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Law No. 1230/91 Zakon o obrani (Law on Defence), adopted on 26 June 1991 and published in the Croatian official gazette Narodne novine, No. 49, includes:
Article 63.
The units of the Defence Forces shall have their flags. The flags of the units of the Defence Forces, naval flags [ensigns] and rank flags in the Navy are established in a separate law [which was never set up]. Article 64.
The sign of adherence to the Defence Forces is the coat of arms of the Republic of Croatia.
The uniforms, insignia, ranks, duty signs and symbols of adherence to branches and services are prescribed by the President of the Republic.
Law No. 1522/93 Zakon o obrani (Law on Defence), adopted on 27 July 1993 and published in Narodne novine, No. 74, keeps Articles 63-64, with slight changes in wording, introducing Croatian rahter than international versions of words. Again, no separate law was ever made as provided for.
Law No. 1161/96 Zakon o izmjenama i dopunama Zakona o obrani, adopted on 28 June 1996, implements changes in the 1993 Law as follows:
- Article 23. changes Article 63 so that it reads now:
The units of the Defence Forces shall have thier flags. The Supreme Commander establishes the flags of the units of the Defence Forces, naval flags [ensigns] and rank flags in the Navy.
- Article 24 changes Article 64 so that it reads now:
The sign of adherence to the Defence Forces is the coat of arms of the Republic of Croatia.
The uniforms, insignia, ranks, duty signs and symbols of addherence to branches and services are prescribed by the President of the Republic. Wearing a military uniform or parts of it is forbidden to non-members of the Defence Forces.
Accordingly, the President, as the Supreme Commander, now estabishes the flags of all kind. This is, probably, just the legal acceptance of the estabished practice.
Željko Heimer, 8 December 1998
![[Unit flag]](../images/h/hr^nslh.gif)
![[Unit badge]](../images/h/hr^nslh).gif)
Flag and badge of the Centre for Education and Training of Soldiers of Logistics Branch - Images by Željko Heimer, 24 May 1998
The unit flag is a vertical flag with a swallow tail and tails ending in talons. The flag is purple, with the badge of the unit in the middle. The badge, the same as the shoulder patch, is a black disk bordered grey. In the border there are the initials of the unit name "NSLHV" and "ZAGREB". Within the border there is a golden circular triple wattle with in the base the coat of arms of Zagreb in yellow, somewhat stylized. In the middle there are two golden outlined grey swords and above them the coat of arms of Croatia.
The badge is quite typical of the Croatian Army. Several units have it in the same pattern, changing only the color of the circular border, the coat of arms in the base, and the inscription.
The name of the unit was, subsequently, changed to SOOVLS (Središte odgoja i obrazovanja vojnika logističke struke, Centre for Education and Training of Soldiers of Logistics Branch).
The flag is hoisted all the time in front of the command buildings, clearly visible from the surrounding streets, and lit at night.
Željko Heimer, 24 May 1998
Article Prostori mjesnih odbora u zakup, published in 4 November 1994 in Vinkovački list (scan) reports that the Town Executive Board of Vinkovci granted to the 109th Homeguard Brigade permission to use the town coat of arms, which was eventually included in the brigade colours.
Article Odličje Red Nikole Šubića Zrinskog slavnoj 109. vinkovačkoj brigadi, published on 8 June 2007 in
Vinkovački list (scan) reports that the 109th Brigade was awarded a decoration by the President. The decoration in form of a ribbon was set on the "war flag" of the brigade (photo).
I was aware of two flags of this briagde - but the one used in the ceremony seems to be a third one. Namely, what I believe to be the oldest flag is a tricolour of red-white-blue with the Brigade's emblem in the centre of it, being preserved in the General Staff in Zagreb. The second is a "replica"
made in 2006, being olive green with the same emblem in the centre.
This one was produced in at least two examples, one is in the Military
Museum while the other is in the General Staff, to be used in various
ceremonies. However, the one used in this ceremony seems to be a
different one - larger than the 2006 replicas and probably made in
the mid-1990s. The flag is probably being preserved in the Town Museum of
Vinkovci or somesuch.
Željko Heimer, 15 August 2012
The flag and badge of the 117th Brigade were designed by the artist Josip Gregurić. The badge shows the coat of arms of the Koprivnica-Križevic County (Glas Podravine, 29 July 1998).
Željko Heimer, 11 August 2009