Flags of Other Finnic Nations

1.1. Prior to Independence

Before the collapse of the Russian Empire, the Baltics were divided into three governorates: Estonian, Livonian and Curonian. Each governorate was semi-autonomously governed by Baltic German knighthoods, known as "ritterschafts." These knighthoods had their own distinct colours, which were prominently displayed in decorations and flags during local government meetings and diets. They were also adopted by university student unions (or corporations) associated with each knighthood. The flags were designed as tribands, possibly inspired by similar flags of student unions in Germany. Although unofficial, these colors became closely associated with each governorate over time. ^[30].

Universities were at the heart of cultural life in the Baltic governorates. Students formed unions called corporations, which were generally tied to their governorate of origin. Later, smaller corporations were created by Polish (Polonia) and Russian (Ruthenia) students. By the mid-to-late 19th century, Estonian nationalism began to take root, particularly in literature and the arts. Estonian nationalists sought to establish their own student corporations, leading to the secret founding of the Estonian Students' Society (Eesti Üliõpilaste Selts, or EÜS) in 1870. In 1881, the society attempted to register as a student corporation under the name "Vironia," adopting the colours blue, black, and white, but opposition from established Baltic German corporations prevented them from gaining official approval. Although the Vironia fraternity failed to gain recognition, Estonian students achieved a breakthrough in 1883 when they successfully registered the Estonian Students’ Society (EÜS) at Tartu University. Unlike a German-style korporatsioon, EÜS was registered as an academic society, which gave it legal standing. The society adopted the colours already in use among its members, making them official symbols within the organization. ^[31]

The decision to adopt blue, black, and white is not fully documented. Meeting notes from September 29, 1881, do not record the reasoning, but recollections suggest long discussions took place. Several symbolic interpretations were attached to the chosen blue, black and white. They were said to represent Estonian nature: the blue northern sky, the black fertile soil (and the “long black night of slavery”), and the white snow that covered the land in winter. Black was also associated with the traditional long black coat worn by Estonian farmers. Some saw the choice as paralleling Finland’s blue and white flag, emphasizing kinship with the Finns, while black marked Estonia’s harder historical experience. Over time, further meanings developed: blue as loyalty and friendship, white as purity and hope. The society’s first flag was sewn in the spring of 1884 by Paula Hermann, the wife of Dr. Karl August Hermann, an honourary member of the society. She was assisted by Emilie Beermann and Miina Hermann (later Miina Härma, the composer). On the 4th of June, 1884, the flag was consecrated at Otepää rectory by Pastor Rudolf Kallas. The dedication speeches and prayers clearly framed the flag not only as a student banner but as a national symbol of the Estonian people. It was brought back to Tartu and kept in the EÜS library. This was the first physical Estonian national flag. The original flag is preserved at the Estonian National Museum in Tartu. ^[32]

Another early alternative was a flag in blue, black and green. The flag was flown at the 1880 Tallinn Song Festival by the Maardu Ranna Choir. Designed by Professor Johann Köler, the colours were said to symbolize the blue sky, the black robes of the farmers and the green pastures. ^[45] One member of EÜS, Jaan Bergmann, wrote a poem in early 1881 called the Eesti lipp (“The Estonian Flag”), that hailed the blue-black-green flag as the flag of the Estonians. Later, after the adoption of the blue-black-white flag by EÜS, he changed the green to white. Karl August Hermann, also from the EÜS, published a collection of poems in 1881 and the cover of the publication also featured the same flag. ^[46] Even though the green version eventually lost to the current flag, it was adopted in 1913 by the Rotalia student corporation, which still uses it to this day.

1.2. Independence 1917-1940

During the First World War and the upheavals of the Russian Revolution when the Imperial army was disintegrating, Estonian officers and soldiers who returned to Estonia often wore insignia in the national colours. When Estonian military units were formed at home, the blue-black-white quickly became a defining part of their identity. The colours appeared on rank insignia, epaulettes, and uniform sleeves, and most units obtained their own tricolour flags. During the War of Independence (1918–1920), the national colours were used in countless combinations, both on the battlefield and in emblems of authority. General Johan Laidoner, Supreme Commander of the Estonian forces, later declared that Estonians had fought and won their independence under the blue-black-white banner.

