 Civil & Naval Ensign
For many years the three stripes of the flag were not equally wide, being in the proportions 30 (blue), 33 (white) and 37 (red), the same proportions as the former flag of Paris. The theory was that if they were equal then the white stripe, being brighter, would appear disproportionately wider to the human eye. This was changed to equal width by Napoléon, although by a regulation dated 17 May 1853 (?), the navy went back to using the 30:33:37 proportions, which they continue to use. Download the French Civil & Naval Ensign image here.
|
 National Flag
Originally the flag was often flown with the colour red at the hoist side, but it was standardized as blue on this side when the flag was officially adopted as the national ensign on February 15, 1794 during the First Republic, and came into use as such on May 20 of the same year. Download the French National Flag image here.
 Free French Forces
Forces Françaises Libres
The Free French Forces were French fighters who decided to go on fighting against Germany after the Fall of France and German occupation and to fight against Vichy France in World War II. The Cross of Lorraine is the emblem of the Free French. Download the Free French Forces Flag image here.
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/
|
