![[Flag of Bulgaria of 1971]](../images/b/bg_971.gif)
by
Željko Heimer
Last modified: 2013-07-24 by rob raeside
Keywords: bulgaria | peoples republic | lion |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
by
Željko Heimer
The white over green over red Bulgarian flag with the state's coat of arms in
the white stripe toward the hoist. According to W. Smith, this flag was officially hoisted on 21 May 1971. The proportions are
3:5. It was used by government on land and sea and by the army on land. The flag was abandoned with the end of socialism (1990), when the socialist arms were removed. On civil vessels the flag without arms was (and still is) used.
Željko Heimer, 07 June 1997
In 1947 a new coat of arms was adopted, and the state flag with the
coat of arms in the canton changed, too. The civil ensign became a
simple tricolour.
Regarding the background colour of the shield -- it seems that
the adopted version was gradually changed to blue without
any regulation about it. Without entering the discussion of "socialist
heraldry" in depth, I believe that the change was influenced by other
socialist emblems of this style where the "field" was always "felt" to represent
the sky and tended to be represented in blue. A similar tendency might be
seen in Yugoslav coat of arms, as well as those of
the Yugoslav republics and, I guess, among SSR coats of arms as well.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001
The #88 Decree of the Grand National Assembly on 27 January 1948 approved the
plastic and the graphic pattern of the coat of arms. According to that, the coat
of arms was a golden lion on a red background; surrounded by corn-ears, fixed by
a red ribbon with inscription 9 IX 1944 on it, and a red five-pointed star
above. Later, the coat of arms was changed. The official explanation of the
symbols on the coat of arms, given by #431 Decree on 14 June
1967, Section 3, already talked about a sky-blue background, cogwheel and
tricolour ribbon. The last changes of the coat of arms were regulated by #954
Decree on 07 December 1967.
Stoyan Antonov, 10 September 2001
The third Bulgarian constitution (valid since 18 May 1971) states in
its 141st article: "The flag of the People's Republic of Bulgaria contains
three colors, placed horizontally in the following order from up to down:
white, green and red. In the left upper corner over the white stripe is placed
the coat of arms of the People's Republic."
Ivan Marinov, 20 March 2001
![[Coat of arms of Bulgaria of 1971]](../images/b/bg)971.gif)
by Željko Heimer, based on Corel Clipart
The arms are: golden lion rampant tongued red in blue oval shield bordered golden, surrounded with wheat. Beneath the lion is white cogwheel, a red band with yellow dates
681 and 1944 and a tricolour band on both sides. There is a yellow-bordered red star over it. The dates represent important years in Bulgarian history. In 681 Bulgarians settled the
region. 1944 was the year of the liberation of Bulgaria from Nazism.
Željko Heimer, 07 June 1997
The last variation of the P.R. of Bulgaria coat of arms introduced two dates in
the lower red ribbon. For that purpose the ribbon was somewhat differently
arranged, and as a result the cogwheel was also rotated.
Željko Heimer, 20 September 2001
![[Civil ensign of Bulgaria of 1948]](../images/b/bg_947ce.gif)
2:3,
by Željko Heimer
![[Chairman, Council of Ministers]](../images/b/bg_971pm.gif)
2:3,
by Željko Heimer
Ivanov (1998) does not mention this change,
but certainly it was adapted in 1971 with the new coat of arms and used as such
until the end of the communist period.
Željko Heimer, 20 September 2001
![[Chairman, Presidium]](../images/b/bg_971p1.gif)
2:3, by Željko Heimer
This function should have been abolished in 1971 (Was it? Or was it only
"replaced" as the head of state by another function, but remained as high
dignitary of "second order"? It is not quite clear from
Ivanov (1998). In any case, such a flag is
shown in several vex-books, for this title or the Chairman of State Council.)
Željko Heimer, 20 September 2001
![[Chairman, Presidium]](../images/b/bg_971p2.gif)
2:3,
by Željko Heimer
Chairman of the State Council (Flag na predsedatelya na Drzhavniya s'vet).
National tricolour with the coat of arms set in the middle. Ivanov (1998) does not give any hint as to what the size of the coat of arms might be, although it says that the difference from the national flag is that the coat of arms was in the middle instead of in the canton. That might imply that the size was the same as the size of the coat of arms in the national flag, although this conclusion is far from being firm.
In 1971 constitutional changes were made that introduced a new function of
the head of state - Chairman of the State Council, instead of Chairman of the
Presidium of the People's Assembly. In
Ivanov (1998) is stated that "unfortunately
it is not found with which document the flag was introduced", but it was
obviously adopted and used. 1971 is also the year when the coat of arms was changed
again (to the pattern with two dates on ribbons), and it may be that this flag
above was actually never used, not even in theory.
Željko Heimer, 19 September 2001
by Ivan Marinov
Flag of the International Workers' Movement. The national flag could not be used without this in the period of the people's republic.
Ivan Marinov, 20 June 2001
