List of Polish flags.html |
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This is a list of flags defined by current Polish national law, either through an act of parliament or a ministerial ordinance. Apart from the national flag, these are mostly military flags, used by one or all branches of the Polish Armed Forces, especially the Polish Navy. Flags flown by vessels of non-military uniformed services are also included in the list.
Most of the flags listed below feature white and red, the national colors of Poland. The national colors, officially adopted in 1831, are of heraldic origin and derive from the tinctures (colors) of the coats of arms of Poland (the White Eagle) and Lithuania (the Pursuer). Additionally, some flags incorporate the White Eagle itself, either identical with that of the national coat of arms or one of its variants, known as military eagles, used by the Armed Forces.
Both variants of the national flag of Poland were officially adopted in 1919, shortly after Poland re-emerged as an independent state in the aftermath of the First World War in 1918. Many of the flags listed below were adopted within three years afterwards.1 Actual designs of most flags were modified only to adjust to the changes in the official rendering of the national coat of arms. Major modifications included a change in the stylization of the eagle from Classicist to Baroque in 1927 and the removal of the crown from the eagle's head during the Communist rule from 1944 to 1990. Legal specification for the shades of the national colors also changed with time. The shade of red was first legally specified as vermillion by a presidential decree of 13 December 1928.2 The verbal prescription was replaced with coördinates in the CIE 1976 color space by the Coat of Arms Act of 31 January 1980.3 See articles about individual flags for more about their histories.
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National flags
The basic variant of the national flag is a plain white-and-red horizontal bicolor. A variant defaced with the coat of arms is restricted for official use abroad and at sea. Legal restrictions notwithstanding, the two variants are often treated as interchangeable in practice.
| Image | English name Polish name |
Design | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
.svg) |
Flag of the Republic of Poland Flaga Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej |
Horizontal bicolor of white and red Proportion 5:84 |
 ?National flag, inland ensign4 |
 |
Flag with coat of arms of the Republic of Poland Flaga z godłem Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej |
Horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripe Proportion 5:84 |
 ?Polish embassies, consulates etc.; civilian airplanes during international flights; civilian airports and heliports; civil and state ensign4 |
Military flags
Rank flags used in all branches of the Armed Forces
Originally used only by the Navy, the use of these rank flags was extended in 2005 to all branches of the Armed Forces by an amendment to the relevant ministerial ordinance.5 They are flown to mark the presence and pay respect to the highest civilian and military authorities: the President of the Republic of Poland who is ex officio the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces; the Minister of National Defence who acts on the commander-in-chief's behalf in peacetime; Marshal of Poland, the highest rank in the Polish army (no living holders since 1989); and the Chief of the General Staff.
| Image | English name Polish name |
Design | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Jack of the President of the Republic of Poland Proporzec Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej |
Red flag emblazoned with the White Eagle of the arms of Poland and bordered with a white wężyk generalski, an ornate wavy line used in the Polish military as a symbol of general's rank Proportion 5:66 |
On Navy vessels when the President is on board.6 On land when the President is present. |
 |
Flag of the Minister of National Defence Flaga Ministra Obrony Narodowej |
Swallow-tailed horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced in the white stripe with the arms of Poland and in the red stripe with a white anchor entwined with an S-shaped rope and a yellow cannon barrel in saltire Proportion 5:86 |
On Navy vessels when the Minister is on board.6 On land when the Minister is present. |
 |
Flag of the Marshal of Poland Flaga Marszałka Polski |
Red flag with a double white border emblazoned with the Eagle of the Marshal of Poland holding two hetman's batons (buławy) in saltire Proportion 5:66 |
On Navy vessels when the Marshal is on board.6 On land when the Marshal is present. |
 |
Flag of the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces Flaga szefa Sztabu Generalnego Wojska Polskiego |
Red flag with a double white border emblazoned with the Generals' Eagle Proportion 5:66 |
On Navy vessels when the Chief of the General Staff is on board.6 On land when the Chief of the General Staff is present. |
Land Forces
| Image | English name Polish name |
Design | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Flag of the Land Forces Flaga Wojsk Lądowych |
Swallow-tailed red flag emblazoned with the Land Forces Eagle Proportion 10:217 |
Ceremonial flag used on military holidays, visits of high civilian or military authorities, or representatives of foreign countries, as well as other ceremonies. Flown together with flags of other branches of the Armed Forces during Polish Armed Forces Day (15 August) ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw.6 |
Navy
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War ensign
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Commissioning pennant
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The war ensign and the naval jack symbolize traditions of the Polish Navy7 dating back to Polish privateer fleet of the 15th-17th centuries.8 They are also symbols of a navy ship crew's courage, honor, unbreakable fighting spirit and readiness to defend Poland and its maritime rights.7 Naval Service Regulations define when, where and how the flags should be raised and lowered on board a navy ship.6
| Image | English name Polish name |
Design | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
War ensign Bandera wojenna |
