Last modified: 2009-02-28 by ivan sache
Keywords: union of veterans of the war for slovenia | zveza veteranov vojne za slovenijo | zvvs |
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Quoting Article 1 of the ZVVS statutes:
The Union of Veterans of the War for Slovenia is a non-profit making and non-governmental social organisation which associates all those preparing for or participating in the war for Slovenia, irrespective of their political or ideological views, who participated as members of organisational formations determined by this statute or as volunteers who actively co-operated in preparing for or directly participated in defence activities in the war for preserving the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Slovenia during the period from 17 May 1990 to 26 October 1991.
Aleksandar Nemet, 13 November 2008
The flag of ZVVS, as prescribed in the ZVVS statutes, is rectangular with dimensions 115 cm x 86 cm. The flag is the Slovenian tricolour with the emblem of the Union of Veterans for
the War for Slovenia in the centre. Above the emblem is the
inscription "ZVEZA VETERANOV" ("Union of Veterans") and under it the
inscription "VETERANOV VOJNE ZA SLOVENIJO" (Veterans of the War for Slovenia). The flagpole should be red.
The emblem of the Union of Veterans of the War for Slovenia is of
round shape; in the centre appear two yellow hands extending to a yellow Triglav
symbol; in the background are two crossed yellow rifles. The emblem is surrounded with green lime tree leaves. The arms extend from a red rectangular scroll charged with the yellow letters "ZVVS".
Aleksandar Nemet, 13 November 2008
If you follow the description in the English text of the statutes, the
full writing on the flag should be "UNION OF VETERANS" "VETERANS OF THE WAR
FOR SLOVENIA"; the word "VETERANOV" should appear twice on the flag, which is clearly not the case in the aforementioned photo of the flag. The original Slovenian text does not have such duplication - above should be "ZVEZA VETERANOV" and below "VOJNE ZA SLOVENIJO".
However the original Slovenian text has an other
feature that is not included in the flag shown on the photo.
Under the inscription "VOJNE ZA SLOVENIJO" should also be an aditional
inscription inscribed in alternatively blue and green letters and
numbers: "MAJ 1990 - OKTOBER 1991" ("May 1990 - October 1991").
Željko Heimer, 14 November 2008
ZVVS has also provincial and regional flags.
A provincial committee has its own rules and flag, which is the same
flag as the Union's with the name of the province added.
A regional committee may have its own rules and flag which is the same as the
provincial flag with the name of the region added.
Aleksandar Nemet, 13 November 2008
The statutes of the local organization from Moravče, which is probably
typical for all the local organization, include the description of the
local flag.
The flag is actually the same as the flag of ZVVS but with more
inscriptions. The ZVVS name is now entirely above the central symbol
and the name of the local organization below: "ZDRUŽENJE VETERANOV
VOJNE ZA SLOVENIJO / OBMOČNO ZDRUŽENJE VETERANOV VOJNE ZA SLOVENIJO MORAVČE". While it is not explicitely prescribed, photos seem to imply that the two inscriptions are writen on two lines (actually, arches). In fact,
it seems that the actual inscription on the flag for the lower part
would be "OBMOČNO ZDRUŽENJE / MORAVČE", as other organizations' flags do no repeat the text either.
At least some of the local organizations seem to have
flags that are slightly different (the penultimate photo seems to show at least
one flag that has a distinctively different emblem in the middle of
the tricolour flag - near the centre of the flag row on the photo).
Moreover, the photos there show at least one flag that is even more
different, being entirely green and having quite a different emblem -
this seems to be the flag of MSNZ*. The page says that this
flag was awarded a "Golden Emblem of the
Heraldic-Genealogic-Vexillologic Society 'Heraldic Slovenia' for it
unique historical significance" (the golden emblem being a plaque with
the coat of arms of 'Heraldic Slovenia'). It seems that this was one of the five flags awarded the Golden Emblem that year, but the only one among the Veteran's flag, which may imply that other flags were also present at the ceremony.
Another award granted there is a "Golden Nail" awarded to the Domžale veterans'
organization as a tribute to their help in organizing the flag
event (155th anniversary of the raising of the first Slovenian tricolour). A "nail" is also a palque that is attached to the flag staff (such
nails were traditional among organization flags in Central Europe and
were usually attached to the staff during the sanctification ceremony
of the flag, by those who financially or otherwise contributed to the purchasing
of the organizational flag, that was once a very expensive event.)
*MSNZ (Manevrska struktura narodne zaščite), a paramilitary unit organized within the Slovenian Territorial Defence (Teritorijalna obramba, TO, a paramilitary organization of the Yugoslav defence system that was under the responsibility of each of the republics, and therefore was the core of the Slovenian army in emergence at the independence) responsible of the organization of the emerging Slovenian army.
Željko Heimer, 14 November 2008
