Flag of Czechia

What the flag means

The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs explains white as the traditional colour of Bohemia and red as the colour of Moravia. Blue was the traditional colour of Slovakia. The ministry says it no longer stands for Slovakia and is now a sign of impartiality and sovereignty.

History

After independence in 1918, Czechoslovakia used the white and red flag of Bohemia, which was almost identical to the flag Poland adopted in 1919. A blue triangle was added to tell the two apart, and the National Assembly approved the new design on 30 March 1920. The flag was banned during the German occupation of 1939–1945 and restored afterwards. The law dissolving Czechoslovakia barred the successor states from using federal symbols, but the Czech Republic kept the flag under a law of 17 December 1992.

The triangle reaches exactly halfway along the flag. Drawing it shorter is a common mistake.

Earlier flags of Czechia

1. 1918–1920White over red bicolour, the flag of Bohemia
2. 1990–1992White over red bicolour of the Czech Republic within Czechoslovakia

Flags of Czechia's neighbours

• Austria
• Germany
• Poland
• Slovakia