Lithuanian Flag PNG
Lithuania, a Baltic nation, gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1990, restoring a legacy shaped by medieval grandeur and resilience. Its flag, adopted in 1918 and reestablished in 1989, features three horizontal stripes: yellow for prosperity, green for nature, and red for courage. This tricolor reflects the country’s enduring spirit, rooted in a history of struggle and unity against external domination.
| Colors | Pantone | RGB | CMYK | HEX Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow | 15-0955 TP / 1235 c/u | 253, 185, 19 | 0, 30, 100, 0 | #FDB913 |
| Green | 19-6026 TP / 349 c/u | 0, 106, 68 | 100, 55, 100, 0 | #006A44 |
| Red | 19-1664 TP / 180 c/u | 193, 39, 45 | 25, 100, 100, 0 | #C1272D |
History of the Flag
The Lithuanian flag, consisting of yellow, green, and red horizontal stripes, was first adopted on April 25, 1918, during the country’s initial independence, symbolizing the sun, nature, and the blood of its people. Its design was inspired by traditional folk textiles and was re-established in 1988 after Soviet occupation, reflecting Lithuania’s enduring national identity. Today, it stands as a proud emblem of the nation’s resilience and sovereignty.
1236 – 1795 (Grand Duchy of Lithuania)
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania, from its founding in 1236 under Mindaugas to its end in 1795, was a formidable Eastern European power. Mindaugas united Baltic tribes, becoming the first Grand Duke and adopting Christianity in 1251 to secure alliances. By the 14th century, under Gediminas and his successors, the Duchy expanded vastly, stretching from the Baltic to the Black Sea, encompassing modern-day Belarus, Ukraine, and parts of Russia. The 1387 Christianization under Jogaila solidified ties with Poland, leading to the 1569 Union of Lublin, which formed the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This union brought cultural flourishing but also tensions, as Lithuania often resisted Polish dominance. The Duchy maintained its distinct identity, with the Vytis as its emblem, until the Commonwealth’s partitions in 1772, 1793, and 1795 by Russia, Prussia, and Austria erased its sovereignty, marking the end of an era of Lithuanian influence in Europe.
The flag of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania featured the Vytis—a white armored knight on a rearing horse, holding a sword and a shield with a yellow double cross, set against a red field. This banner, often rectangular, symbolized the state’s martial strength and noble heritage, used in battles and ceremonies until the Duchy’s dissolution in 1795.
1917 – 1918 (used during the Vilnius Conference)
The Vilnius Conference of 1917 marked a pivotal moment in Lithuania’s history, held amidst World War I as the country sought to break free from Russian rule and German occupation. Organized by Lithuanian intellectuals and political leaders, the conference took place on September 18–22, 1917, in Vilnius, then under German control. Delegates, representing various social and political groups, aimed to establish a framework for an independent Lithuanian state. They elected the Council of Lithuania (Taryba), which later declared independence on February 16, 1918. This period was fraught with challenges, as Lithuania navigated German influence, which initially sought to create a puppet state, and internal debates over governance. The conference laid the groundwork for modern Lithuania, fostering national unity and cultural revival, while the green-and-red flag symbolized the early aspirations of a nation on the cusp of sovereignty.
The flag used during the Vilnius Conference featured two horizontal stripes: green at the top and red at the bottom. This design, lacking the yellow stripe of the modern Lithuanian flag, symbolized the nation’s forests and the blood shed for freedom, reflecting a transitional moment in Lithuania’s quest for independence.
1918 (Kingdom of Lithuania)
The Kingdom of Lithuania in 1918 was a brief and turbulent chapter in the nation’s history, emerging after the Act of Independence on February 16, 1918. Amidst World War I, with German forces still occupying the region, the Lithuanian Council (Taryba) initially sought a constitutional monarchy to secure German support. On July 13, 1918, they proclaimed the Kingdom, inviting Duke Wilhelm of Urach, a German noble, to become King Mindaugas II. This decision reflected a pragmatic compromise to gain international recognition, but it sparked controversy among Lithuanians who favored a republic. The kingdom never fully materialized, as Germany’s defeat in November 1918 shifted the political landscape. By December, the monarchy idea was abandoned, and Lithuania transitioned toward a democratic republic, solidifying its independence by 1920 after repelling Bolshevik and Polish threats. This short-lived kingdom highlighted Lithuania’s struggle for self-determination in a chaotic post-war era.
The flag of the Kingdom of Lithuania in 1918 combined the national tricolor—yellow, green, and red horizontal stripes—with the Vytis in the top-left corner on a red field. The Vytis, a white knight on horseback with a double-cross shield, added a historical emblem of statehood to the modern colors, symbolizing continuity and sovereignty.
