naturally, sew such a banner in those times was very difficult and expensive, therefore, in the armies of the Czech kings, they used a simple banner with a white stripe from above and red below. This combination of stripes and colors is still used in the Czech attributes.

Before the beginning of the 20th century, no need for the national flag of Bohemia. The region was part of the Great Roman Empire, then the Austro-Hungarian Empire. However, the red and white flag was actively used by all independence movements. During the uprising of 1948, the Czechs were fighting on the barricades in Prague.

When in 1918, the Czech Republic (in the form of Czechoslovakia) gained independence as a result of the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was needed a new flag. First accepted white-red, but it turned out to be exactly as Polish.

An interesting fact is that the first raising of the Red and White Flag as the symbol of independence of the Czech Republic did not happen in Prague, and not even in the Czech Republic! October 18, 1918 flag for the first time raised over the office of the Czechoslovaki government in exile in Washington in the US. October 18 – this is the day of publication of the Washington Declaration (Declaration of Independence of Czechoslovakia).

An interesting moment that the Czechs theoretically had more rights to this flag. Czechoslovakia declared independence on October 28, 1918, and Poland was only November 11, 1918. But the Poles to abandon the flag were not going to.

March 30, 1920 was adopted a new flag of Czechoslovakia. Left added triangle (wedge) blue. There were two problems at once with this move. First, the flag of Czechoslovakia was no longer like Polish. Secondly, blue is the historical color of the arms of Moravia. That is, the flag began to show the unity of Bohemia (red and white colors) and Moravia (blue color).

The father of both flags of an independent Czech Republic is considered Tomas Masik – the first president of independent Czechoslovakia. His photo See below, click on the photo to enlarge.

The flag in this form existed until 1938, when the Czech Republic occupied the troops of Nazi Germany. As part of the Third Reich Czech Republic (called "Bohemia and Moravia") received a new flag – tricolor with a horizontal white stripe from above, red in the center and blue bottom.

After liberation in 1945 by Soviet troops, the new Communist Czechoslovakia accepted the same flag with a blue triangle.

In 1990, when Czechoslovakia turned from the communist route of development, the decision of the National Assembly adopted a two-color flag – a white band from above, red below. From 1990 to 1992, the flag of Czechoslovakia was almost identical to Polish, only the aspect ratio of Czech was 3: 2, and Polish 8: 5.

From January 1, 1993, Czechoslovakia ceased to exist, broke up into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Slovakia accepted his flag, and the Czech Republic took the flag of Czechoslovakia with a blue triangle. This Czechs have shown the whole world that they are the successors of Czechoslovakia.

And here is an interesting fact. Directly before the collapse in Czechoslovakia, the "division law" No. 542/1992 was adopted. In his article 3 it says: "The Republic of Czech Republic and Slovakia cannot use the national symbolism of Czechoslovakia after separation". Czechs rudely broke this law. Slovaks served protest. Czechs answered: "The country that has created this rule no longer exists".

Perhaps we have nothing more to tell on this topic. Read the other interesting articles about Czech and the Czech Republic (Links below).