FRENCH REPUBLIC

CURRENT MILITARY RANK FLAGS

Appointment and rank flags for French defense officials and generals of the Army (Armée de Terre) and Air Force (Armée de l'Air) are either square versions of the Tricolor or square white flags with a Tricolor canton. In the former case, a distinctive insignia is applied to the white stripe; in the latter case, insignia is applied in the lower fly of the flag. On the general officers' rank flags, the blue stars correspond in arrangement and number to the silver stars of rank worn on the sleeves or shoulder straps of the Army and Air Force uniforms. Marshal of France is not technically a rank but an honorary title or "dignity," bestowed for exceptionally distinguished service in war. The last Marshal to be named (posthumously) was Marie-Pierre Koenig (1898-1970), who commanded the 1st Free French Division at the Battle of Bir Hakeim in North Africa (1942). Later (1944) he served as commander of the French Forces of the Interior, and from 1954 to 1955 he was Minister of Defense. The flag for a Marshal of France has crossed batons in the lower fly. General of Army and General of Army Corps are not ranks, but appointments of General of Division: e.g. a General of Army Corps is a General of Division appointed to a corps command. Rank titles of Air Force generals are similar to Army rank titles. Flag Proportions: French military appointment and rank flags are made square. The same designs, slightly rectangular, are used as car flags. Credit: My drawings are based on information and images posted to the FOTW Mailing List by Ivan Sache and Zeljko Heimer.

BACK to FRANCE MODERN Page