Last modified: 2009-07-26 by dov gutterman
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According to information below, the flags of Lithuania in
1920's were quite different from what is found in "Flaggenbuch". There are four
flags to consider:
Željko Heimer, 16 May 2002
"State" ensign was adopted in 1919 but regulated
only in 1927 (regulations are dated 1927). Between 1919-1936 it
was used as naval ensign (2:3) and Jack (1:2). Jack was changed
on 25 March 1936 and was suppressed in 1939. The 1936-1939 Jack is
very close to the image below: red green bordered flag with two
arms gold cross I don't know if the naval ensign was used
furthermore as state ensign in the era 1919-1927. No state ensign
after 1927 (but there is a Ministry of Transportation....)
Jaume Olle, 20 May 2002
Lithuania maintained what was probably the world's smallest
navy before World War II, with just one warship of note,
"Prezidentas Smetona", 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
by Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002
National Flag (2:3) - Just as in "Flaggenbuch"
, but it is not clear from FOTW when this flag was adopted
(1918?).
Željko Heimer, 16 May 2002
by Željko Heimer, 16 May 2002
In 1927, Lithuania had a state ensign which was yellow over
green over red with a red shield bearing a double yellow cross,
this on the two upper stripes in the center. Proportions 2:3.
.Pascal Vagnat, 1 April 1997
The ca. 1920-1940 ensign was the Lithuanian tricolor defaced
with a red shield bearing a white two-barred cross. The shield
was horizontally centered but vertically offset toward the top of
the ensign.
Tom Gregg, 8 January 1998
State Ensign (2:3) - From what's written, it seems that the
state ensign was adopted earlier then 1927 (Possibly 1927 is the
source Pascal had). Also, from what's written it seems to me that
this was indeed only ensign, not used as state flag on land. If
we believe to "Flaggenbuch"
this flag was before 1939 abandoned and replaced with red flag
with different obverse and reverse design. If there were not many
vessels carrying this ensign (as is to be expected) the change
might not be so unimaginable.
Željko Heimer, 16 May 2002
![[Naval Ensign of Lithuania - 1927]](../images/l/lt-naval.gif)
by Željko Heimer, 18 June 1996
On 25 March 1927 a naval ensign was adopted. It was the same
as the former, but the proportions were 1:2.
Pascal Vagnat, 1 April 1997
What flag the boats hoisted? In Flaggenbuch there is no flag
that would match the use, and from [iva71]
this ensign was in use until 1940?
Željko Heimer, 16 May 2002
There are some controversies surrounding the correct design of
the pre-1940 Lithuanian naval ensign. I have found a page about
the history of the Lithuanian navy; it's in Lithuanian, but there
is a paragraph which I think says that the old Lithuanian naval
ensign was created in June 15, 1927. It was the national flag,
proportions 2:3, with a red shield carrying the white Vytis Cross
(double-cross) at the centre of the two upper stripes. see <kariuomene.virtue.nu>.
Miles Li, 12 April 2004
Željko Heimer, 16 May 2002
On 25 March 1927 a jack was adopted. It was red with a green
border and a yellow double cross on the red field near the hoist.
Proportions: more square than 2:3.
Pascal Vagnat, 1 April 1997