By 1917, several Estonian local governments already possessed blue-black-white flags. In February 1918, the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed in a number of towns beneath the tricolour, including Pärnu on 23 February, a day earlier than the official announcement in Tallinn. Following the end of the German occupation in November 1918, the Provisional Estonian Government formally adopted the tricolour as the national flag. On 12 December 1918 it was raised on the tower of Pikk Hermann in Tallinn, a tradition that continues to this day.

After the War of Independence, it was agreed that the question of the national flag should be settled by law. The Riigikogu (Parliament) appointed a commission, chaired by General Laidoner, to draft a National Flag Act. Some argued that the national flag and the state flag ought to be different, or that the dark tones of blue and black blended too easily at a distance, especially at sea. Others proposed adopting a cross design, similar to those of the Nordic countries. Despite these suggestions, the commission reaffirmed the traditional blue-black-white tricolour.

A key issue was the correct shade of blue. It was unanimously agreed that the flag should use a light blue, which would not merge visually with black, as a darker blue might. On 27 June 1922, the Riigikogu passed the National Flag Act. It defined the national flag as a sky blue (cornflower blue), black, and white tricolour with three equal horizontal bands, in the proportion 7:11. The normal size was set at 105 × 165 cm.

Suggestions for the flag also came from the public. In 1919, Oscar Kangro printed pamphlets in Stockholm, proposing a red cross on a white background for the Estonian flag. The proposal was inspired by the Finnish flag, but with the blue cross replaced by a red one. Kangro was critical of the EÜS flag, as he believed it was derived from the German flag and thus unsuitable for an independent Estonia. Yrjö Virola, formerly Jüri Tilk, a founder of the Estonian Temperance Society and a journalist living in Finland, suggested in the Estonian newspaper Päevaleht a blue-green cross on a white background for the flag, or alternatively, the Finnish blue and white cross with the Estonian coat of arms in the centre to differentiate it. The pseudonym 'Isamaapoeg' proposed a black and white cross on a blue background. Two versions were proposed by A. Järits in blue-black-white. One in a tricolour and one as a cross flag. Merchant Tauno Nissinen from Finland proposed a unique cross design with a yellow background.

An anonoymous person designed four variations of a cross flag in 1919. Click on each flag to enlarge.

1.3. Soviet Estonia 1940-1991

Under construction...

1.4. Restoration of Independence 1991-

Under construction...

2. Ingrian Finns

Ingrian Finns are descendants of Lutheran Finns from Savonia and South Karelia, who settled in Ingria in the 17th century when the region was under Swedish control. Historically, their homeland was the countryside surrounding St. Petersburg, but during Stalin’s rule, they were subjected to severe ethnic cleansing and forced Russification. Ingrian Finns should not be confused with the orthodox Izhorians, another Finnic nation from the region.

During the Russian Civil War, Ingrian Finns launched a movement to liberate Ingria from Bolshevik rule. They fought in southern Ingria alongside Estonians and White Russians during a failed offensive against the bolshevik-held Petrograd. During this offensive, an Ingrian Battalion carried a flag designed by Captain Haapakoski; a blue-and-red Scandinavian cross on a yellow background. The flag's colours were derived from old Swedish coats of arms from the 1580's. ^[1] In 1919-1920, the Ingrian Finns briefly established the Republic of North Ingria in Kirjasalo, near the Finnish border, aiming for local autonomy or unification with Finland. They also adopted Haapakoski's flag, which remained in use until the republic was dissolved in late 1920 by the bolsheviks. Dimensions of the flag are horizontally 18 = 5 + 0,5 + 2 + 0,5 + 10 and vertically 11 = 4 + 0,5 + 2 + 0,5 + 4. ^[2]

3. East Karelia

East Karelia comprises the Orthodox regions of historical Karelia that now lie within modern Russia. The native Karelians of this area are regarded as a distinct, yet closely related, ethnic group to both Finns and Finnish Karelians. Following the collapse of the Russian Empire, the region became a battleground during the Russian Civil War, witnessing clashes between the Red and White Armies. It was later caught in further conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland during World War II, events that left deep and lasting impacts on both the land and its people.

3.1. Civil War and an Uprising, 1918-1922

In early 1918, as the civil war in Finland was nearing its end and the civil war in Russia continued to rage, Finnish White Forces began organizing incursions into East Karelia. Their aim was to support a local movement against the Russian Bolsheviks. These poorly organized excursions achieved little and often clashed with both Bolsheviks and troops from the Allied Intervention in Northern Russia. As the central town of Uhtua was occupied by Finnish White Forces in 1918, Finnish painter Jonas Heiska designed a flag for White Karelia, featuring white stars of the Plough on a blue background.^[4] Though this flag saw little use, it was the first specifically designed for the region.

