(Question) Found this tee in a thrift, I remember that a friend told me about the meaning of the color of the first square of the flag. This one doesn’t seem to be the official one, what does it mean ? (Just a curious non-Croat person)

35 comments

  2. Traditionally, it didn’t matter what color was the top left field. But the Nazi-puppet state NDH used the white top-left field, and not long after, but prominently after the independence in 1991. and making the top first red official, it became a dog whistle for supporters of said state and it’s policies.

  13. There is a low key debate over the historical context of the first square’s colour. Today’s Croatian state uses the red. In the past, on various heraldic crests, the white was employed. During WW2, a quisling state used the white. All the more reason to stick with red for official purposes. No one really knows which is the correct colour. The originals are carved into stone and over 1000 years old.

  17. “In some interpretations it is mentioned that the white color indicates White Croatia and Red Croatia. There is also a belief in the meaning of the color of the first field in the coat of arms, according to which the first white field is the independence of Croatia, and the first red field is its subordinate position, but this belief is of the newer date and does not have any confirmation in earlier lore and historical evidence.”

    Source: Wikipedia, search under Croatian Checkerboard

  20. Monarchist* symbolism. Probably relating to Ban Jelačić, a Croatian historic figure from the 1800s. Where did you find it?

    (*) Not to say the seller is a monarchist, but it is a symbol relating to the triune kingdom of Croatia

  24. It means that Croats are a stupid people, both flags are legitimate and have been used since ancient times, divide and rule has always been the fault of Croats, greetings

  25. Gott mit uns! Anyway, there’s a huge ass controversy regarding the first white or red field, it’s one of the main topics of conversation for the retired and the unemployed boys and girls in Croatia. The worst that could happen to you when wearing this shirt on your vacation on Croatian seaside next year is that you’ll get a coupla drinks on the house/from the locals.

  26. Ustasha coat has a spiked bottom and a letter U in the first square
    This is a regular. Actually trough history most of croatian coat of arms versions had first square white

  28. Bog i Hrvati (God and the Croats) is derived from the speech of Ante Starčević (probably the greatest Croatian politician in history, he lived in the 19th century and has nothing to do with fascism). Basically, he was the founder of modern Croatian nationalism, his main target was Austria and his primary goal was independent Croatia.

    That coat of arms has monarchist elements, it is different than the official one, but is also different than the official coat of arms of the WW2 Independent State of Croatia.

    Only an idiot could accuse you of fascism based on this symbols, so feel free to wear the shirt, it looks nice 👍

  33. I think it represents a moto of HSS(Croatian Peasnt Party),it translates to “God an Croats” . HSS was a political party that was very relevant during WW1 and WW2.

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