ZFC3718

Iraq National Flag, 1991-2004.

Sub-collection: Iraq Veteran Tony Purtscher Grouping



Hoist & Fly
Width of Hoist 28
Length of Fly 42

Stars
Comments on Star Measurements Some of the stars have bled and are approx. 6.25
Size of Stars 6

Stripes
Width of 1st Stripe 9.5
Width of 3rd Stripe 9.25
Width of Last Stripe 9

Frame
Is it framed? no

Stars
Number of Stars 3
How are the stars embeded? Printed
Are there stars on obverse? yes
Are there stars on reverse? yes

Stripes
Number of Stripes 3
Color of Top Stripe Red
Color of Bottom Stripe Black

Nationality
Nation Represented Irak

Fabric
Fabric Synthetic

Stitching
Stitching Machine

Attachment
Method of Attachment Sleeve

Applica
Applique Sides Double Faced = Reads correctly on both sides

PDF Files

Documentation
Documents
All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Drawings
All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.

Condition
Condition Good
Damage Used, soiled worn & frayed.
Displayable yes

Exhibits
Exhibition Copy University of California - Santa Cruz
Board of Councilors Meeting, Rare Flags Exhibit
Santa Cruz, CA
7 June 2012

Santa Cruz, CA, June 7, 2012: The Zaricor Flag Collection exhibited 34 flags and artifacts at the University of California Santa Cruz Campus for the Board of Councilors Meeting.


Iraq National Flag
1991 to 2004

Date: 2003

Media: Machine sewn synthetic-cotton blend with paint imprint.

Comment: The Iraqi flag is double faced so that the Arabic inscription reads
correctly on both sides. The national flag of Iraq was changed after the 1990 Gulf
War. As used from 1991 to 2004, it bore the takbir, the Arabic term for the phrase,
Allah'u Akbar (God is great). The takbir was reputedly written upon the flag in
Saddam Hussein's own hand, and subsequently, this flag, with the takbir, was
adopted as the national flag. This flag also bears the three green stars added to
the flag when the Ba'ath Party came to power in 1963. The three green stars are
said to represent the watchwords of the Ba-thist philosophy, Freedom, Unity and
Socialism.
The flag was widely used in Iraq by both the army and the ruling Baath
Party to identify official military and party buildings. The Baath Party, which
formerly ruled Iraq, played a prominent role in the Iraqi insurgency, and the
Baath Party facilities were a source of both interest and scrutiny by the U.S. Army.
This Iraqi flag, along with a cache of valuable intelligence paperwork, and
Iraqi Army equipment was captured in the summer of 2003 from a Baath Party
Headquarters building in the Al Amel district of Baghdad by Company B, 3rd
Battalion, 325th Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division. Captured flags
remain one of the most popular War Trophies for returning soldiers.

Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC3718) in 2012
from 82nd Airborne Division veteran Anthony Purtscher, Santa Cruz, CA. www.
FlagCollection.com