Serbia (Yugoslavia)

Srbija

Last modified: 2003-04-19 by ivan sache
Keywords: serbia | serbian and montenegro | yugoslavia | cross (yellow) | ocila | firesteel | mourning flag | coat of arms | star (red) | eagle: double-headed (white) |
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by Zeljko Heimer

• Description of the flag
• Unofficial variants of the flag
• Coat of arms
• Mourning flag

See also:

• Serbia and Montenegro
• Yugoslavia (1992-2003)
• Serbia: Current proposals of new flags
• Historical flags of Serbia
  • Serbian Empire (XIVth century)
  • Serbia: Karadjordje's uprising (1804-1813)
  • Principality of Serbia (1830-1882)
  • Kingdom of Serbia (1882-1918)
  • Serbia during Second World War
    • Chetnik Movement
  • Republic of Serbia in Former Yugoslavia (1945-1991)
• Local flags in Serbia
  • Kosovo
  • Vojvodina
  • Sandzak
  • Municipal flags
    • Arilje
    • Belgrad (City)
      • Cukarica
      • Rakovica
      • Stari Grad
      • Vracar
    • Istok
    • Jagodina
    • Kraljevo
    • Strpce
    • Topola
• Serbian Orthodox Church
• European Movement in Serbia
• Republika Srpska (Serbian Republic) (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
• Republic of Serbian Krajina (Croatia)

Description of the flag

In Serbia, the simple tricolour has been the official flag since 1992, when the star was officially removed.

Zeljko Heimer, 24 September 1999

Unofficial variants of the flag

by Zeljko Heimer

The flag with the ocila emblem is often used, but unofficially. However, according to some sources this flag with cross is officially used by the Serbian Orthodox Church as the flag representing the Church.

Zeljko Heimer, 24 September 1999

by António Martins

Same as above, but with a stylized cross.

António Martins, 13 August 2001

by António Martins, Ivan Sarajcic & Zeljko Heimer

Serbian tricolor flag with the Serbian royal arms in white, on the blue stripe.

António Martins, 13 August 2001

These variations are widely used in Serbia and Republic of Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They are not official, but still, they emphasize the nationalist meaning (especially the variant with white arms).

Ivan Sarajcic, 13 August 2001

Coat of arms

The official Serbian coat of arms is still the Communist coat of arms, with the ocila (firesteel) emblem, but without the cross - religion was taboo back then. Use of Serbian coat of arms is very rare, so there are no disputes about it. I saw some proposals for a new Serbian coat of arms, and it would look just like Yugoslav, but there will be only four ocila on the shield, instead of two time four ocila and Montenegrin lions. However, Parliament is not discussing this issue.

Milos Eric , 14 Febuary 2000

I was told that there was a project of coat of arms showing the double headed eagle and the shield of Serbia, made by the same drawer that made the coat of arms of Montenegro, but as he wasn't paid for the work he did, the project for Serbia still is a project and Serbian state heraldry still belong to the Socialist era.

Pascal Vagnat, 1 May 1998

Mourning flag

Plain black flag is frequently used as mourning flag in Serbia, especially in Eastern Serbia. It is displayed in front of house of a deceased person for 40 days after the death.

Ivan Sarajcic, 20 May 2000