During the Allied intervention in Northern Russia the British formed the Karelian Regiment by recruiting Finnish communists who had fled to East Karelia after their defeat in the Finnish Civil War. The regiment was led by P. J. Woods, an Irish officer of the British army, and carried an orange flag with a green clover leaf in the middle. The flag was designed by Woods. The Karelian Regiment fought both Bolshevik forces and Finnish White troops. Although the Finnish Whites were fighting the Bolsheviks, they were also aligned with Germany and were viewed with mistrust by the allies since World War 1 was still ongoing in the west. The regiment remained active until late 1919, when it was disbanded following the British withdrawal from Russia. ^[3]

At the end of 1919, after the withdrawal of the Allied troops from Northern Russia, the White Northern Army of Russia collapsed rapidly in the face of the Red Army’s offensive. Soon afterwards, the Red Army also drove the Finnish Whites back across the border and took control of most of East Karelia.

On 29 March 1920, representatives of the Provisional Government of Viena Karelia gathered for the first provincial assembly in Uhtua. A total of 135 delegates had been elected from the municipalities of Viena and partly also from Northern Aunus. The situation was uncertain, as there were still Red Army units in the area, but nevertheless the assembly dared to consider state symbols for Karelia. During these meetings it was decided to establish a provisional government in Uhtua and to declare the intention of seceding from Soviet Russia. In addition, they demanded a general referendum to be held once peace had returned, in order to determine the future of Viena Karelia. The minutes also recorded that both a coat of arms and a flag were discussed.

The minutes of the provincial assembly note that the coat of arms should depict a bear with a billhook in its paws, and that the flag should be a two-coloured horizontal bicolour with the constellation of the Plough. The sources, however, differ on what the background colours of the flag should be. According to the original minutes, the colours were red and yellow, with red at the bottom and yellow at the top. In a copy preserved later in Finland, it is stated instead that the majority supported red and green. It seems, however, that that the provisional government’s representative Iivo Ranne took the red-and-green version of the flag to Finland, to Akseli Gallen-Kallela, and this became the basis for Gallen-Kallela’s later designs. ^[6]

As a representative of the Provisional Government, merchant Iivo Ranne delivered the flag to the Finnish artist Gallen-Kallela. He was asked to design a flag and coat of arms for Karelia based on the design by the Provisional Government. Gallen-Kallela redesigned the flag and wrote to the government:

» Instead of the Plough, I have incorporated the northern lights into the state emblem and the flag through silver chevrons in the form of arches. There are 53 chevrons, representing the municipalities of Karelia. If this number happens to be incorrect, it can easily be adjusted by adding or removing chevrons. Additionally, as many negro states have stars and constellations on their flags and emblems, I wanted to avoid them. From a decorative standpoint, the arcs of the northern lights are much more splendid, heretofore unused in heraldry, and most natural for a northern nation and land. To prevent the bear's image (which, according to heraldic rules, should face right if the animal is depicted in profile) from becoming too similar to the coat of arms of Satakunta, I have placed broken chains under its feet. Since the bear's colour is black (as natural colours cannot be used), I have added the black colour to the flag. Furthermore, since green and red on the flag would over time form a very unpleasant and ugly hue due to the natural tendecy of the green colour to fade, the black intermediate colour improves the design. The combination of green, black, and red is highly distinctive for Finnic nations. It is true that the flag may appear somewhat sombre, but a national flag is not a trivial object; thus, in my opinion, seriousness is appropriate here, especially when it concerns the honourable people of Karelia. »

Gallen-Kallela also designed a state flag, a war flag, a customs flag, a pilot flag, and a postal flag. The customs flag features a traditional birch-bark rucksack (or »kontti»), pilot flag two oars and the postal flag a birch-bark horn. The bear in the war flag is from the coat of arms for Karelia, also designed by Gallen-Kallela. Dimensions of the flag are horizontally 24,4 = 7,7 + 0,9 + 2,5 + 0,9 + 12,4 and vertically 15,7 = 5,7 + 0,9 + 2,5 + 0,9 + 5,7. ^[7]

The designs for the flag and the coat of arms was given to Iivo Ranne, who in turn were to deliver them to the provisional government in Karelia. ^[44] However, in May of 1920 the Red Army decided to dissolve the provisional government and consequently, they were never officially ratified. However, they became popular among Karelians and have remained in unofficial use in both Finland and Russia to this day.

