A variety of Polish flags are defined in current Polish national law, either through an act of parliament or a ministerial ordinance. Apart from the national flag, these are mostly military flags, used by one or all branches of the Polish Armed Forces, especially the Polish Navy. Other flags are flown by vessels of non-military uniformed services.
Most Polish flags feature white and red, the national colors of Poland. The national colors, officially adopted in 1831, are of heraldic origin and derive from the tinctures of the coats of arms of Poland and Lithuania. Additionally, some flags incorporate the white eagle of the Polish coat of arms, while other flags used by the Armed Forces incorporate military eagles, which are variants.
Both variants of the national flag of Poland were officially adopted in 1919, shortly after Poland re-emerged as an independent state in the aftermath of World War I in 1918. Many Polish flags were adopted within the following three years.[1] The designs of most of these flags have been modified only to adjust to the changes in the official rendering of the national coat of arms. Major modifications included a change in the stylization of the eagle from Neoclassicist to Baroque in 1927 and the removal of the crown from the eagle's head during the Communist rule from 1944 to 1990. Legal specification for the shades of the national colors has also changed with time. The shade of red was first legally specified as vermilion by a presidential decree of 13 December 1928.[2] This verbal prescription was replaced with coordinates in the CIE 1976 color space by the Coat of Arms Act of 31 January 1980.
See main article: Flag of Poland.
The basic variant of the national flag is a plain white-and-red horizontal bicolor. A variant defaced with the coat of arms is restricted to official use abroad and at sea. Legal restrictions notwithstanding, the two variants are often treated as interchangeable in practice.
| width=100px | Image | Name | width=33% | Design | width=33% | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flag of the Republic of Poland | Horizontal bicolor of white and red Proportion 5:8[3] | National flag, inland ensign | ||||
| Flag with coat of arms of the Republic of Poland | Horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripe Proportion 5:8 | Polish embassies, consulates etc.; civilian airplanes during international flights; civilian airports and heliports; civil and state ensign |
Originally used only by the Navy, the use of these rank flags was extended in 2005 to all branches of the Armed Forces by an amendment to the relevant ministerial ordinance.[4] They are flown to mark the presence and pay respect to the highest civilian and military authorities: the President of the Republic of Poland who is ex officio commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces; the Minister of National Defence who acts on the commander-in-chief's behalf in peacetime; Marshal of Poland, the highest rank in the Polish army (no living holders since 1989); and the Chief of the General Staff.
| width=100px | Image | Name | width=33% | Design | width=33% | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack of the President of the Republic of Poland | Red flag emblazoned with the white eagle of the arms of Poland and bordered with a white wężyk generalski, an ornate wavy line used in the Polish military as a symbol of general's rank Proportion 5:6 | On Navy vessels when the President is on board. On land when the President is present. | ||||
| Flag of the Minister of National Defence | Swallow-tailed horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced in the white stripe with the arms of Poland and in the red stripe with a white anchor entwined with an S-shaped rope and a yellow cannon barrel in saltire Proportion 5:8 | On Navy vessels when the Minister is on board. On land when the Minister is present. | ||||
| Flag of a Marshal of Poland | Red flag with a double white border emblazoned with the Eagle of the Marshal of Poland holding two hetman's batons (buławy) in saltire Proportion 5:6 | On Navy vessels when the Marshal is on board. On land when the Marshal is present. | ||||
| Flag of the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces | Red flag with a double white border emblazoned with the Generals' Eagle Proportion 5:6 | On Navy vessels when the Chief of the General Staff is on board. On land when the Chief of the General Staff is present. |
The war ensign and the naval jack symbolize traditions of the Polish Navy dating back to Polish privateer fleet of the 15th–17th centuries.[5] They are also symbols of a navy ship crew's courage, honor, unbreakable fighting spirit and readiness to defend Poland and its maritime rights. Naval Service Regulations define when, where and how the flags should be raised and lowered on board a navy ship.
