Last modified: 2018-05-25 by kryštof huk
Keywords: czechia | bohemia | olympics |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
I'm creating a website about the Olympic Games since 1896 and I need
the flag of Bohemia before World War I. I only found in your big collection
Bohemia's flag as the German protectorate during
Word War II.
Alexander Picolin jr, 12 Jul 2002
As far as I know there was no "Bohemian flag" in 1896, so athletes from
Bohemia probably participated in the first Olympic games under the Austro-Hungarian
flag.
Jarig Bakker, 12 Jul 2002
In the old Czech 'Vexilologie' bulletin (from late 1970s) there
was an article about the Bohemian flag being carried at 1912 Olympics in
Stockholm. It was an Austrian version of the Bohemian arms displayed
on the white flag. Attached is my own, crude rendition of that flag.
Chrystian Kretowicz, 12 Jul 2002
Before 1900 Czechs were part of Austrian Olympic Team, while Hungary
had its own Team. That was because of non-existence of Czech (or
Bohemian) Olympic Committee in that period of time. As for terms
Czech/Bohemian: it is not easy to translate the Czech original as we make
no differences between territorial (Bohemian Böhmisch) and national (Czech/Tschechisch)
identity. Both terms are "Český" in Czech. As you will see - founders of
Czech Olympic Committee were in spite of German names (Rössler, Guth) only
Czechs.
Aleš Křížan, 24 Jul 2002
Although founder of Czech Olympic Committee, Mr. Jirí Stanislav
Guth - Jarkovský was collaborator of Baron de Coubertin for many
years, the first separate participation of our Olympic team was on Games
in London, 1908. Our team flew the "Böhmische Landesfarben",
that is white over red and not red
over white, as many German Encyclopaedias insisted.
In Stockholm 1912 they used another flag in two versions: with rectangle
field and with (almost) square shape.
This square flag was made of woollen cloth: A copy of that had
every Czech participant of Olympic Games in Stockholm 1912. A flag carried
in parade the rectangular. (roughly 1:2 ?). The high
of shield with Bohemian Arms was same in both cases. Rectangle flag with
border of red and white triangles was hoisted by Mr. Rössler - Orovský
(one of fathers of our sport movement) on 20 October 1918 (!) as a symbol
of future Independence of our state.
Description of picture. The field is white, grey triangles are in fact
red, Arms including Crown of St. Wenceslas are in "natural" colours (red
field, white lion, yellow coronet and tongue, colourful gemstones and red
"cap" on Royal Bohemian Crown). Let me explain the background of that case. Founder of Czech
Olympic Committee was Secondary school teacher Jirí Stanislav Guth - Jarkovský.
Austrian Ministry of Education has in 1891 published a new program of education
in sports (as far I know not in the games). Deputy teacher called Guth
during his Paris studies met "some Coubertine". This was the beginning
of long co-operation of Pierre de Coubertin and J.S. Guth - Jarkovský,
who became member of International Olympic Committee right from the beginning.
Guth represented not Austria, but Kingdom of Bohemia, a country with
developed sporting movement ("Sokol"). In the
beginning of the year 1900 came "Český výbor pro hry olympijské"
(Czech committee for Olympic Games". Our sportsmen were starting as separate
team on Olympic Games in London 1908 under red and white flag of Bohemia
(rather white and red) - it led to protests of Austrian Olympic Committee.
Secretary General of Czech Olympic Committee Josef Rössler - Orovský struggled
hard for Czech Olympic team under Czech flag.
When Olympic Games in Stockholm 1912 were prepared, Austria has threatened with boycott, if Czechs started as separate team (under name Bohemia, of course). Secretary general showed to Austrian Ambassador Count Kolowrat a written permission from Emperor and King Francis Joseph to use "Landeswappen" in Letters, Stamps and on Seal. So why not on flag? The result was above mentioned flag. In parade had Czech team TWO flags - a "Bohemian" one and Austrian (most probably "Reichsfarben", because black and yellow were used as a flag on Land). The Czech flag was on the left side (from frontal view).
But this was definitively not official Flag of Bohemia! How it came
to life? Mr. Rössler has later written, that even "Landesausschuss"
of Bohemia (Representation of the Land Bohemia) did't know WHAT FLAG OF
BOHEMIA IS. (Do not forget - Kronländer had Landesfarben only. And Landesfarben
was not kind of flag yet, it is to translate "Livery
Colours") So sportsmen bought some unofficial flag with
Bohemian Arms within white and red bordure of triangles.
According to information from official server of Czech
Olympic Committee Coubertin negotiated about this topic with the Austrian
Government. They agreed to label our team "Autriche - Tchéque",
although the first designation of the Olympic Committee was rather cryptic
- "Český výbor pro hry olympijské" is "Bohemian (or Czech) Committee
for Olympic Games". Václav Pacina in his book spoke on the name Boheme.
If Czechs won, small Flag of Bohemia would to be hoisted next to
Imperial (state) Flag. Similar agreement was reached between International
Olympic Committee and Imperial Russian Government in favour of Finland..
Aleš Křížan, 24 Jul 2002