A variety of Polish flags are defined in current Polish national law, either through an act of parliament or a ministerial ordinance. Apart from the national flag, these are mostly military flags, used by one or all branches of the Polish Armed Forces, especially the Polish Navy. Other flags are flown by vessels of non-military uniformed services.

Most Polish flags feature white and red, the national colors of Poland. The national colors, officially adopted in 1831, are of heraldic origin and derive from the tinctures of the coats of arms of Poland and Lithuania. Additionally, some flags incorporate the white eagle of the Polish coat of arms, while other flags used by the Armed Forces incorporate military eagles, which are variants.

Both variants of the national flag of Poland were officially adopted in 1919, shortly after Poland re-emerged as an independent state in the aftermath of World War I in 1918. Many Polish flags were adopted within the following three years. The designs of most of these flags have been modified only to adjust to the changes in the official rendering of the national coat of arms. Major modifications included a change in the stylization of the eagle from Neoclassicist to Baroque in 1927 and the removal of the crown from the eagle's head during the Communist rule from 1944 to 1990 and replaced the traditional red colour by crimson red. Legal specification for the shades of the national colors has also changed with time. The shade of red was first legally specified as vermilion by a presidential decree of 13 December 1928. This verbal prescription was replaced with coordinates in the CIE 1976 color space by the Coat of Arms Act of 31 January 1980.

National flags

The basic variant of the national flag is a plain white-and-red horizontal bicolor. A variant defaced with the coat of arms is restricted to official use abroad and at sea. Legal restrictions notwithstanding, the two variants are often treated as interchangeable in practice.

Image Name Design Use Flag of the Republic of Poland Horizontal bicolor of white and redProportion 5:8 National flag, inland ensign Flag with coat of arms of the Republic of Poland Horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripeProportion 5:8 Polish embassies, consulates etc.; civilian airplanes during international flights; civilian airports and airfields; sea harbours and ports authorities; civil and state ensign at sea

Military flags

Rank flags used in all branches of the Armed Forces Originally used only by the Navy, the use of these rank flags was extended in 2005 to all branches of the Armed Forces by an amendment to the relevant ministerial ordinance. They are flown to mark the presence and pay respect to the highest civilian and military authorities: the President of the Republic of Poland who is ex officio commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces; the Minister of National Defence who acts on the commander-in-chief's behalf in peacetime; Marshal of Poland, the highest rank in the Polish army (no living holders since 1989); and the Chief of the General Staff.

Image Name Design Use Jack of the President of the Republic of Poland Red flag emblazoned with the white eagle of the arms of Poland and bordered with a white wężyk generalski, an ornate wavy line used in the Polish military as a symbol of general's rankProportion 5:6 On Navy vessels when the President is on board. On land when the President is present. Flag of the Minister of National Defence Swallow-tailed horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced in the white stripe with the arms of Poland and in the red stripe with a white anchor entwined with an S-shaped rope and a yellow cannon barrel in saltireProportion 5:8 On Navy vessels when the Minister is on board. On land when the Minister is present. Flag of a Marshal of Poland Red flag with a double white border emblazoned with the Eagle of the Marshal of Poland holding two hetman's batons (buławy) in saltireProportion 5:6 On Navy vessels when the Marshal is on board. On land when the Marshal is present. Flag of the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces Red flag with a double white border emblazoned with the Generals' EagleProportion 5:6 On Navy vessels when the Chief of the General Staff is on board. On land when the Chief of the General Staff is present.

Navy

The war ensign and the naval jack symbolize traditions of the Polish Navy dating back to Polish privateer fleet of the 15th–17th centuries. They are also symbols of a navy ship crew's courage, honor, unbreakable fighting spirit and readiness to defend Poland and its maritime rights. Naval Service Regulations define when, where and how the flags should be raised and lowered on board a navy ship.

Image Name Design Use War ensign Swallow-tailed horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripeProportion 10:21 Naval ensign Naval jack Horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced with a cross pattée countercharged and, in the middle of the cross, with an arm brandishing a sabre (szabla) in a torteau (a red roundel)Proportion 4:5 Flown together with the war ensign on Sundays, holidays and other special occasions; flown everyday when in foreign waters Navy flagFlaga Marynarki Wojennej Swallow-tailed red flag emblazoned with the Navy EagleProportion 10:21 Ceremonial flag used on military holidays, visits of high civilian or military authorities, or representatives of foreign countries, as well as other ceremonies. Flown together with flags of other branches of the Armed Forces during Polish Armed Forces Day (15 August) ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw. Commissioning pennant Swallow-tailed bicolor of white and red defaced with a cross pattée countercharged near the hoistProportion 1:25 Ship commanded by a navy officer in a campaign Naval auxiliary ensign Blue flag with an image of the naval ensign in the cantonProportion 3:5 Auxiliary naval vessels, such as patrol boats, tugboats, replenishment oilers, mine trawlers and degaussing stations, which are not allowed to fly the war ensign Naval airport (heliport) flag Horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced with the arms of Poland in the middle of the white stripe, the Air Force checkerboard in the white stripe between the coat of arms and the hoist, and a white anchor entwined with an S-shaped rope in the red stripe below the checkerboardProportion 5:8 Naval airports and heliports

