Flag of Samoa

File:Flag of Samoa (construction sheet).svg

Construction sheet

The flag of Samoa (Template:Langx) was first adopted from 24 February 1949, for UN Trusteeships, and continuously applied for the state's independence on 1 January 1962. It consists of a red field with a blue rectangle in the canton. The blue rectangle bears the Southern Cross: four large white stars and one smaller star. It makes a total of five white stars.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The flag is officially defined by the Official Flag and National Anthem of Samoa Act 1994.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> When it is being raised or lowered in public, people and vehicles must stop and remain stationary until the performance is complete.<ref>Official Flag and National Anthem of Samoa Act 1994, section 5.</ref> Those who deface the flag or who wilfully insult it can be imprisoned for up to six months.<ref>Official Flag and National Anthem of Samoa Act 1994 UFO, section 7.</ref>

Template:AnchorHistorical flags

Prior to the First World War, Samoa was a colony of the German Empire. German colonies used the flag of the Imperial Colonial Office, a black-white-red tricolour defaced with the Imperial Eagle. The Imperial German government intended to introduce specific flags for the colonies (also based on the tricolour) and several proposals were created, but the war and the subsequent loss of all overseas territories prevented their official adoption. New Zealand occupied German Samoa in 1914 and officially gained control of the territory in 1919.

From the capture by New Zealand forces on 29 August 1914, a defaced ensign with three palm trees encircled, and emblazoned on the fly were used.

• Flag of Samoa (1858-1873) as reported in the Flags of Paradise chart.svg

  Flag of the Kingdom of Samoa as depicted in the Flags of Paradise chart, similar to the Ottoman flag (1858-1873)

• Flag of Samoa (1873-1875).svg

  Flag of the Kingdom of Samoa (1873-1875)

• Flag of Samoa (1875-1879).svg

  Flag of the Kingdom of Samoa (1875-1879)

• Flag of Samoa (1879).svg

  Flag of the Kingdom of Samoa (1879-1887, 1889-1899). Flag was also used by the Mau Movement

• Flag of Tuiaana line 1873-1887 1889-1900.svg

  Flag of the Tui A'ana dynasty in the Kingdom of Samoa (1875-1887, 1889–1900).

• Flag of Tupua Tamasesse 1887-1889.svg

  Flag of the Tupua Tamasesse in the Kingdom of Samoa (1887–1889)

• Reichskolonialflagge.svg

  Flag of the German Colonial Office (1899-1914)

• Flaggenhissung Samoa.jpg

  The German colonial flag is raised, 1 March 1900

• Flag of Deutsch-Samoa.svg

  Proposal for German Samoa's flag, never adopted

• Occupation of German-Samoa 1914.jpg

  Hoisting of the Union Jack, 30 August 1914

• Flag of New Zealand.svg

  The flag of New Zealand was used during the control of NZ-forces (1914–1920)

• Flag of the Samoa Trust Territory.svg

  Official flag of Western Samoa under Mandate with New Zealand (17 December 1920 – 1 January 1962)

• Flag of Samoa (1948-1949).svg

  Initial flag of Western Samoa acquired but not approved (26 May 1948)

• Flag of Samoa.svg

  Flag of Western Samoa, later renamed to Samoa (24 February 1949 – present)

See also

• Flags depicting the Southern Cross
• Flag of the Republic of China
• Flag of the Union of Burma (historical)

External links

• {{#if:|

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• World Statesmen – Samoa