Peoples Republic of Bulgaria: Naval Flags, 1949-1955

The first set of Bulgarian post-WWII naval flags was established by the naval fleet commander order of 30 May 1949, and these flags were to be used from 01 July 1949. These flags were replaced with the new set in 1955.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001

With the end of World War II and the change of the political system on 09 September 1944, the old flags became obsolete. The flag situation until 1949 is not clear, and it seems that there was no established system. Only on 30 May 1949 did the commander in chief of the navy issue an order (numbered No. I-M-131) establishing the ensign, jack, pennants and personal flags in the navy to be used from 01 July 1949.
Željko Heimer, 16 January 2004

The proportions of these flags were set as 2:3. Below, I also add a table of sizes provided for these flags.

Size #	Rear Flags	Rank Flags	Pennant	Jack
1	2 x 3 m	1 x 1.5 m	---	---
2	1 x 1.5 m	0.6 x 1.2 m	0.2 x 4 m	1.2 x 1.35 m
3	0.5 x 0.75	0.5 x 0.75 m	0.15 x 3 m	0.6 x 0.7 m

The size in the 1st row was reserved, prescribed for big vessels.
The size in the 2nd row was for destroyer class (razrushiteli) and coast guard vessels (bregova ohrana).
The size in the 3rd row was for all other vessels.

The source of information about all those Bulgarian navy and rank flags is Ivanov (1998) Bylgarski bojni znamena i flagove. - Sofia, 1998.- 175 pp.
Andrew Rukkas, 06 March 1999

All these flags shown below are described only in Ivanov (1998) and not pictured. So the following pictures should be considered as reconstructions. I like to think that they are rather good, since Ivanov provided much of the detail. The comparison with Soviet flags of the period would reveal a level of similarity (but also compare e.g. flags of the Yugoslav Navy at the time), but yet not so much as the similarity that came in the 1950's when both Soviet and Bulgarian flags were redesigned (and, but for minor differences, the same in style).
Željko Heimer, 16 January 2004

Naval Ensign

Naval Ensign (Voennomorsko zname (k'rmovo)) National tricolour of white-green-red with red square in the canton with golden rampant lion (uncrowned) and below it a white square with red five-pointed star. One should note that the lion does not have a crown.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001

Minister-Chairman (Ministyr-Predsedatel)

Minister-Chairman (Flag na minist'r-predsedatelya) Is that Prime Minister? A red flag with the naval ensign in the canton.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001

Minister of People's Defence

Minister of People's Defence (Flag na minist'ra na narodnata otbrana - presumably the Defence Minister). Red flag with the naval ensign in the canton in which the red star in the white square is surrounded with a golden wreath. The wreath in my image is a reconstruction based on its description -- I have not seen an image of it. It might be more elaborate.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001

Chief of the General Staff of the Bulgarian People's Army

Chief of the General Staff of the Bulgarian People's Army (Flag na nachalnika na Generalniya shtab na B'lgarskata narodna armiya). The flag is the same as the flag of the defence minister, but the fly is slanted.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001

Naval Force Commander, Commander of Army, Commander of Corps

Naval Force Commander, Commander of Army, Commander of Corps (Flag na komandira na VMS [Voennomorskite sili] (komandir na armiya ili korpus)). A red flag with the naval ensign in the canton and three white five-pointed stars -- one in the middle of each remaining quarter of the flag.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001

Naval Fleet Chief of the Staff

Naval Fleet Chief of the Staff (Flag na nachalnik-shtaba na Voennomorskiya flot). As Naval Force Commander above, but with the fly end slanted.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001

Commander of Brigade

Commander of Brigade (Flag na komandir na brigadata). As Naval Force Commander above, but only with two stars in the flag quarters.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001

Commander of Military District, Commander of Regiment ("Polk"), Deputy Commander of Division

Commander of Military District, Commander of Regiment ("Polk"), Deputy Commander of Regiment (Flag na komandir na OVR (OZR) [Otbrana voden raion (Ohrana zemen raion)], komandir na polk i zam.- komandir na polk). Blue flag with the naval ensign in the canton and one white five-pointed star in the middle of the fly half.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001

Also reported as "Commander of Coastal Defence Region".
Andrew Rukkas, July 2001

Commander of Flotilla, Commander of Groups and Deputy Commander of Group

Commander of Flotilla, Commander of Groups and Deputy Commander of Group (Flag na komandir na flotiliya (komandir na druzhina i zam.- komandir na druzhina)). White triangular pennant with green outer edges and with three red five-pointed stars, two one above the other in the hoist and one in the fly.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001

Commander of Squadron, Commander of "Rot"

Commander of Squadron, Commander of "Rot" (Flag na komandir na otryad (komandir na rota)). White triangular pennant with green outer edges and with a red five-pointed star.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001

Commander of Vessel

Commander of Vessel (Flag na komandir na otdelen korab). Blue triangular long pennant with white canton with red five-pointed star in the middle of it.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001

Jack

Jack (Kreposten flag - gyois). Red flag with white outlined red five-pointed star with golden lion in the middle.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001