The Czech Republic

The National Flag of the Czech Republic

státní vlajka České republiky

The Czech Republic, upon the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993, adopted a flag which was the same as the flag of the old nation. This was in direct violation of the constitutional act, which expressly forbade the use of any imagery that was in use by the former Czechoslovak republic.

The flag, however, was created by Jaroslav Kursa. The intitial Czechoslovak flag consisted of 2 bars, red and white. this flag was derived from the historic arms of Bohemia.

However, with the flag having the same colours as Austria, and being identical to Poland, it was decided to add a blue triangle wedge on the hoist side of the flag.  This flag was formally adopted in 1920.

during the Second World War, when Czechoslovakia was formally occupied by Nazi Germany, the flag was formally banned. The Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, a puppet state set up by the Germans, used a horizontal tricolour of white, red, and blue.

After the war, the Czechoslovak flag made a comeback, and was in use all the way until 1993 upon the dissolution for the federation. Initially, the old Bohemian banner was used for the new Czech Republic, whilst new emblems could be used. It was, however, decided to use the old Czechoslovak flag, but with different meanings attached.