![[Naval ensign of Bulgaria 1908-1944]](../images/b/bg_912ne.gif)
2:3, by Željko Heimer
Last modified: 2013-07-24 by rob raeside
Keywords: bulgaria | lion | crown | anchor |
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The Kingdom of Bulgaria existed from 1908-1946, though
for the purpose of flag research, the period ended on 09 September 1944.
There are three main sources of flags of the period mentioned in
Ivanov (1998). The first is the collection of the Naval Museum, from where
are mentioned the naval ensign and king's and queen's standards.
The second is the (Bogoslovski, 1912) "Al'bom
shtandartov i flagov inostrannyh gosudarstv", Sofia 1912, and the third is a
naval manual that I shall cover later on. The
Ivanov (1998) book contains pictures from the
manual,
but it also has
detailed reports on what's in others, highlighting some differences. As far as I
have understood, the flags
preserved in the Naval Museum are of the same pattern as those
published in Bogoslovski book. They are treated together and, even if
I have reservations, I have no evidence why I should not do the same.
All the flags here would be reconstructions from descriptions. Even
if the descriptions are quite straightforward and clear, there is always the possibility
that I misinterpreted them.
Željko Heimer, 05 September 2001
According to
Ivanov (1998) the flags from
the period of the kingdom were all abandoned on 09 September 1944. After that
date and until new flags were officially adopted, the unofficial patterns were
used -- on vessels according to the taste of the captain.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001
2:3, by Željko Heimer
Naval Ensign (Voenniyat flag na Tsarstvoto (voennomorskoto zname)).
The naval ensign is described as being the same as in the period of the
principality, though we could conclude that by now the shape of the crown was
established (more like the same crown as is used today -- above the shield in the
state coat of arms; I am sure that there is some story behind this, but I don't
know it.)
Source: Bogoslovski, 1912 as quoted in Ivanov (1998).
Željko Heimer, 05 September 2001
Flaggenbuch (1939) shows the
same flag.
Ivan Sache, 06 September 2001
Bulgarian Naval Handbook (reproduced
in
Ivanov, 1998) shows the same
design as in the 1912 album.
Željko Heimer, 08 September 2001
The square at the canton has sides equal to half the hoist.
Željko Heimer, 07 January 2004
![[Jack of Bulgaria 1908-1944]](../images/b/bg_908ja1.gif)
1:1, by Željko Heimer
Flaggenbuch (1939) and
Bulgarian Naval Handbook (1920) (reproduced
in
Ivanov, 1998) show a white square flag,
with the red cross over the green.
Željko Heimer, 11 December 2006
![[alternate Jack of Bulgaria 1908-1944]](../images/b/bg_908ja2.gif)
2:3~, by Željko Heimer
The
Flaggenbuch (1926) shows the jack in ratio 2:3~ (red cross over green
saltire).
Željko Heimer, 11 December 2006
![[Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet of Bulgaria 1908-1944]](../images/b/bg_912cf.gif)
2:3, by Željko Heimer
Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet (Pryaporets' (flag) na nachalnika na flota).
As the flag of the Minister of the Army, but instead of the saltire there are
two crossed green anchors.
Source: Bogoslovski, 1912 as quoted in Ivanov (1998).
Željko Heimer, 05 September 2001
Not shown in
Flaggenbuch (1939).
Ivan Sache, 06 September 2001
This might be because by that time the flag had become obsolete (maybe by
introduction of admirals' flags there was actually no need for such?)
Željko Heimer, 08 September 2001
Bulgarian Naval Handbook (reproduced
in
Ivanov, 1998) shows the same
design as in the 1912 album.
Željko Heimer, 08 September 2001
![[Minister of the Army Pennant of Bulgaria 1908-1944]](../images/b/bg_920cp.gif)
by Željko Heimer
Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet Pennant (Kositsa na Nachalnik' Flota).
Bulgarian Naval Handbook (reproduced
in
Ivanov, 1998) shows a pennant
similar to the royal house pennants, having the appropriate flag in the hoist.
Željko Heimer, 08 September 2001
![[Commander of a Division, Bulgaria 1937]](../images/b/bg_937di.gif)
2:3, by Željko Heimer
Commander of Division (Flag na komandir na diviziyata).
On 09 January 1937 the flag of the commander of the division was established ,
somewhat inconsistent with the system above -- a white flag with a green cross
throughout and with a red anchor in the canton. It was prescribed that this
flag (i.e. the commander) was due a 13-gun salute.
Željko Heimer, 05 September 2001
If square,
Flaggenbuch (1939) shows it
for rear-admiral. With anchors in quarters 1 and 3, vice-admiral. With anchors
in quarters 1, 2 and 3, admiral. The corresponding pennants, 1:5 and forked, are
also shown.
Ivan Sache, 06 September 2001
Rereading the
Ivanov, 1998, I realize I
made a mistake -- it should indeed be square (quite a common error, I guess,
confusing the words "rectangular" and "square"). Anyway, the width of green stripes
forming the cross is 1/8 of hoist, while the anchor is 1/6 of hoist high and 1/8
wide.
Ivanov, 1998 does not mention
2- and 3-anchor flags nor any corresponding pennants. Are the hoist parts of
these pennants square or do they retain the 15:23 ratio from above? The fly part is
yellow, as usual, right?
