White Flag

In history white flags have had many different meanings, often depending on the situation and location. Nowadays white flags are an international sign for cease-fire or truce as well as often times negotiations and surrender. It is a protective sign and usually holds up as such. A person in war trying to approach an opposing team signalizes that he is unarmed and open for negotiations. If negotiations fail it often shifts to being the symbol of surrender. Throughout history, a person that is holding or waving a white flag is not to be fired upon, nor are they allowed to fire while approaching and this is usually the case. The white flag of surrender is even a part of the Geneva Conventions.

Improper and false use of a white flag in war is consider a war crime of perfidy and is against the rules of war. Throughout the history of the white surrender flag there have been numerous cases, where the carriers of white flags opened fire on the enemies through the trickery with the white flag and also cases where the enemy just started shooting on an approaching person holding a white flag.

Plain white flags can be made up in the hurry out of any available white material such as t-shirts or handkerchiefs. Most commonly the material is then attached with two corners onto a small pole or stick to make it look more like a white flag of truce than some waving piece of cloth.

The very first use of plain white flags is mentioned in surrender in the Han dynasty in 25 A.D. In the Roman Empire the first use of a white flag for surrender is in 109 A.D. Before this the Romans would put the shields over their heads to surrender. White was also used in some pan-Arab states in history as a flag of mourning, unlike most other countries and states that use black.

During the 18the century the regime in France used a white flag sometimes covered with Fleurs-de-lis or an ensign as their royal standard. But this changed later during the French Revolution, when the French tricolor was adopted as France’s official national flag. In some sports, white flags also have a certain meaning. In racing for example a white flag signals that the leader is in its last and final lap. Sometimes it even warns of a slow car ahead.

And should you ever be working on a presentation about the white flag or some other document, believe or not, there is white flag clipart.