After the dissolution of the provisional government, dissatisfaction with Bolshevik rule grew among the Karelians. With support from Finnish volunteers, they launched an uprising. Known as the "Forest Guerrillas," these fighters battled the Red Army, often carrying flags designed by Gallen-Kallela. The uprising was ultimately suppressed in 1922. Between 1941 and 1944, Gallen-Kallela’s flag designs were flown during the Finnish occupation of East Karelia in the Continuation War.

3.2. Soviet Karelia 1920-1990

Once the Red Army consolidated control over East Karelia, the area was turned into an autonomous republic within the Russian SFSR. Initially the autonomous republic did not have its own flag and simply flew the flag of the Russian SFSR. In early 1937 the constitution was amended and the automonous republic was given its own red flag with the name of Soviet Russia and Karelian Autonomous Republic written in Russian, Karelian and Finnish on it. In late 1937 the Finnish texts were removed after Finnish communists were purged from leadership. The ratio of the red banner is 2:1. ^[8]

After the Winter War in 1940, newly conquered land from Finland was moved under the control of the Karelian Autonomous Republic which now was upgraded into the Karelo-Finnish SSR, a separate entity from the RSFSR. The new flag included the name of the republic only in Finnish and Russian, not Karelian anymore. In 1953, shortly after the death of Joseph Stalin, the flags of the republics were changed by removing any texts and separating them instead by colours and symbols. Fields of green and blue were added into the Karelian flag to represent Karelian rivers, lakes and forests. ^[9] In 1956 Karelia was once again downgraded into an autonomous republic and moved under control of the RSFSR. The flag was consequently changed into the flag of the RSFSR with KACCP and KASNT added under the hammer and sickle. In 1978 the text was slightly changed, but this flag continued in use until the collapse of the Soviet Union. ^[10]

The adoption of the 1953 flag was preceded by a draft in 1947 that was never put in use. It had a narrower green stripe and the blue field contained fir branches. In 1976 Finnish heraldic Kari Laurla submitted two proposals for the 1978 change of the flag. They contained a white field of fir branches, with and without a green wave-field. ^[10]

Between 1934 and 1935, a debate regarding the Karelian flag took place among Karelian refugees in Finland and Finnish promoters of the Karelian cause. In this context, criticism arose regarding the somberness of the colours in Akseli Gallen-Kallela's flag design. In issue 3/1934 of the magazine Karjalan Vapaus ('Freedom of Karelia'), the Karelian linguist Edvard Ahtia proposed that the national colours of Karelia should instead be white, blue, and gold. Ahtia drew connections between these colours and Karelian folk poetry, suggesting that they symbolised freedom, beauty, and goodness. Blue and white also appeared in the flags of the kindred nations of Finland and Estonia, and as in Estonia, these two colours were to be combined with a distinctive third colour, yellow. Ahtia proposed that the preferred arrangement for these colours would be a white-edged blue cross on a yellow background. He was also of the opinion that the coat of arms designed by Gallen-Kallela could be replaced by one featuring a kantele instead of a bear. ^[43]

The following year, Paavo Jukola (orig. Ivanoff), an activist originally from Olonets (Aunus) and secretary of the Suojärvi-based Karjalan Kansalaisseura-society, published a flag proposal in the society’s magazine, Rahvahan sana ('Voice of a nation'). Jukola based his proposal on Ahtia's colours: the flag featured a blue, gold-edged cross on a white background. The society had adopted the flag and a correspondingly coloured kantele coat of arms for its own use in May 1935, and they were now being proposed as symbols for the whole of Karelia. ^[48] However, the proposal for new symbols was criticised as an unnecessary attempt to sow division, and neither Jukola's flag nor Ahtia's colours have been used since ^[49].

