Socialist Republic of Romania, 1965-1989

Last modified: 2008-09-06 by alex danes
Keywords: romania | coat of arms | red star |
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by Calvin Paige Herring

• Overview of the Communist Era Flags
• Naval Jack, 1965-89
• Defence Minister
• Chairman of Councils of State and of Ministers
• National Arms, 1965-89
• Communist Party

See also:

• Romania
• Romania: Index of all pages

Socialist Romania had three different national flags which differed in the details of the arms which appeared on the central yellow stripe:

• 1948: the arms had a scroll bearing the letters 'RPR', no red star.
• 1952: the arms had a scroll bearing the letters 'RPR' and were surmounted by a red star.
• 1965: the arms had a scroll with the word 'ROMANIA' and were surmounted by a red star.

The second version was adopted in September 1952, 'RPR' standing for 'Romanian People's Republic'. The third version was adopted on 21 August 1965. The dexter part of the scroll bears the word 'Republica' and the sinister part 'Socialista' so the complete text reads 'Republica Socialista România' (Socialist Republic of Romania).
Mark Sensen, 27 March 1998

In 1965 a major artistic change in the arms was effected. The only substantial change was the removal of the letters, "RPR," and their replacement by the words Republica, Socialista and Romania on the left, right and central ribbon bands, respectively. At the same time, the tricolour with the arms became the flag for all purposes -- civil, state and military.

Sources: Preben Kannik, The Flag Book
Christian Fogd Pederson, The International Flag Book in Color
Smith, Flags and Arms Across the World
Crampton, The Complete Guide to Flags
Crampton, Flags of the World
Alexander, Flags of the World
Calvin Paige Herring, 05 May 1998

Second Navy Jack, 1965-1989

This jack consisted of the arms (1965 version) centered on a square tricolor with two crossed anchors in the hoist. It was replaced after the overthrow of Ceaucescu in December, 1989. Sources - Barraclough & Crampton (1981), Crampton (1989); Crampton (1990).
Calvin Paige Herring, 07 May 1998

First Navy Jack, 1965

I have a question regarding Socialist Republic jacks. Barraclough (1969) states that the Romanian jack was a square version of the national flag "with two crossed anchors in place of the national emblem". His 1981 collaboration with the late William Crampton says that the jack was a square national flag with crossed white anchors in the hoist. The question is, was there a change in the jack of Romania between the 1969 and 1981 or was one of the books in error?
Calvin Paige Herring, 02 May 1998

According to EMC Barraclough's Flags of the World (1969), the jack of Romania was a square tricolor with 'two white crossed anchors in place of the national emblem.' I am not sure when this flag was adopted or when it was replaced. Barraclough seems to indicate that the flag was replaced when the arms were changed in 1965. Obviously, there would be a problem with one seeing the white anchors on yellow. In my opinion, this heraldric error, combined with the anchors' visibility problem, probably led to its replacement.
Calvin Paige Herring, 07 May 1998

Is a very strange flag. Perhaps the anchors must be outlined in black, or perhaps were in the blue band and Barraclough forgot to say it. In the second Jack the anchors are centered in the band.
Jaume Ollé,, 07 May 1998

Defense Minister

Chairman of Councils of State and of Ministers

by Jaume Ollé