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Historical Flags of Tuva (Russia), <1944

Last modified: 2021-08-26 by valentin poposki
Keywords: map | cow | plough | hammer and sickle (golden) | sun: rising | star: 5 points (red) | horse (white) | sickle (green) | tar | tap |
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Historical Flags of Tuva

According to “State Flags and Coats of Arms of Tuva” by Prof. V.A. Sokolov [sol83a], which appeared in the Flag Bulletin, [tfb] issue 100 (May-Aug. 1983), there were seven flags used between 1921 and 1944, although only five were legally adopted. Add to that the two ASSR Flags and the present flag, making 10 flags in all since 1921.
Dave Martucci, 15 Mar 1998


Paramount Chief (Ambyn-Noyon's) flag pre-1921

https://vk.com/wall-28602868_115189 (good article in Russian on Tuvan flags with drawings) has the flag as red and had in addition 8 small flags. No further details, including drawing and shape. Just a pure guess by me that flag was a triangle.
Janis Lasmanis, 20 January 2019


Protectorate flag 1914-1921

http://digilander.libero.it/breschirob/tuva.html The wheel looks like the wheel in the first stamp of Tuva in 1926. This light blue flag to me seems not to be real, but too modern. To me, there appears no authority which could have its own flag during this period.
Janis Lasmanis, 20 January 2019


1924 flag

First flag
https://vk.com/wall-28602868_115189 (description only)
http://www.tuva.asia/journal/issue_12/4185-mongush-simv.html (description and drawing)
Adopted 1922. In the 1924 drawing, the flag has Mongolian writing on both sides. Probably it was changed later. A pure guess by me is that at some moment swastika might be replaced by ying-yang.
Janis Lasmanis, 20 January 2019


1926 flag

Second flag (1926)
Description in 1926 constitution: Wheel, globe, sun+rays, sickle+raker, ears.
https://vk.com/wall-28602868_115189 has green grass and star in addition.
http://www.vexillographia.ru/russia/subjects/tuva.htm has a star in addition.
http://digilander.libero.it/breschirob/tuva.html has green grass and star in addition.
It seems to me that even the constitution doesn't specifically mention grass and star, both actually were included in arms and flag. [in use from 1925]
Janis Lasmanis, 20 January 2019


People’s Revolutionary Party Flag, 1921

Flag of Tuva 1921 image by Dave Martucci, 15 Mar 1998

The Tannu-Tuva People’s Republic was established 14 August 1921 and was led by the People’s Revolutionary Party. The original Party flag is in a museum in Kyzyl. Plain red flags were used. Constitutions of 1921 and 1924 did not mention flags.
Dave Martucci, 15 Mar 1998

Party flag of Tuva 1921 image by Dave Martucci, 15 Mar 1998

W. Crampton in "History of the flags of Tuva" [craXX] say that previously, in 1918-21, was used a blue flag with golden emblem in center. In fact Tuva was in revolt in 1885-1911 and probably blue flags with emblems were used. Tuva was independent 1911, and accept the russian protection 17 April 1914. After the soviet revolt Tuva remain in fact independent. The flags previous are 1918 are unknown.
Jaume Ollé, 25 Aug 1997

On this flag there is writing in the original Uighur (similar to old Mongolian) script.
Dave Martucci, 19 Mar 1998

According to Crampton [craXX] the emblem was blue. Not mention of the colors of the rest of devices, but presumibly also blue. The uigur inscription was surely black, but neither the color is quoted. The inscription say: "Flag of the executive comitee of the peoples Revolutionary party of Tannu Tuva" (tangnu tiva yin arad un qubisyal tu nam un quriyan u tuy).
Jaume Ollé, 25 Aug 1997


Tuvinian People’s Republic State Flag, 1926-1930.06

Flag of Tuva 1926 image by Janis Lasmanis, 20 January 2019

Name changed to Tuvinian People’s Republic in the Constitution of 24 November 1926, which established red flag with state arms in center.
Dave Martucci, 15 Mar 1998

No source says that upon adoption of Latin script (June 28, 1930) the new flag was adopted or Mongolian writing on the 1926 flag was removed.
Janis Lasmanis, 20 January 2019


Tuvinian People’s Republic State Flag, 1930.06-1930.10

The Romanized alphabet was adopted in 1930. New version of state arms introduced 28 June 1930. Flag red with state arms in center. (no graphic available)
Dave Martucci, 15 Mar 1998

Fourth flag (October 1930)
Description in the constitution: Globe; ears+grass; sickle+raker in  form of a cross; above star "TAR" and motto (also above). No mention of the shape of Tuva.
https://vk.com/wall-28602868_115189 has "TAR" below and yellow ring in addition.
http://www.vexillographia.ru/russia/subjects/tuva.htm has Tuva shape, no grass, no cross form, has motto below.
http://digilander.libero.it/breschirob/tuva.html - not mentioned at all.
To me, the drawing in vk.com seems to be the one which most confirms with the constitution.
Janis Lasmanis, 20 January 2019


Tuvinian People’s Republic State Flag, 1930.10-1933

Flag of Tuva 1926 image by Janis Lasmanis, 20 January 2019

State arms again modified 18 October 1930. Flag red with state arms in center.
Dave Martucci, 15 Mar 1998


Tuvinian People’s Republic State Flag, 1933-1941

Flag of Tuva 1933 image by Janis Lasmanis, 20 January 2019

New state arms adopted in 1933. Flag red with state arms in center.
Dave Martucci, 15 Mar 1998

The brown shape in background is a map of the territory. The badge on this flag, by the way, is very similar to the current coat of arms.
António Martins, 15 Mar 2000 and 15 Feb 2000

1935 flag attached, the text at bottom of the seal was changed from 2 lines to 1 line in 1939 but there is no found source that says a new flag was adopted.
1935 flag is covered at https://vk.com/wall-28602868_115189 and at Vexillographia by Victor Lomantsov, http://www.vexillographia.ru/russia/subjects/tuva.htm
Janis Lasmanis, 20 January 2019


Tuvinian People’s Republic State Flag, 1941-1943

Flag of Tuva 1941
image by Dave Martucci, 15 Mar 1998

Flag changed in new constitution of 25 June 1941. Red with initials of state ("TAR") in gold in canton. Proportions 1:2. Five-pointed star to be mounted on top of staff.
Dave Martucci, 15 Mar 1998


Tuvinian People’s Republic State Flag, 1943-1944

Flag of Tuva 1943
image by Dave Martucci, 15 Mar 1998

Cyrillic letters introduced 8 September 1943; initials on flag changed ("TAP") as a matter of course, not law. USSR absorbs TPR, which became an autonomous region of the RSFSR 11 October 1944. Local flags and arms abolished.
Dave Martucci, 15 Mar 1998