Rank flags Image Name Design Use Flag of the Commander of the Navy Swallow-tailed horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripe and a white anchor entwined with an S-shaped rope in the red stripeProportion 5:6 On naval vessels when the Commander of the Navy is on board Admiral's flag Swallow-tailed horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced in the white stripe with the arms of Poland and in the red stripe with three white five-pointed stars arranged in an equilateral triangle one of whose sides is parallel to the hoistProportion 5:6 On naval vessels when an admiral is on board Vice admiral's flag Swallow-tailed horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced in the white stripe with the arms of Poland and in the red stripe with two white five-pointed stars arranged in a line parallel to the hoistProportion 5:6 On naval vessels when a vice admiral is on board Rear admiral's flag Swallow-tailed horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripe and with a white five-pointed star near the hoist in the red stripeProportion 5:6 On naval vessels when a rear admiral is on board General's flag Swallow-tailed horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced in the white stripe with the arms of Poland and in the red stripe with two yellow cannon barrels in saltire above a yellow cannonballProportion 5:6 On naval vessels when a general is on board

Rank pennants Image Name Design Use Pennant of the Chief of the Naval Staff Pennant consisting of two horizontal stripes of white and red, and a red swallow-tail, defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripe On naval vessels when the Chief of the Naval Staff is on board Flotilla commander's pennant Pennant consisting of two horizontal stripes of white and red, and a white swallow-tail, defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripe On naval vessels when a flotilla commander is on board Division commander's pennant Pennant consisting of two horizontal stripes of white and red, and a blue swallow-tail, defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripe On naval vessels when a division commander is on board Group commander's pennant Pennant consisting of two horizontal stripes of white and red, and a green swallow-tail, defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripe On naval vessels when a group commander is on board

Air Force Image Name Design Use Air Force flagFlaga Sił Powietrznych Swallow-tailed red flag emblazoned with the Air Force EagleProportion 10:21 Ceremonial flag used on military holidays, visits of high civilian or military authorities, or representatives of foreign countries, as well as other ceremonies. Flown together with flags of other branches of the Armed Forces during Polish Armed Forces Day (15 August) ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw. Military airport (heliport) flagFlaga lotnisk (lądowisk) wojskowych Horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced with the arms of Poland in the middle of the white stripe and the Air Force checkerboard in the white stripe between the coat of arms and the hoistProportion 5:8 Military airports and heliports Air Force checkerboard A square divided into four parts, in form of a checkerboard, with alternating white and red colours, and with outer linen of opposite coloursProportion 1:1 Military aircraft insignia

Other branches of the Armed Forces Image Name Design Use Flag of the Land Forces Swallow-tailed red flag emblazoned with the Land Forces EagleProportion 10:21 Ceremonial flag used on military holidays, visits of high civilian or military authorities, or representatives of foreign countries, as well as other ceremonies. Flown together with flags of other branches of the Armed Forces during Polish Armed Forces Day (15 August) ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw. Flag of the Special Forces Swallow-tailed red flag emblazoned with the Special Forces EagleProportion 10:21 Flag of the Territorial Defence Force Swallow-tailed red flag emblazoned with the Territorial Defence ForceProportion 10:21

Flags of the commanders of the units of the Ministry of National Defence Image Name Design Use Flag of the commander of the Warsaw Garrison A dark blue flag with the emblem of the Warsaw Garrison Command in the centre, in form a coat of arms of Warsaw with the olive branches around it, and two crosses sables below it. Proportion 5:6. Flag of the Commander in chief of the Military Gendarmerie

Flags of other uniformed services Image English namePolish name Design Use Flag of the Border GuardFlaga Straży Granicznej Horizontal bicolor of white and red with a green border defaced with the arms of Poland in the white stripeProportion 5:9 Vessels of the Border Guard Police flagFlaga Policji Blue flag emblazoned with a badge used by waterborne Police units, i.e. a lifebelt and an anchor within a dark-blue diamond above a dark-blue ribbon with the word POLICJA written on it in white letters, all on a white eight-pointed starProportion 5:9 Police vessels

Naval flags

Special state service vessels