1918 – 1919 (Lithuanian SSR and Socialist Soviet Republic of Lithuania and Belorussia)
The years 1918–1919 were a chaotic chapter in Lithuania’s history, as the nation grappled with the aftermath of World War I and competing foreign influences. After declaring independence on February 16, 1918, Lithuania faced immediate challenges, including German occupation and the advancing Red Army. In December 1918, the Bolsheviks established the Lithuanian SSR, which in February 1919 merged with Belorussian territories to form the Socialist Soviet Republic of Lithuania and Belorussia (Litbel), centered in Vilnius. This Soviet puppet state aimed to spread communism but was short-lived, collapsing by August 1919 as Polish forces captured Vilnius during the Polish-Soviet War. The period highlighted Lithuania’s vulnerability, caught between imperial ambitions, yet it also fueled the resolve of Lithuanians to secure lasting independence, achieved in 1920 after expelling Soviet forces and signing the Treaty of Moscow.
The flag of the Lithuanian SSR and Socialist Soviet Republic of Lithuania and Belorussia (1918–1919) was a solid red banner, symbolizing the Bolshevik revolution. Devoid of national symbols, it reflected Soviet dominance, emphasizing communist unity over Lithuanian identity during this brief period of control.
1918 – 1940 (Republic of Lithuania)
The Republic of Lithuania from 1918 to 1940 was a formative era of independence after centuries of foreign rule. Following the declaration of independence on February 16, 1918, Lithuania emerged from the chaos of World War I, securing its sovereignty through the 1920 Treaty of Moscow with Soviet Russia. However, territorial disputes, particularly the loss of Vilnius to Poland in 1920, strained the young state. Under President Antanas Smetona’s authoritarian rule from 1926, Lithuania saw stability but limited political freedoms. The interwar period brought cultural and economic growth, with efforts to strengthen national identity through education and land reforms. Yet, the looming threat of larger powers culminated in 1940, when the Soviet Union, under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, occupied Lithuania, ending its independence and ushering in decades of Soviet domination. This brief republic era remains a symbol of Lithuanian resilience and self-determination.
The flag of the Republic of Lithuania (1918–1940) is a horizontal tricolor of yellow, green, and red. Yellow at the top represents the sun and prosperity, green in the middle symbolizes the forests and freedom, and red at the bottom signifies the blood shed for independence, embodying the nation’s aspirations.
1920 – 1922 (Republic of Central Lithuania)
The Republic of Central Lithuania (1920–1922) was a short-lived puppet state created in the aftermath of the Polish-Lithuanian conflict over Vilnius. Following the 1920 Żeligowski Mutiny, Polish forces under General Lucjan Żeligowski captured Vilnius, a city claimed by both nations, and established this entity as a buffer state. The Republic, centered in Vilnius, was largely a Polish construct, aimed at legitimizing control over the region while suppressing Lithuanian claims. In 1922, a staged election led to its annexation by Poland, formalizing Polish rule over the area until 1939. For Lithuania, this period was a bitter loss, as Vilnius, a historical capital, remained under foreign control, fueling national resentment and shaping interwar tensions. The flag’s dual symbols underscored the region’s contested nature, reflecting the broader struggle for identity and sovereignty.
The flag of the Republic of Central Lithuania (1920–1922) featured a red field with two white emblems: the Polish eagle on the left, symbolizing Polish influence, and the Lithuanian Vytis—a knight on horseback—on the right, reflecting the region’s dual heritage. This design highlighted the contested identity of the area.
Lithuanian SSR
1940 – 1953
The Lithuanian SSR from 1940 to 1953 marked a dark chapter of Soviet domination. In 1940, under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, the Soviet Union annexed Lithuania, staging a forced incorporation into the USSR as the Lithuanian SSR. This followed a brief period of independence, abruptly ended by ultimatums and military occupation. The early 1940s saw mass deportations, with tens of thousands of Lithuanians sent to Siberian gulags, and widespread repression of national culture. During World War II, Lithuania endured Nazi occupation from 1941 to 1944, only to be reoccupied by the Soviets afterward. Post-war, the Lithuanian resistance, known as the Forest Brothers, fought a guerrilla war against Soviet rule, but by 1953, Stalin’s death marked a turning point, easing some repression. This era was defined by loss, forced collectivization, and the suppression of Lithuanian identity, leaving deep scars on the nation’s psyche.
The flag of the Lithuanian SSR (1940–1953) was predominantly red, symbolizing communism, with “LIETUVOS TSR” (Lithuanian SSR) in yellow at the top left. Below the text, a yellow hammer and sickle emblem underscored Soviet ideology, reflecting the erasure of Lithuanian national symbols during this period of occupation.
