Page created: 3rd August 1997 Last updated: 30th December 2004
The FAME is site devoted to systematic and scientific study of flags and coats of arms. Such symbols often bear strong political and other messages. Inclusion of those symbols here does not mean that the author support or approve the ideas they may stand for.

SHS / Yugoslavia, 1918 - 1941

Kraljevstvo Srba, Hrvata i Slovenaca 1919, Kraljevina Srba, Hrvata i Slovenaca 1921-1929, Kraljevina Jugoslavija 1929-1941

• National Flag
• State Flag
• Royal Flag
• Royal Flag, Variant

• Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, 1922 - 1929
• Kingdom of Yugoslavia, 1929 - 1941

• Yugoslavia, 1918 - 2002

National Flag

2:3

The national flag of the newly formed state is derived from the colours of all three Soth-Slavic nations that were recognized at the time and had flags, the order of the stripes was chosen to be different from any other and yet to conform with heraldic principles having the "metal" inbetween two "colours". The coat of arms is based on the Serbian royal coat of arms, to which the symbols of Croats (chequy shield) and Slovenians (crescent and three stars of Celje) were added. The coat of arms was initially used as the shield only with the Slovenian field conisting of a crescent and a single five-pointed star. This was unsatisfactory to Slovenians, and it was soon changed to include the three stars of Celje.

State Flag

2:3

The state flag had the greater state arms in the middle, though in most cases it was replaced by the simple undefaced national tricolour or the flag with the lesser arms similar to the war ensign. The greater coat of arms adds to the lesser arms the heralic mantel with the crown.

Royal Flag

Kraljevski štandart

1:1

The standard of His Royal Highnes the King is the square tricolour with the royal coat of arms in the middle and bordered with the tricolour triangles. The royal coat of arms differs heraldicaly from the state arms only in the lower field, that here consist of the coat of arms of Krain: argent an eagle displayed azure bearing on the breasts a crescent chequy gules and argent. The white eagle is crowned witha crown of Byzantine style. The 1922 legislation only mentions the flag, but leaves up to the king to prescribe it usage (and presumably design, too). The 1937 regulatiuons prescribed entirely different flag, but some sources show a variant with the greater state coat of arms instead of the royal, presumably and intermediate stage.

Royal Flag, Variant

1:1

The sources from 1930's picture the royal standard somewhat differently, setting the greater state coat of arms in it in the place of the royal coat of arms. Either it was a variant used contemporarily with th previous one, or a latter variation, or simply an error in publications.