| width=100px | Image | Name | width=33% | Design | width=33% | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| War ensign | Swallow-tailed horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripe Proportion 10:21[6] | Naval ensign | ||||
| Naval jack | Horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced with a cross pattée countercharged and, in the middle of the cross, with an armed arm brandishing a sabre (szabla) in a torteau (a red roundel) Proportion 4:5 | Flown together with the war ensign on Sundays, holidays and other special occasions; flown everyday when in foreign waters[7] | ||||
| Navy flag Flaga Marynarki Wojennej | Swallow-tailed red flag emblazoned with the Navy Eagle Proportion 10:21 | Ceremonial flag used on military holidays, visits of high civilian or military authorities, or representatives of foreign countries, as well as other ceremonies. Flown together with flags of other branches of the Armed Forces during Polish Armed Forces Day (15 August) ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw. | ||||
| Commissioning pennant | Swallow-tailed bicolor of white and red defaced with a cross pattée countercharged near the hoist Proportion 1:25 | Ship commanded by a navy officer in a campaign | ||||
| Naval auxiliary ensign | Blue flag with an image of the naval ensign in the canton Proportion 3:5[8] | Auxiliary naval vessels, such as patrol boats, tugboats, replenishment oilers, mine trawlers and degaussing stations, which are not allowed to fly the war ensign | ||||
| Naval airport (heliport) flag | Horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced with the arms of Poland in the middle of the white stripe, the Air Force checkerboard in the white stripe between the coat of arms and the hoist, and a white anchor entwined with an S-shaped rope in the red stripe below the checkerboard Proportion 5:8 | Naval airports and heliports |
| width=100px | Image | Name | width=33% | Design | width=33% | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flag of the Commander of the Navy | Swallow-tailed horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripe and a white anchor entwined with an S-shaped rope in the red stripe Proportion 5:6 | On naval vessels when the Commander of the Navy is on board | ||||
| Admiral's Flag | Swallow-tailed horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced in the white stripe with the arms of Poland and in the red stripe with three white five-pointed stars arranged in an equilateral triangle one of whose sides is parallel to the hoist Proportion 5:6 | On naval vessels when an admiral is on board | ||||
| Vice Admiral's Flag | Swallow-tailed horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced in the white stripe with the arms of Poland and in the red stripe with two white five-pointed stars arranged in a line parallel to the hoist Proportion 5:6 | On naval vessels when a vice admiral is on board | ||||
| Rear Admiral's Flag | Swallow-tailed horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripe and with a white five-pointed star near the hoist in the red stripe Proportion 5:6 | On naval vessels when a rear admiral is on board | ||||
| General's Flag | Swallow-tailed horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced in the white stripe with the arms of Poland and in the red stripe with two yellow cannon barrels in saltire above a yellow cannonball Proportion 5:6 | On naval vessels when a general is on board |
| width=100px | Image | Name | width=33% | Design | width=33% | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennant of the Chief of the Naval Staff | Pennant consisting of two horizontal stripes of white and red, and a red swallow-tail, defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripe | On naval vessels when the Chief of the Naval Staff is on board | ||||
| Flotilla Commander's Pennant | Pennant consisting of two horizontal stripes of white and red, and a white swallow-tail, defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripe | On naval vessels when a flotilla commander is on board | ||||
| Division Commander's Pennant | Pennant consisting of two horizontal stripes of white and red, and a blue swallow-tail, defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripe | On naval vessels when a division commander is on board | ||||
| Group Commander's Pennant | Pennant consisting of two horizontal stripes of white and red, and a green swallow-tail, defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripe | On naval vessels when a group commander is on board |
| width=100px | Image | Name | width=33% | Design | width=33% | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force Flag Flaga Sił Powietrznych | Swallow-tailed red flag emblazoned with the Air Force Eagle Proportion 10:21 | Ceremonial flag used on military holidays, visits of high civilian or military authorities, or representatives of foreign countries, as well as other ceremonies. Flown together with flags of other branches of the Armed Forces during Polish Armed Forces Day (15 August) ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw. | ||||
| Military airport (heliport) flag Flaga lotnisk (lądowisk) wojskowych | Horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced with the arms of Poland in the middle of the white stripe and the Air Force checkerboard in the white stripe between the coat of arms and the hoist Proportion 5:8 | Military airports and heliports | ||||
| Air Force checkerboard | A square divided into four parts, in form of a checkerboard, with alternating white and red colours, and with outer linen of opposite colours Proportion 1:1 | Military aircraft insignia |
| width=100px | Image | Name | width=33% | Design | width=33% | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flag of the Land Forces | Swallow-tailed red flag emblazoned with the Land Forces Eagle Proportion 10:21 | Ceremonial flag used on military holidays, visits of high civilian or military authorities, or representatives of foreign countries, as well as other ceremonies. Flown together with flags of other branches of the Armed Forces during Polish Armed Forces Day (15 August) ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw. | ||||
| Flag of the Special Forces | Swallow-tailed red flag emblazoned with the Special Forces Eagle Proportion 10:21 | |||||
| Flag of the Territorial Defence Force | Swallow-tailed red flag emblazoned with the Territorial Defence Force Proportion 10:21 |
| width=100px | Image | Name | width=33% | Design | width=33% | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flag of the commander of the Warsaw Garrison | A dark blue flag with the emblem of the Warsaw Garrison Command in the centre, in form a coat of arms of Warsaw with the olive branches around it, and two crosses sables below it. Proportion 5:6. | |||||
| Flag of the Commander in chief of the Military Gendarmerie |
| width=100px | Image | English name Polish name | width=33% | Design | width=33% | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flag of the Border Guard Flaga Straży Granicznej | Horizontal bicolor of white and red with a green border defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripe Proportion 5:9[9] | Vessels of the Border Guard | ||||
| Police flag Flaga Policji | Blue flag emblazoned with a badge used by waterborne Police units, i.e. a lifebelt and an anchor within a dark-blue diamond above a dark-blue ribbon with the word POLICJA written on it in white letters, all on a white eight-pointed star Proportion 5:9[10] | Police vessels |
See main article: List of Polish naval and maritime flags.
Special state service flags are used by state-employed civil special-purpose ships while on duty. These flags all follow the same basic design; a white flag with a horizontal stripe whose width is 1/5 of the flag's width. In the middle, each flag is emblazoned with the national coat of arms superimposed on a golden or yellow anchor whose height is 3/5 of the flag's width. The middle stripe is broken in the middle and does not touch the anchor or the arms. The type of special service performed by the ship is indicated by the color of the middle stripe.[11]
| width=100px | Image | English name Polish name | width=33% | Design | width=33% | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrographic survey and Maritime Office flag Flaga statku hydrograficznego i dozorczego urzędu morskiego | White flag emblazoned with the coat of arms of Poland placed on a golden anchor in the middle of a blue horizontal stripe Proportion 5:8 | Hydrographic survey vessels and vessels of Maritime Offices | ||||
| Lifeboat and pollution control flag Flaga statku ratowniczego oraz specjalnego statku do zwalczania zanieczyszczeń | White flag emblazoned with the coat of arms of Poland placed on a golden anchor in the middle of an orange horizontal stripe Proportion 5:8 | Lifeboats and pollution control vessels | ||||
| Icebreaker flag Flaga statku używanego wyłącznie do łamania lodów | White flag emblazoned with the coat of arms of Poland placed on a golden anchor in the middle of a violet horizontal stripe Proportion 5:8 | Vessels used exclusively for breaking ice | ||||
| Pilot boat flag Flaga statku pilotowego | White flag emblazoned with the coat of arms of Poland placed on a golden anchor in the middle of an ash-grey horizontal stripe Proportion 5:8 | Pilot boats | ||||
| Fireboat flag Flaga statku pożarniczego | White flag emblazoned with the coat of arms of Poland placed on a golden anchor in the middle of a red horizontal stripe Proportion 5:8 | Fireboats | ||||
| Training ship flag Flaga statku szkolnego | White flag emblazoned with the coat of arms of Poland placed on a golden anchor in the middle of a black horizontal stripe Proportion 5:8 | Training ships | ||||
| Customs ship flag Flaga statku celnego | White flag emblazoned with the coat of arms of Poland placed on a golden anchor in the middle of a green horizontal stripe Proportion 5:8 | Customs ships | ||||
| Hospital ship flag Flaga statku sanitarnego | White flag emblazoned with the coat of arms of Poland placed on a golden anchor in the middle of a yellow horizontal stripe Proportion 5:8 | Hospital ships | ||||
| Telecommunication ship flag Flaga statku telekomunikacyjnego | White flag emblazoned with the coat of arms of Poland placed on a golden anchor in the middle of a brown horizontal stripe Proportion 5:8 | Telecommunication ships | ||||
See main article: article and List of flags of the subdivisions of Poland.
