Greece State & War Flag - U.S. made for Prime Minister of Government in Exile, 1941-1944.
This flag was added to the Bullock collection during WWII, prior to Calvin Bullock's death in June 1944. It hung in the offices at Number 1 Wall Street NY, in "The Lecture Room...fourth row..." as the 9th flag..."from left to right from the podium." According to the Bullock documents accompanying the flag it was "Presented by Prime Minister" (of Greece) to Calvin Bullock during WWII. This would have meant the government of Greece in exile, as Greece proper was occupied by the German Army. Though no date is specified or the occasion it was presumably at the "Forum" in 1943.
In 1941, after it was clear the German invasion of Greece was a tactical success, the official government of Greece fled into exile under King George II; the then Prime Minister, Alexandros Korizis, had committed suicide in the face of the German advance on Athens. Emmanouil Tsouderos, assumed the Presidency and accompanied the King into exile; first fleeing to Crete then onto London and, ultimately, Cairo where it remained until Axis forces retreated in October 1944. However, British domination of the Greek political process, despite the fact that the re-established Greek government was legitimised by international recognition, resulted in minimal ability to exercise authority within the country itself.
According to a label on the flag's heading, it was made by the American Flag Company in New York, a firm founded in 1893. The date of manufacture is not certain, although two Greek flags of designs different from this flag are shown in the company's 1910 catalog. It is known that catalog illustrations do not always reflect accurately the actual designs made and offered for sale by a company.
Greece long struggled to assert its national independence from the Ottoman Empire. Its national symbol was a cross symbolizing the Orthodox faith of its people who chafed under Muslim rule. The national flag was adopted in 1822 using the blue and white colors which for centuries had been associated with Greece, although in modern times the blue has been associated with the sea and sky. The 1822 flag design for use on land showed the cross only, while at sea that symbol served a canton for a flag having blue and white stripes.
The flag for government buildings and fortresses bore a golden crown at the center of the cross to indicate the authority of the king. That design was in use from 1863 until 1970 except for the years 1924-1935 when the monarchy was abolished. This flag might have been flown by an American of Greek descent or displayed during an international celebration, such as the Olympic Games of 1904 held in St. Louis.
ZFC Significant Flag
Item is Framed
Provenance:
• Greek Prime Minister (in exile) either Emmanouil Tsouderos (1941-1944) or Sofoklis Venizelos (1944) or Georgios Papandreou (1944-1945).
• Presented to Calvin Bullock Forum, New York, New York. Circa 1944.
• Calvin Bullock Collection, until passing, 1944.
• Hugh Bullock, until passing. 1966.
• By descent in Bullock family to daughter of Hugh Bullock, until 1997
• Purchased for the Zaricor Flag Collection by private treaty from the estate of Calvin Bullock, New York City, 1999
Sources:
State and War flag, Greece: History of the national flag. II - 1828-1970, Flags of the World, 17 November 2011, from: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/gr_evna2.html
MILITARY & NAVAL FLAGS, 1822-1973, KINGDOM OF GREECE, War Flags Through the Ages & Around the World, 17 November 2011, from: http://tmg110.tripod.com/greece1.htm
The Axis occupation of Greece during World War II, Wikipedia, 17 November 2011, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_occupation_of_Greece_during_World_War_II
Emmanouil Tsouderos, Wikipedia, 17 November 2011, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmanouil_Tsouderos
Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection
