Page 121 - (DK) Complete Flags of the World

Europe

Poland

Ratio: 5:8 Adopted: August 1, 1919 Usage: National

The bicolor
design was White
adopted after the represents a
World War I desire for peace
Red and white
were taken
from the 13th
century arms

In the past red was said
to represent socialism

Europe
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2USS &ED &ED , ,ITH Poland is strategically placed in Europe and its
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"ELARUS
'ER 0/,!.$ borders have constantly shifted. They were last
#
#ZECH 2EP P 5KRAINE altered after World War II, in 1945.
The red and white colors of the flag added. The border and the crown
have been used since the 13th were both dropped under the
century, although they did not communist administration, but the
became the official national colors crown was restored in 1993.
until 1831. They were taken from the
colors of the national arms, first THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF POLAND
recorded in 1295. Under communist rule from 1945–
1989, white was commonly said to
THE NATIONAL ARMS represent the people’s desire for
The coat of arms traditionally shows peace, and during this period, red
a white eagle on a red field. This stood for socialism. The flag was
emblem has remained more or less re-confirmed as the national flag by
unchanged throughout Poland’s the new government in 1992.
turbulent history. The coat of arms The plain bicolored flag is used for
was used by the Kingdom of Poland general purposes on land. When at
until its fall in 1795, and was sea the flag is charged with the state
re-adopted by the newly-declared arms in the center. Poland also has a
republic around 1918/19, when a swallow-tailed ensign, which is also
zigzag border and crown were charged with the state arms.

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