| State flag | Civil flag | Voivodeship | Year of adoption | Design | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Poland Voivodeship (flag information) | 2000 | Trapezoid vertical bicolor of red and white emblazoned with the arms of the voivodeship in the red stripe | |||
| Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship (flag information) | 2000 | Horizontal tricolor of red, white and black (1:2:1) | |||
| Lesser Poland Voivodeship (flag information) | 1999 | Horizontal tricolor of white, yellow and red (2:1:2) | |||
| Łódź Voivodeship (flag information) | 2002 | Five vertical stripes of red and yellow | |||
| Lower Silesian Voivodeship (flag information) | 2009 | Yellow emblazoned with a black eagle with a white crescent and a crosslet on its chest | |||
| Lublin Voivodeship (flag information) | 2004 | Horizontal tricolor of white, red and yellow (2:1:2) emblazoned with the arms of the voivodeship | |||
| Lubusz Voivodeship (flag information) | 2000 | Four horizontal stripes of yellow, white, red and green (2:1:1:2) emblazoned with the arms of the voivodeship | |||
| Masovian Voivodeship (flag information) | 2006 | Red emblazoned near the hoist with a white eagle with a golden beak and legs | |||
| Opole Voivodeship (flag information) | 2004 | Horizontal bicolor of yellow and blue (2:1) emblazoned with the arms of the voivodehip in the yellow stripe near the hoist | |||
| Podlaskie Voivodeship (flag information) | 2002 | Four horizontal stripes of white, red, yellow and blue | |||
| Pomeranian Voivodeship (flag information) | 2002 (original introduction) 2010 (reintroduction) | Yellow emblazoned with a black griffin with a red tongue | |||
| Silesian Voivodeship (flag information) | 2001 | Horizontal triband of blue and yellow (2:1:2) | |||
| Subcarpathian Voivodeship (flag information) | 2000 | Vertical triband of blue and white (1:2:1) emblazoned with the arms of the voivodeship in the white stripe | |||
| Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship (flag information) | 2013 | Horizontal tricolor of blue, white and red with a yellow stripe along the hoist, emblazoned with the arms of the voivodeship in the white stripe | |||
| Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship (flag information) | 2002 | Trapezoid red flag bordered white, emblazoned with a white eagle's head in a golden crown and with a golden beak | |||
| West Pomeranian Voivodeship (flag information) | 2000 | Vertical triband of white and red (a variant emblazoned with the arms of the voivodeship is also used) | |||
| Flag | Voivodeship | Years | Design | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zielona Góra Voivodeship | 1985–1998 | Horizontal bicolour of yellow and green | |||
| Łódź Voivodeship | 1999–2000 | Horizontal bicolour of yellow and red, with the coat of arms in the centre | Unofficial flag, used by the Łódź Voivodeship Sejmik from 1998 to 2000 | ||
| Lower Silesian Voivodeship | 2001–2008 | Horizontal bicolour of white and red, with a yellow coat of arms in centre, with black eagle with a white crescent and a crosslet on its chest | |||
| Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship | 2001–2013 | Horizontal blue, white and red stripes to the right, and a yellow vertical stripe to the left, with coat of arms in the centre of the white stripe | |||
| Masovian Voivodeship | 2005–2006 | Red with a white eagle with a golden beak and legs in the centre | |||
| Lower Silesian Voivodeship | 2008–2009 | Yellow emblazoned with a black eagle with a white crescent and a crosslet on its chest | |||
| Pomeranian Voivodeship | 2008–2010 | Yellow emblazoned with a black griffin with a red tongue |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1927–1980 | Flag of the Second Polish Republic and the Polish People's Republic | ||
| 1919–1927 | |||
| 1863–1864 | This flag consists of Pan-Slavic colors and coat of arms containing a white eagle, a knight on horseback and an archangel Michael. These elements are confirmed but have come in many variations, this flag is a modern interpretation. | ||
| 1830–1831 | Banner of the Kingdom of Poland. (November Uprising) | The banner of the Kingdom of Poland from the Sejm hall, taken out after the November Uprising by Joachim Lelewel. | |
| Banner with the motto "For our freedom and yours" (obverse and reverse) | Khaki banner with a red cross and the motto, commonly used during the uprising in front of the insurgents' fortifications. | ||
| 1815–1830 | Military ensign of Vistula Flotilla of Congress Poland | A ensign raised on the ships of the Polish Trade Company, sailing through the Black Sea to Mediterranean countries in 1784-1787. Restored by Tsar Alexander I in 1815 as the war ensign flag of the Congress Kingdom. | |