1953 – 1989
The Lithuanian SSR from 1953 to 1988 was a period of relative stabilization under Soviet control, following Stalin’s death. The post-Stalin thaw brought some relief, with reduced deportations and a slight easing of repression, though Lithuania remained firmly under Moscow’s grip. The era saw forced industrialization and collectivization, transforming rural Lithuania into a Soviet economic cog, often at the expense of local traditions. Despite this, underground movements preserved Lithuanian culture, with dissidents risking imprisonment to promote national identity through literature and samizdat publications. The Catholic Church also played a key role in resistance, becoming a symbol of defiance. By the 1980s, growing discontent and Gorbachev’s reforms, like glasnost and perestroika, sparked a revival of national consciousness, culminating in the Sąjūdis movement. This period laid the groundwork for Lithuania’s push for independence, achieved in 1990, as the Soviet system began to crumble.
The flag of the Lithuanian SSR (1953–1988) featured a red field with a yellow hammer, sickle, and star in the top left, symbolizing Soviet rule. A green stripe at the bottom, spanning the flag’s width, nodded to Lithuania’s forests, blending national elements with communist ideology in a design that suppressed true autonomy.
1990 – Today
From 1990 to the present, Lithuania has undergone a remarkable transformation, reclaiming its independence and integrating into the global community. On March 11, 1990, Lithuania became the first Soviet republic to declare independence, a bold move led by the Sąjūdis movement, despite Soviet resistance, including the 1991 January Events where 14 civilians died defending freedom. The Soviet Union recognized Lithuania’s sovereignty in 1991, marking the start of a new era. Lithuania joined NATO and the European Union in 2004, cementing its Western alignment. The period saw economic growth, modernization, and cultural revival, though challenges like emigration and regional tensions with Russia persisted. Today, Lithuania stands as a vibrant democracy, balancing its historical legacy with a forward-looking identity, proud of its resilience and contributions to Europe.
The flag of Lithuania (1990–present) is a horizontal tricolor of yellow, green, and red. Yellow at the top signifies the sun and prosperity, green in the middle represents the nation’s forests and freedom, and red at the bottom honors the blood shed for independence, symbolizing a resilient national spirit.
Meaning of Symbols and Colors
The Lithuanian national flag, a tricolor of yellow, green, and red, carries deep historical and cultural significance, reflecting the nation’s identity and resilience. Its origins trace back to the early 20th century, though its roots intertwine with Lithuania’s complex past, including its time as part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and later struggles for independence. Officially adopted on April 25, 1918, during the country’s first period of independence, the flag was designed to embody the spirit of a nation reasserting itself after centuries of foreign influence.
The yellow stripe, positioned at the top, symbolizes the sun, prosperity, and the golden fields of Lithuania’s agricultural heritage. Historically, this color evokes the vitality of the land and the hope of a flourishing future, resonating with the rural traditions that shaped Lithuanian society. It’s a nod to the natural wealth that sustained the people through times of hardship, including the medieval era when the Grand Duchy thrived as a regional power.
Below it, the green band represents the lush forests and enduring nature of Lithuania, a country where woodlands have long been a source of shelter and resources. This color also signifies freedom and renewal, values cherished during the fight against oppression, particularly under Russian and Soviet rule. It connects to the resilience of a people who maintained their culture despite external pressures.
The red stripe at the bottom stands for the blood shed by Lithuanians in defense of their homeland and their unyielding courage. This hue reflects a martial legacy tied to the Grand Duchy’s military might before 1300 and later sacrifices during uprisings and wars. Together, these colors weave a narrative of hope, endurance, and valor, making the flag a timeless emblem of Lithuanian identity.
Use of the Flag
The Lithuanian flag is used widely, symbolizing national pride during state holidays like Independence Day (February 16) and at official events. Citizens hoist it on private homes, while government buildings display it daily. Rules dictate that it must be raised by 7 a.m. and lowered by 10 p.m., unless lit at night. It’s flown horizontally, with yellow at the top, and never touches the ground to honor its sanctity.
Size varies by purpose: the standard ratio is 3:5, with common dimensions like 1×1.7 meters for public use. Larger versions, up to 2×3.4 meters, adorn institutions, while smaller flags suit personal display. Damaged flags must be replaced, and defacing them is prohibited, reflecting deep respect for this emblem of Lithuanian heritage.
Coat of Arms
The national coat of arms of Lithuania, known as the Vytis, features a white armored knight on horseback, wielding a sword and shield, set against a red field. This symbol embodies courage, honor, and the nation’s warrior spirit. The knight, galloping left, reflects Lithuania’s historical might, rooted in the Grand Duchy’s legacy before 1300. The shield often bears a double cross, tying it to Christian heritage.
Chosen as the state emblem in 1366 under Grand Duke Algirdas, it was refined over centuries, with its modern form adopted in 1991 after independence. The Vytis signifies Lithuania’s enduring resolve and sovereignty, a beacon of identity through turbulent times.