Swallow-tailed horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripe Proportion 10:217 |
 ?Naval ensign7 |
 |
Naval jack Proporzec Marynarki Wojennej |
Horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced with a cross pattée countercharged and, in the middle of the cross, with an armed arm brandishing a sabre (szabla) in a torteau (a red roundel) Proportion 4:57 |
Flown together with the war ensign on Sundays, holidays and other special occasions; flown everyday when in foreign waters9 |
 |
Navy flag Flaga Marynarki Wojennej |
Swallow-tailed red flag emblazoned with the Navy Eagle Proportion 10:217 |
Ceremonial flag used on military holidays, visits of high civilian or military authorities, or representatives of foreign countries, as well as other ceremonies. Flown together with flags of other branches of the Armed Forces during Polish Armed Forces Day (15 August) ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw.6 |
 |
Commissioning pennant Znak dowódcy okrętu |
Swallow-tailed bicolor of white and red defaced with a cross pattée countercharged near the hoist Proportion 1:257 |
Ship commanded by a navy officer in a campaign7 |
 |
Naval auxiliary ensign Bandera pomocniczych jednostek pływających Marynarki Wojennej |
Blue flag with an image of the naval ensign in the canton Proportion 3:56 |
Auxiliary naval vessels, such as patrol boats, tugboats, replenishment oilers, mine trawlers and degaussing stations, which are not allowed to fly the war ensign6 |
 |
Naval airport (heliport) flag Flaga lotnisk (lądowisk) Marynarki Wojennej |
Horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced with the arms of Poland in the middle of the white stripe, the Air Force checkerboard in the white stripe between the coat of arms and the hoist, and a white anchor entwined with an S-shaped rope in the red stripe below the checkerboard Proportion 5:86 |
Naval airports and heliports6 |
Rank flags
| Image | English name Polish name |
Design | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Flag of the Commander of the Navy Flaga dowódcy Marynarki Wojennej |
Swallow-tailed horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripe and a white anchor entwined with an S-shaped rope in the red stripe Proportion 5:66 |
On naval vessels when the Commander of the Navy is on board |
 |
Admiral's Flag Flaga admirała |
Swallow-tailed horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced in the white stripe with the arms of Poland and in the red stripe with three white five-pointed stars arranged in an equilateral triangle one of whose sides is parallel to the hoist Proportion 5:66 |
On naval vessels when an admiral is on board |
 |
Vice Admiral's Flag Flaga wiceadmirała |
Swallow-tailed horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced in the white stripe with the arms of Poland and in the red stripe with two white five-pointed stars arranged in a line parallel to the hoist Proportion 5:66 |
On naval vessels when a vice admiral is on board |
 |
Rear Admiral's Flag Flaga kontradmirała |
Swallow-tailed horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripe and with a white five-pointed star near the hoist in the red stripe Proportion 5:66 |
On naval vessels when a rear admiral is on board |
 |
General's Flag Flaga generała |
Swallow-tailed horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced in the white stripe with the arms of Poland and in the red stripe with two yellow cannon barrels in saltire above a yellow cannon ball Proportion 5:66 |
On naval vessels when a general is on board |
Rank pennants
| Image | English name Polish name |
Design | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Pennant of the Chief of the Naval Staff Proporczyk szefa Sztabu Marynarki Wojennej |
Pennant consisting of two horizontal stripes of white and red, and a red swallow-tail, defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripe6 | On naval vessels when the Chief of the Naval Staff is on board |
 |
Flotilla Commander's Pennant Proporczyk dowódcy flotylli |
Pennant consisting of two horizontal stripes of white and red, and a white swallow-tail, defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripe6 | On naval vessels when a flotilla commander is on board |
 |
Division Commander's Pennant Proporczyk dowódcy dywizjonu |
Pennant consisting of two horizontal stripes of white and red, and a blue swallow-tail, defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripe6 | On naval vessels when a division commander is on board |
 |
Group Commander's Pennant Proporczyk dowódcy grupy |
Pennant consisting of two horizontal stripes of white and red, and a green swallow-tail, defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripe6 | On naval vessels when a group commander is on board |
Air Force
| Image | English name Polish name |
Design | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Air Force Flag Flaga Sił Powietrznych |
Swallow-tailed red flag emblazoned with the Air Force Eagle Proportion 10:217 |
Ceremonial flag used on military holidays, visits of high civilian or military authorities, or representatives of foreign countries, as well as other ceremonies. Flown together with flags of other branches of the Armed Forces during Polish Armed Forces Day (15 August) ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw.6 |
 |
Military airport (heliport) flag Flaga lotnisk (lądowisk) wojskowych |
Horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced with the arms of Poland in the middle of the white stripe and the Air Force checkerboard in the white stripe between the coat of arms and the hoist Proportion 5:87 |
Military airports and heliports6 |
Flags of other uniformed services
| Image | English name Polish name |
Design | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Flag of the Border Guard Flaga Straży Granicznej |
Horizontal bicolor of white and red with a green border defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripe Proportion 5:910 |
Vessels of the Border Guard10 |
 |
Police flag Flaga Policji |
Blue flag emblazoned with a badge used by waterborne Police units, i.e. a lifebelt and an anchor within a dark-blue diamond above a dark-blue ribbon with the word POLICJA written on it in white letters, all on a white eight-pointed star Proportion 5:911 |
Police vessels11 |
See also
References
- ^ (Polish) Kromer, Adam. "Polskie flagi, chorągwie, bandery...". Retrieved on 2008-02-02.
