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Lithuania - Flags from "Flaggenbuch"

Last modified: 2023-06-03 by zachary harden
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Overview

Lithuanian flags at Neubecker's Flaggenbuch [neu92]. Note that the date 1939 refers to the Flaggenbuch rather then to the date of introduction of these flags - which is unknown to me. On Central Lithuania (Historical Flags) we have entirely different set of flags (described mostly) apparently from 1920's. When and how this was changed?
Considering the ratio change of the national flag, and the different function of the KYC flag, we may well conclude that no pre-WWII flags were readopted in the modern Lithuania. That is just unusual, and there must be some catch. On the other hand, I don't suppose that we have any information about current MoT flags (if they exist) nor about KYC. For what we may be sure, the flag nr. 1 is not used today, neither as the state flag (banner) and ensign, nor the presidential flag. Also the pilot flag is probably as obsolete as it is any any other country.
Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002

Lithuania had a little navy before II WW. It contained one 500-tones patrol vessel "Antanas Smetona" (built in 1917 as German "M59", in 1940 conquered by Russians and renamed "Otlichnik") and 6 motorboats: "Partizanas" (1933), "Aitvaras" and "Zaibas" (1932), "S^aulis" (1924), "Lietuvaite" and "Savanoris" (1923). Surely, it was rather a lake-fleet in comparison with such fleets as Estonian and Latvian (they had even submarines).
Oskar Myszor, 16 May 2002

Lithuania maintained what was probably the world's smallest navy before World War II, with just one warship of note, "Prezidentas Smetona" (not "Antanas Smetona" as named above), and there has been some uncertainty as to what flags it flew.
There is a photo of "Prezidentas Smetona", circa 1937-38. This photo clearly shows the "state ensign" (a red shield bearing a white double cross placed in the middle on the two upper stripes of the national flag, proportions 2:3) to be both the naval ensign and the naval jack.
By implication, the "naval ensign" (proportions 1:2) and the "naval jack" are probably "reconstructions" which never existed.
Another photo is here.
Those photos shows "Prezidentas Smetona" wearing a masthead pennant as well, which appears to be similar to the one in use today: "Rectangular pennant with swallow-tail, national tricolour at hoist (1:4) and blue fly"
Miles Li, 18 November 2008


State Flag, President of the Republic and State Ensign

image by Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002

image by Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002

1. State Flag, President of the Republic and State Ensign. Obverse: Red with Vytis rider in the middle. Reverse: Red with white castle emblem. From what's written this flag would have FIS symbol -S-/-S-. Ratio  2:3.
Obverse made from a scan from [neu92].
Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002


National Flag and Merchant Ensign

image by Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002

3. National Flag and Merchant Ensign (C--/C-- 2:3) - YVR tricolour, but ratio 2:3.
Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002


Yacht Club Kaunas

  image by Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002

4.Yacht Club Kaunas (2:3) - White flag with blue cross and the national tricolour in canton. Similar flag is nowadays used as naval ensign. I was wandering - maybe Lithuanian did not have any navy before WWII? Or KYC and Transportation ministry had some "paramilitary" functions?
Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002


Ministry of Transportation

  image by Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002

5.Ministry of Transportation (-S-/-S- 2:3) - White flag with the national tricolour in canton and black emblem in lower fly. The emblem consists of a winged rail-road wheel, anchor and thunderbolts. I wrote -S-/-S- assuming that this was used as ensign on the MoT vessels as well as flag on land (say on the road construction sites as suggested on of the next flags). However, the true function of this and subsequent flags should yet be investigated.
Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002


Minister of Transportation

[Latvian Consul]  image by Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002

6. Minister of Transportation (2:3) - As the flag of the ministry, but with the emblem coloured red. This is, presumably, the positional flag of the minister, and possibly also equivalent to "rank flag" when he was on vessel.
Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002


Ministry of Transportation Pennant of Port and Road-Construction Director

  image by Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002

7. Ministry of Transportation Pennant of Port and Road-Construction Director (1:3) - Pennant of the same design as the MoT flag, but longer and swallow tailed. Obviously, this is the "rank flag" of the MoT "officer".
Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002


Captain's Pennant

  image by Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002

8. Captain's Pennant (1:3) - As previous pennant but without the black emblem. Neither the caption, nor design, make it clear weather this is an other flag used by MoT, or if this is possibly in a more general use.
Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002


Pilot

  image by Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002

9. Pilot Ensign - Following the custom of the time, the pilot ensign is white bordered national flag.
Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002