Flag of Czechia

The flag of the Czech Republic consists of a white upper stripe and a red lower stripe, between which a blue wedge is inserted in the middle of the flag. The ratio of the flag's width to its length is 2:3.

The meaning of the Czech flag

The blue triangle is interpreted in different ways, with one version claiming that it symbolizes the Slovak mountains. In addition to the historical justification, there are other theories of color symbolism:

• White stands for freedom and the pure soul of the Czechoslovak people;
• red stands for blood shed for the defense of the homeland; 
• blue color means a cloudless blue sky and clear horizons of the state. 

Some researchers note that the blue color can also be used to represent Moravia.

The history of the Czech flag

On October 28, 1918, the day the Czechoslovak state was established, red and white flags with two horizontal stripes were displayed in Prague and other cities of the Czech Republic. These colors date back to the 13th century and are symbols of the Kingdom of Bohemia. Legionnaires of the Czechoslovak Republic used this flag during military operations in France, Russia, and Italy. In September 1918, in Paris, the Czechoslovak National Council defined the white and red flag as the national symbol of the future Czechoslovakia. However, this flag did not take into account the new territorial changes in the country. Therefore, it was decided to create a new national flag. The commission that worked on the design of the flag decided to add a third color, blue. The government bill stipulated that the national colors would be white, red, and blue, forming the Slavic tricolor. This color combination reflects historical ties to other Slavic countries and allies during World War I.
However, there was a question about the placement of the new blue color so that it would not look like other national flags. The solution was to use an original design that would distinguish the new republic. Jaroslav Kursa, a teacher and heraldic enthusiast, made a significant contribution to the creation of the national flag, preparing most of the sketches and developing the use of blue with a wedge between the white and red stripes. Representatives of the Resistance Memorial Art Corps also participated in the design of the flag. Various designs were submitted to the commission, but Josef Kurza's design was accepted as the final design of the national flag, which was approved on July 4, 1919, and featured a white and red stripe and a blue wedge occupying 1/3 of the flag's length. Kursa's sketches were distinguished from other proposals by their perfect graphic quality and precise proportions.
Engineer Antonin Walszyk supported the use of the flag design that included the blue wedge. Tests of the flag on steamers on the Vltava River showed that it was effective and visually appealing. Initially, the wedge was a concern, but during practical tests it proved to be aesthetically pleasing and was increased to half the flag's length for color balance. Engineer Antonin Walszyk defended the use of the wedge before the Constitutional Commission, citing Chinese flags and the choice of the heraldic wedge shape for its attractive appearance in different circumstances. Law No. 252/1920 established the final form of the symbols of the Czechoslovak Republic, including the national flag. The authorship of the flag is attributed to the archivist Jaroslav Kursa, whose memory is honored with a plaque. The national flag of Czechoslovakia has remained unchanged for over a hundred years, which testifies to its quality.

How has the Czech flag changed throughout its existence?

The flag of the Czech Republic retains the design of the flag of the former Czechoslovakia, which collapsed in 1992. Czechoslovakia adopted its first flag based on the flag of Bohemia, which had red and white stripes, adding a blue triangle in 1920. This flag was banned under the Nazi regime, and a three-striped horizontal flag was used. However, the 1920-1939 flag was restored after World War II. For a brief period after the Velvet Revolution, between 1990 and 1992, the Czech part of the Czechoslovak Federal State used the previous white and red flag. Eventually, in 1993, the version of the flag designed in 1920 was re-adopted and is still in use today.