Željko Heimer, 08 September 2001
![[Chief of the Naval Fleet]](../images/b/bg_939fl.gif)
2:3, by Željko Heimer
Chief of the Naval Fleet - white with red borders and a green upright anchor
at centre.
Željko Heimer, 09 January 2004
![[Chief of the Naval Fleet pennant]](../images/b/bg_939f1.gif)
1:5, by Željko Heimer
![[Chief of a Flotilla]](../images/b/bg_939df.gif)
2:3, by Željko Heimer
Chief of the Flotilla of Black Sea and Danube etc. - white with red base line
and a green upright anchor at centre.
Željko Heimer, 09 January 2004
![[Chief of a Flotilla pennant]](../images/b/bg_939d1.gif)
1:5, by Željko Heimer
![[Captain commanding a flotilla or a division]](../images/b/bg_939cf.gif)
2:3, by Željko Heimer
The green anchor is set on a white disk on a thin red saltire on a white
field.
Željko Heimer, 10 January 2004
![[Captain commanding a flotilla or a division pennant]](../images/b/bg_939c1.gif)
1:5, by Željko Heimer
![[Commander commanding a flotilla or a division]](../images/b/bg_939cd.gif)
2:3, by Željko Heimer
White triangular flag with green inner and red outer border on the two "free"sides of the flag.
Željko Heimer, 10 January 2004
![[Group Commander]](../images/b/bg_939gr.gif)
2:3, by Željko Heimer
White triangular flag with a saltire consisting of a green bend over a red
bend sinister.
Željko Heimer, 10 January 2004
![[Group Commander Pennant of Bulgaria 1908-1944]](../images/b/bg_912gr.gif)
2:3, by Željko Heimer
Group Commander Pennant (Pryaporets (flag) na nachalnik na otryad korabi).
Triangular pennant with horizontal national tricolour stripes and with red
square with lion set at hoist in the middle of the flag height. Source: Bogoslovski, 1912
as quoted in Ivanov (1998).
Željko Heimer, 05 September 2001
Not shown in
Flaggenbuch (1939).
Ivan Sache, 06 September 2001
Bulgarian Naval Handbook (reproduced
in
Ivanov, 1998) shows a
triangular pennant, the same as in the 1912 album.
Željko Heimer, 08 September 2001
![[Minister of War, Bulgaria 1939]](../images/b/bg_939mw.gif)
2:3, by Željko Heimer
Minister of War's standard. War ensign with a white square at the lower
hoist bearing green saltire (same as 1912 minister of the army).
Željko Heimer, 08 January 2004
![[Masthead Pennant of Bulgaria 1908-1944]](../images/b/bg_912wp.gif)
1:30~, by Željko Heimer
Masthead Pennant (Vimpel na voen korab).
White pennant with green saltire near the hoist. The greatest difference between
the Bogoslovski album and the later naval manual is the same in this and
subsequent pennants. In the album they are triangular, ending in point, while in
the naval manual the fly is swallow-tailed -- but we'll come to this later on. Source: Bogoslovski, 1912
as quoted in Ivanov (1998).
Željko Heimer, 05 September 2001
![[Masthead Pennant of Bulgaria 1908-1944]](../images/b/bg_939wp.gif)
1:20, by Željko Heimer
Flaggenbuch (1939) shows this
flag swallow-tailed, 1:20, with saltire field 15:23.
Ivan Sache, 06 September 2001
Bulgarian Naval Handbook (reproduced
in
Ivanov, 1998) shows a masthead pennant (Kositsa), the same as in the 1912
album.
Željko Heimer, 08 September 2001
![[Standard of the Chief of the Outside Service of the Port Administration]](../images/b/bg_939s1.gif)
by Željko Heimer
![[Standard of the Chief of the Central Service of the Port Administration]](../images/b/bg_939n1.gif)
by Željko Heimer
![[Service ensign of the port vehicles without autonomous propulsion]](../images/b/bg_939nh.gif)
by Željko Heimer
A white-green-red horizontal tricolour with white canton bearing crossed blue
anchors.
Željko Heimer, 06 January 2004
![[Service ensign of the port vehicles with autonomous propulsion]](../images/b/bg_939sh.gif)
by Željko Heimer
A white ensign with white-green-red horizontal tricolour canton and crossed blue
anchors at lower fly.
Željko Heimer, 06 January 2004
![[Pilot's Ensign]](../images/b/bg_939pe.gif)
by Željko Heimer
Construction is shown: 42 x 63, border 6 units all around, stripes 10 units wide
(white stripe merges together with the border).
Željko Heimer, 11 January 2004
![[Admiral's Ensign of Bulgaria 1908-1944]](../images/b/bg_939ad.gif)
by Željko Heimer
![[Admiral's Pennant of Bulgaria 1908-1944]](../images/b/bg_939ap.gif)
1:5,
by Željko Heimer
![[Vice-Admiral's Ensign of Bulgaria 1908-1944]](../images/b/bg_939va.gif)
by Željko Heimer
![[Vice-Admiral's Pennant of Bulgaria 1908-1944]](../images/b/bg_939vp.gif)
1:5,
by Željko Heimer
![[Rear-Admiral's Ensign of Bulgaria 1908-1944]](../images/b/bg_939za.gif)
by Željko Heimer
![[Rear-Admiral's Pennant of Bulgaria 1908-1944]](../images/b/bg_939zp.gif)
1:5,
by Željko Heimer
