The French Army's system of command flags and pennants seems to have originated in Algeria during the colonial wars of the nineteenth century. By 1914, the flags illustrated above were in general use, and they were provided for in Army regulations as late as 1939.

The three highest commanders all had flags based on the Tricolor. For commanding generals of army groups, the flag's dimensions were 0.7 x 0.9 meters, and it was displayed with a tricolor cravat. Army commanders' flags were 0.5 x 0.65 meters, also with cravat, and flags for army corps commanders were the same but with no cravat. The flags for a chief of staff of an army group or army was 0.7 x 0.75 meters with cravat. All the other flags were 0.5 x 0.65 meters.

By regulation, a command flag was supposed to mark the location of the commander at all times, being posted in front of his headquarters, carried behind him by an NCO when he was on foot or horseback, or displayed on the vehicle in which he was traveling. At night, the flag was supposed to be replaced with a lantern whose colored glass followed its pattern. In practice, from 1914 on, they were used mainly as car flags and on ceremonial occasions. Similar command flags are still used by the French Army today for ceremonies such as the Bastille Day parade in Paris.

Credit: These drawings are based on images and information contributed to FOTW by Ivan Sache.

Left: Commanding General of an Army Group, Army or Army Corps

Right: Chief of Staff of an Army Group or Army

 

Left: Commanding General of the First Infantry Division of an Army Corps

Right: Commanding General of the Second Infantry Division of an Army Corps

 

Left: Commanding General of the Third Infantry Division of an Army Corps

Right: Commanding General of an Infantry Division Unassigned to an Army Corps

 

Commanding General of the Artillery or Engineers of an Army

 

Left: Commander of the Cavalry Brigade of an Army Corps

Right: Commander of the Artillery Brigade of an Army Corps

 

Left: Commanding General of a Group of Cavalry Divisions

Right: Commanding General of a Cavalry Division