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Scandinavian cross)
The Nordic Cross Flag, Nordic Cross or Scandinavian Cross is a pattern of flags usually associated with the flags of the Scandinavian countries of which it originated. All the Nordic countries have adopted such flags. The cross design is depicted extending to the edges of the flag with the vertical part of the cross shifted to the hoist side as opposed to flags where the cross is centred on the flag. The first flag with this design was the Danish Dannebrog; thereafter, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, and some of their subdivisions used this as inspiration for their own flags. The Norwegian flag was the first Nordic cross flag with three colours. Though the flags share this pattern, they have individual histories and symbolism.
Some of the flags in this list do not have official status. Also, note that flag proportions may vary between the different flags and sometimes even between different versions of the same flag.
[edit] Flags of the Nordic countries
Note that most of these flags are historical or have not been officially adopted and their use remains limited.
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Ship flag from the Kalmar Union period, featuring a Nordic cross and the arms of the constituent kingdoms.
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[edit] Denmark
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Naval flag of Denmark. Note the darker kraprød colour.
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Proposal for flag of Jutland, designed by artist Per Kramer [1] (actual use is not recorded)
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Another proposal for flag of Jutland, dating from 1972 (not in use)
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[edit] Finland
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Flag used by Finnish yacht clubs. Club insignia goes in the canton.
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[edit] Iceland
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Flag of the Icelandic Customs Service
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[edit] Norway
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Naval ensign and state flag of Norway.
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The common naval ensign and war flag of Sweden and Norway from 1815 to 1844.
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Merchant flag of Norway 1844-1898 with the union badge representing the union with Sweden.
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[edit] Sweden
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Royal flag of Sweden with the lesser coat of arms (the royal house using the greater coat of arms)
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Unofficial flag of Småland (no actual use recorded)
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[edit] Autonomous regions
[edit] Flags of the British Isles
Many locations in England and Scotland were colonized by Norwegian and Danish settlers and viking raiders during the 9th, 10th, and 11th centuries. Several locales, particularly in the Scottish islands, have flags or have had flag proposals based on the Nordic cross as a recognition of this Scandinavian heritage.
[edit] Official flags
[edit] Flag proposals and unofficial flags
[edit] Flags of the Baltic states
Many territories around the Baltic Sea have begun using Nordic cross flags. Sometimes this is done to bolster the locality's association with the Scandinavian states (and, as with the proposed flags of Latvia and Estonia, to assert a Baltic identity over a long-standing affiliation with the Russian sphere of influence.)
[edit] Flags of Germany
Nordic flags in Germany were historically used to allude to the nation's Norse heritage and Nordic origins. Nordic flag designs very similar to Denmark's, Sweden's, and Norway's national flags were proposed as Germany's national flags in both 1919 and 1948, after World War I and World War II, respectively. Today, the Nordic cross is a feature in some city and district flags or coats of arms.
Flag of the Danish monarch, flown in his capacity as Duke of Holstein until 1863 and Schleswig until 1864.[3]
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Former war flag of Nazi Germany (1938-1945), now forbidden in Germany
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Proposed National flag of Germany, circa 1919.
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A proposed flag for West Germany (1948)
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Another proposed flag for West Germany (1948) by the same designer
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[edit] Flags of ethnic or linguistic groups
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Unofficial flag of the Veps
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Unofficial flag of the Votes
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[edit] Flags elsewhere that feature the Nordic Cross or similar design
Flags where the vertical bar is centered (such as certain Greek and Swiss flags) are not included here; see Gallery of flags with crosses.
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Flag of Bleimor Breton Scouting organization.
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Flag of Bleimor Breton Scouting organization.
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[edit] Flags of Brazilian municipalities
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Kunstavisen
- ^ http://www.handelskammaren.net/item.aspx?id=411
- ^ In 1844, German nationalists in the two duchies of Holstein and Schleswig created a blue-white-red tricolour as a symbol for independence which began to see widespread use. In 1845, Denmark responded by outlawing all other flags than the Danish one shown here. This ban was enforced as long as Denmark controlled the two duchies (Holstein and Lauenburg: effectively until 1863, in Schleswig effectively until early 1864.) Use of the Danish flag was in turn outlawed by the secessionist administration that claimed both provinces 1848-1851.
[edit] External links