3.3. Republic of Karelia 1991-

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Supreme Council of the Karelian ASSR decided to rename the region as the Republic of Karelia and adopt new state symbols, including a flag, coat of arms, and anthem. In early 1992, a public competition was launched to gather ideas, resulting in numerous comments and proposals. The selection committee reviewed 60 flag designs, and on May 28, 1992, two were chosen as finalists: one by J. Nivin and another by V. Dobrynin. ^[11]

Nivin's proposal featured a green-white-blue tricolour with a red Finnic notched cross at the center. Green symbolizes faith in luck, the nature and forests of Karelia; white symbolizes peace, the snowy winters of Karelia; and blue symbolizes greatness and beauty, statehood, and prosperity. ^[12]

Dobrynin's proposal was based upon Gallen-Kallela's designs. He described his proposal:

» In the flag, there is a black cross with a red border on a green background, similar to the Scandinavian countries, to which Karelia geographically belongs. According to Gallen-Kallela, the colors of the flag and coat of arms reflect the peculiarities of the region's settlement history. Green represents the forest, red represents fire, and black represents the land. In the upper corner by the flagpole, there are 19 triangles representing the number of Karelia's districts and cities. » ^[13]

The debate in the Supreme Council dragged on into late 1992, with no unanimity over the flag nor the coat of arms. Dobrynin's proposal was popular among Karelians, but it was also seen as problematic due to its associations with Fenno-Karelian nationalism. During this period, A. Litvin, a university lecturer from Petrozavodsk, introduced another flag design. His proposal combined elements of the Russian naval jack with a Scandinavian Latin cross, representing Karelia's role in the formation of the Russian navy and Karelia's closeness to Scandinavia. ^[14]

In November 1992, the Supreme Council convened on the matter once again. This time the debate included more designs, including a red-blue-green triband by Alexander Kinner and a proposal to re-adopt old flags of Soviet Karelia. Kinner's flag was the most popular but failed to gather enough votes. Instead the decision was once again postponed to the 16th of February, 1993, when after more exhaustive discussions and voting rounds, Kinner's flag finally received enough votes to be passed into law. ^[15]

4. Vepsians

The Vepsian national flag, designed by painter Vitaly Dobrynin in 1992, draws inspiration from the flag designed by Gallen-Kallela in 1920. The flag was first unveiled in June 1992 during the Vepsian Summer Festival held in Rybreka Village. Between 2000-2005, this flag served as the official flag of the Veps National Volost, a municipal autonomy for the North Vepses, until it was disbanded in 2005. ^[16]

5. Ludic Karelians

Ludic Karelians are a tiny threathened Finnic nation located in Olonets, who are either classified as a subgroup of Karelians or as a distinct language and people. In 1995 Ludic author and activist Miikul Pahamov designed a flag for Ludic Karelians based on Gallen-Kallelas design from 1920. The flag forms the basis for the flag of the Kuujärvi (Mihailovskoje) rural settlement. ^[17]

6. Izhorians

Izhorians are an orthodox Finnic nation native to Ingria. Their flag is a two-colour triband in blue-yellow-blue. Traditional Izhorian embroidery is placed in the middle of the flag. The flag is probably designed by the ethnographic historian Olga Igorevna together with Vladimir Zernov sometime in the early 2000's. ^[18] An alternate version, where the red embroidery is replaced with a red Finnic notched cross, can be seen in an article written about Zernov in 2021. Zernov and Konkova are mentioned as the designers for this one too, but the flag is probably not in use. Perhaps a concept? (image). ^[19]

7. Votians

Votians are another small Finnic nation native to Ingria. Their traditional homeland has been the lands along river Laukaa. The flag and coat of arms was designed in 2002 by author and poet Alexander Gurynov with help from Vladimir Zernov, S. Efimov and T. Efimova. The blue triangles symbolise Lake Peipus and the Gulf of Finland, the V-shaped white area represents the shoreline wedged between these waters and the initial letter of the Votians' name, and the red cross signifies the Votians' faith and the trials they have faced over the centuries. ^[20]

8. Livonians

Livonians are native to the coastal region of Latvia. Their numbers began to twindle already by the late 19th century which led to efforts supported by Finns and Estonians to awaken Livonian nationality in the 1920's. The Livonian Union was established in 1922 to promote the Livonian cause and one of its founders, Didrik Volganski, designed a flag for the Union. The Union and the Livonians faced repressions following the Soviet occupation of the Baltics and it wasn't until the 1980s that the Union and the flag were back in use. Historically Livonians have mainly been fishermen and their culture has been tied with their coastal environment. The green-white-blue tricolour represents the land, the white sandy shores and the sea. The outer dimensions of the flag are 2:1 and the horizontal stripes are 2:1:2. ^[21]

9. Setos

In 2003, a referendum was held among Setos where the current flag was chosen and on the 29th of November it was officially approved at the 7th Seto Congress in Obinitsa. In 2018, the newly established Setomaa parish adopted it as well. A red cross on a white background, the cross is based on traditional embroidered belts from Pangjavitsa and the ratio of the flag is 6:11. ^[22]