| Flag of the Russian Tsar as king of the Congress Kingdom in 1815–1830. | De facto flag. The state entity did not have an officially adopted flag. | ||
| 1733-1763 1709-1733 1697-1706 | Banner of The Wettin kings | The state banner of August III from around the mid-18th century. | |
| c. 1606-1648 | Banner of Vasa kings | Grand Standard Bearer of the Polish Crown (Chorąży Wielki Koronny), Sebastian Sobieski, at the wedding procession of King Sigismund III of Poland and Sweden, as painted anonymously on the Stockholm Roll (c. 1605). | |
| 1587-1655 | Taken by the Swedish army in 1655. | ||
| 14th century-16th century | |||
| 1920–1939 | Flag of Gdańsk | ||
| 1920–1922 | Flag of Central Lithuania | ||
| 1918–1920 | |||
| 1918–1919 | Flag of Ukraine | ||
| 1890 – 1918 | Flag of Galicia and Lodomeria | ||
| 1849 – 1890 | Flag of Galicia and Lodomeria | ||
| 1846–1918 | |||
| c. 1815–1848 | |||
| 19th century – 1849 | Flag of Galicia and Lodomeria | ||
| 1815–1846 | Free City of Cracow | ||
| 1807–1814 | |||
| 1226–1561 | |||
| 1410 | |||
| 1410 | |||
| 1410 | |||
| 1410 | |||
| 1942–1945 | National flag with Kotwica (Anchor) | ||
| 1940–1945 | |||
| 1944 | Combined Armed Forces of AL, PAL and KBpl | Historically not certain as a flag, but confirmed as a brassard. | |
| 1939–1945 | This flag was flying over Warsaw Ghetto during the uprising. | ||
| after 1945 | There is no evidence of the existence of any ŻOB flag during World War II, the design presented here was created after the war among veterans. | ||
| Flag | Date | Party | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–present | The actual flag consists of a black (not dark blue) background and a blue cross in a white frame.[12] | ||
| 2012–present | |||
| 2011–present | |||
| 2010s–present | Szczerbiec on green background. | ||
| 1990–present | |||
| 1987–present | |||
| 1980–present | Solidarity logo | ||
| 1993–present 1930s–1940s | Falanga flagpl, symbol of National-radicalismpl | Firstli used by National Radical Camp (ONR), then two successor organizations ONR-Falanga and ONR-ABC, ONR was reactivated in 1993 shortly after the fall of communism, currently, this flag is used by two more organizations called National Revival of Poland (NOP) and Falanga, which also use their own designs. | |
| 2010s–present | |||
| 2019–present | |||
| ?–2019 | |||
| 2005–present | Old Flag of Belarus | ||
| 1980 | Gdańsk Shipyard protesters during the August 1980 strikes | The house flag of the Gdansk Shipyard, flown by the protesters during the August 1980 strike in Gdańsk Shipyard, and flown during the signing of the Gdańsk Agreement.[13] | |
| 2010s–2022 | |||
| 1950s | Flag of the United People's Party section in Zębowice. | An example of a variation of the party flag. | |
| c. 1936 | |||
| 1934–1940 | |||
| 1920s | Banner of the Zblewo chapter of the National Party, before the introduction of the green and white flag, there were many local party flags. | ||
| 1926–1931 | |||
| 1920–1924 | Flag of Upper Silesia | ||
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| ?–present | Flags commonly used for Catholic ceremonies such as processions to decorate the area. | ||
| 1979–present | |||
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1918–present | The middle band can be represented as yellow, orange or gold. | |||
| ?–present | Additionally contains the Coat of arms of Transcarpathian Ruthenia | |||
| 1829–present | ||||
| ?–present | Additionally contains the Coat of arms of Prussia, which is also Coat of arms of Masuria | |||
| 1929–present | ||||
| ?–present | Banner of arms of Coat of arms of Kashubia | |||
| 1882–present | Flag of Silesia and Lower Silesia | |||
| 1920–present | Flag of Upper Silesia | |||
| 2010s–present | A white flag with the tamga of the Golden Horde in canton. | |||
| ?–present |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–present | The flag of Kociewie that won the competition. The blue symbol is stylized cornflower | |||
| 2016–present | It is a standardized design created in 2016 based on the symbols of the Duchy of Teschen. | |||
| 1996–present | Sporadically used as the traditional flag of the region of Western Pomerania[14] [15] | |||
| ?–present | Flag of Dąbrowa Basin | Used by local organizations and authorities of Sosnowiec[16] [17] [18] |
| Flag | Date | Company | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1938–1958 | Baltic Shipping Companypl | ||
| 1957–2004 | Deep Sea Fishing and Fishing Services Company "Gryf"pl | ||
| 1970–1997 | Polish-British Shipping Partnership (Polbrit)pl | ||
| 1927-1972 | Polish-Scandinavian Transport Company JSC (Polskarob)pl | ||
| 1927–1950 | Polish Shippingpl | Used in cargo ships | |
| 1926–1939 | Used in passenger ships | ||
| 1927-1940s | Polish River Shipping company "Vistula" | ||