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Slovakia before and during World War II

Last modified: 2018-12-19 by rob raeside
Keywords: slovakia | world war ii |
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[Slovakian flag during WWII] by Željko Heimer, 20 Jan 2003
adopted 1939; abolished 1945 See also:

Slovakia during WWII

Slovakia W-B-R (the state flag has shield in center stripe overlaping the other stripes). The shield had a black border and
black patriarchal cross (I believe that can be a mistake, because is pictured blue montains and red cross in white and in other line say "the shield was white with a red patriarchal cross above three blue mountains")
Source: Flag Bulletin 3.
Jaume Ollé, 20 Apr 2001

The official name was "Slovenský Šťat" (= Slovak State) in 1939 (March to June) and "Slovenská Republika" (= Slovak Republic) in 1939-1945. The national flag had three horizontal stripes (W-B-R), flag ratio 2:3. There were also war flag (charged with a black two-armed cross within a "vacant" shield margined in black).
Jan Zrzavy, 15 Nov 1997

Among flags of Russian Neo-nazi Parties there is flag of Northern Alliance Nr. 2 - a tricolour with "something like shield". This depiction is very simillar to (on FOTW not yet presented) War Flag of Slovakia during WWII. If the cross were plain black and in pale (erect), not in like this (it is:  laying and void), it would be (roughly) the right thing! This is what Mr. Jan Zrzavy in 1997 meant, describing "vacant" shield ad "two - armed" cross. The shade of blue and ratio , chosen by Mr. Paraskan for Northern Alliance is reported also  for WWII Slovakia.
Aleš Křižan, 19 Jun 2001

National Flag. 2:3 (after Flaggenbuch)
The national flag is shown as simple tricolour of white over blue over red.
Željko Heimer, 20 Jan 2003

Here is the 1939 law that established the Slovakian flag, ensign, coat of arms and seal:
So the flag has 2:3 proportion, and its colors are white, Paris blue (parížska belasá) and dark cinnabar red (cinober tmavý).
Also, the text for the presidential standard: http://www.psp.cz/eknih/1939ssr/tisky/t0055_00.htm and http://www.psp.cz/eknih/1939ssr/tisky/t0059_00.htm
Alex Danes, 22 Jun 2011


Slovakian warflag during WWII

[Slovakian warflag during WWII] by Jarig Bakker, 17 Jul 2001

I believe that this image of Slovak war flag is correct. (However, I don't know construction details but it is compatible to the few photos I saw.). BTW - My message four years ago was incorrect: the shield should be white, not "vacant" (or "transparent" - I meant that there was only the black border over the tricolor) as I erroneously deduced from old photos and films.
Jan Zrzavy, 18 Jul 2001


President's flag (1939-1945)

[Slovakian President's flag (1939-1945)] by Željko Heimer, 20 Jan 2003

President of the State. 1:1 (after Flaggenbuch)
White flag with the coat of arms in the middle (gules a double cross argent issuant from a triple mount azure; the cross is actually made silver), below it motto in silver "VERNÍ SEBE SVORNE NAPRED". The border is ornamented with a blue stripe forming squarish pannels in corners, two golden stripes go along the edges dividing these squares in three approximately, and in each of the squares there is a red heraldic rose with yellow seeds and green barbs piereced with a golden arrow bendwise. In the central parts of the edges between the two golden lines along each edge there are three red double crosses and further towards center there is a golden serrated line. Along each edge instead of the frige there is a line of golden semicircles (27 of them), with square piece in each corner. (Huh!)
Željko Heimer, 20 Jan 2003

"VERNÍ SEBE SVORNE NAPRED" means: Faithful ourselves, in unanimity forwards. The roses with arrows are derived from Ružomberok, where Hlinka is buried in its Mausoleum (now empty, but a National Cultural Monument)
Aleš Křížan, 21 Jan 2003


Slovak Mobile Division

The standard of the commander of the Slovak Mobile Division (or Slovak Fast Division) during WW2 was the same as the German division headquarters flag with the addition of Slovak double cross and Tatra mountains.
Photo posted at http://www.flagsforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=68 . (Photo scanned from "Germany's First Ally: Armed forces of the Slovak state 1939-1945" by Charles K. Kliment & Bretislav Nakládal.)
Marcus Wendel, 14 Feb 2008