- ^ (Polish) Znamierowski, Alfred (1995). Stworzony do chwały. Warsaw: Editions Spotkania, 299. ISBN 83-71-15055-5.
- ^ (Polish) Ustawa o godle, barwach i hymnie Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej oraz o pieczęciach państwowych Coat of Arms, Colors and Anthem of the Republic of Poland, and State Seals Act, Dz.U. 05.235.2000
- ^ a b c d (Polish) Ustawa z dnia 31 stycznia 1980 r. o godle, barwach i hymnie Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej oraz o pieczęciach państwowych (Coat of Arms, Colors and Anthem of the Republic of Poland, and State Seals Act of 31 January 1980), Dz.U. 1980 Nr 7 poz. 18
- ^ (Polish) Zarządzenie Ministra Obrony Narodowej z dnia 14 grudnia 2005 r. zmieniające zarządzenie w sprawie szczegółowych zasad używania znaków Sił Zbrojnych Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej oraz ustalenia innych znaków używanych w Siłach Zbrojnych Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (Ordinance of the Minister of National Defence amending the Ordinance on Detailed Rules for the Use of the Insignia of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland and Establishment of other Insignia Used in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland, 14 December 2005), Monitor Polski z 2005 r. Nr 82 poz. 1165
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z (Polish) Zarządzenie Ministra Obrony Narodowej z dnia 29 stycznia 1996 r. w sprawie szczegółowych zasad używania znaków Sił Zbrojnych Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej oraz ustalenia innych znaków używanych w Siłach Zbrojnych Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (Ordinance of the Minister of National Defence on Detailed Rules for the Use of the Insignia of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland and Establishment of other Insignia Used in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland, 29 January 1996), Monitor Polski z 1996 r. Nr 14 poz. 178
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k (Polish) Ustawa z dnia 19 lutego 1993 r. o znakach Sił Zbrojnych Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (Insignia of the Polish Armed Forces Act of 19 February 1993), Dz.U. z 1993 r. Nr 34, poz. 154
- ^ (Polish) "Historia Marynarki Wojennej RP". Marynarka Wojenna RP. Retrieved on 2007-11-10.
- ^ (Polish) Koczorowski, Eugeniusz; Jerzy Koziarski, Ryszard Pluta (1972). Zwyczaje i ceremoniał morski. Gdańsk: Wydawnictwo Morskie, 291.
- ^ a b (Polish) Rozporządzenie Ministra Spraw Wewnętrznych i Administracji z dnia 12 kwietnia 2002 r. w sprawie wzoru flagi oraz oznakowania jednostek pływających i statków powietrznych Straży Granicznej (Ordinance of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration on the Flag and Markings for Vessels and Aircraft of the Border Guard, 12 April 2002), Dz.U. 2002 Nr 54 poz. 474
- ^ a b (Polish) Rozporządzenie Ministra Spraw Wewnętrznych i Administracji z dnia 18 kwietnia 2005 r. w sprawie wzoru flagi oraz oznakowania jednostek pływających i statków powietrznych Policji (Ordinance of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration on the Flag and Markings for Police Vessels and Aircraft, 18 April 2005), Dz.U. 2005 Nr 84 poz. 724
External links
- (Polish) "Znaki Sił Zbrojnych RP. Odznaki tytułów honorowych oddziałów i pododdziałów wojskowych". Wortal Wojsko Polskie. Miniterstwo Obrony Narodowej (Ministry of National Defence).
- (English) "Poland". Flags of the World.
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