10. Võros

The Võro flag, a green flag with a white cross, was chosen in a public competition held in 2013 to represent the Võro language, its speakers, and their homeland in southeastern Estonia. The green background represents the forests of the Võroland. The notched cross is a traditional symbol among Finnic nations and is among Võro believed to protect from evil and bring good fortune. The white colours represents purity and honesty of the Võro people's spirit. It is also the colour of the traditional white linen shirt in Võro. The proportions are 7:11, the same as in the Estonian flag. ^[47]

11. Sweden Finns

Sweden Finns are Finns living in Sweden, typically counted up to third generation, and they number around 700 000. In 2014 the Delegation of Sweden Finns decided upon an official flag for the minority. Between two finalists, the flag designed by Andreas Jonasson was chosen, which combines the flags of Finland and Sweden. ^{[23] [24]}

12. Torne Valley Finns

Torne Valley Finns include Finns living on both sides of the Finnish-Swedish border in the Torne River. This border was originally created following the Finnish War of 1808-09 when the west side of the river became a part of the Russian Empire. Finns who remained on the Swedish side of the border began to form their own dialect of Finnish called Meänkieli and in the late 20th century efforts have been made to bolster their ethnic identity in Sweden.

The flag of the Torne Valley Finns was adopted the 15th of June 2007 to represent Finns of Torne Valley on both sides of the border. The flag is a horizontal tricolour in yellow-white-blue with dimensions of 7:11. The colours are derived from the flags of Sweden and Finland and was designed by Herbert Wirlöf. Yellow represents the sun, white the open wintery fields and blue the summer sky. ^[25]

13. Kvens

Kvens are a Finnish minority that has lived in northern Norway since at least the early 1700s. Their flag was first adopted by the Kveenimaayhistys Society in 2009 after a competition featuring 20 different designs. In 2017, another major Kven organization, Ruijan Kvääniliitto, also approved the flag, which has since become the de facto symbol of the Kvens. The flag, designed by Bengt Johansson-Kyrö, features a blue background with a sunflower motif inspired by traditional Kven handicrafts. ^{[26] [27]}

14. Forest Finns

The Forest Finns were migrants from Finland's Savonia and Northern Tavastia regions. In the late 16th and early-to-mid-17th centuries, they settled in the forested areas of Norway and Sweden and became known for their slash-and-burn agriculture. Over time, particularly by the late 18th century, they were largely assimilated into the local Swedish and Norwegian cultures.

The flag of the Forest Finns, designed by Norwegian couple Frederic M. Lindboe and Bettina Gullhagen, was adopted on 29 December 2022. It emerged from a flag design competition held in the summer of 2021, which received hundreds of proposals. At the center of the flag is a black rhombus, a traditional Forest Finn symbol for fertility, found on old settlements. The green represents the slash-and-burn agriculture, red for fire and the holy Rowan tree, yellow for the St. John's wort flower and black for soot. ^[28]

Svullrya, located in the Finnforests of Grue county, is the heart of Forest Finn culture. Every year, it hosts the Finnskogsdagene (Finn Forest Days) festival, during which the Republic of the Forest Finns humorously declares its independence and raises a flag to mark the occasion. The website of the Finnskogsdagene recounts the creation of the first flag with an explanation for its unusual dimensions:

» The well-known rally driver Per Engseth from Elverum was to visit the Republic of Finnskogen during the opening in the summer of 1978 and the car was to be decorated in addition to making and fitting cow bumpers and spoilers. The result of the decor was a flag. The proportions of the flag to be placed on the car door were probably closer to a "normal" flag, but with the cross turned to the right and painted completely freehand.

The color choice was simple, it was the colors that were on the paint and varnish shelf in the workshop at "Tanken". Erling Hagen, Oddvar Neby and Jorn Skaslien agreed that black Bengal varnish, green paint and masking tape was an excellent color choice. This is the simple and true story of the republic's first flag, but as I said, only painted on a car door.

The Republic of Finnskogen did not yet have a flag to hoist at the flagpole during the opening, and therefore a government decision was made that the Republic of Finnskogen should have its own flag. The Republic was to separate itself from the Kingdom of Norway and it was then quite natural to create its own special flag. The flag was sewn by the seamstresses in FinnskogSom (Aud Vålberg, Martha Hansen, Inger Åransberg and Jenny Skaslien) following instructions from the government.» ^[29]

Sources:

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