FG-038 – Small Soviet Flag (British-Made, ca. 1940

FG-038 – Small Soviet Flag (British-Made, ca. 1940–1945)

Full view of FG-038 Soviet flag — Full view of the Soviet flag (FG-038), printed on both sides.

Flag ID: FG-038

Material and Construction

This is a single-piece Soviet flag made from coarsely woven wool fabric. The weave features clear vertical and horizontal threads, consistent with British wartime textiles from the early 1940s. The yellow emblem — consisting of a hammer and sickle beneath a star — is screen-printed directly onto the red field using industrial methods. The design is aligned close to the hoist and penetrates fully through the fabric, indicating high-quality double-sided printing.

The flag’s white cotton hoist is 4 cm wide and machine-stitched to the main body. There are no signs of rope, toggle, or prior attachments, and no grommets or reinforced holes are present. The lack of mounting hardware suggests the flag was intended for hanging display, likely indoors.

Flag Ratio and Dimensions

The current dimensions are 46 × 86 cm, producing a flag ratio of approximately 4:7. This is narrower than the standard 1:2 Soviet flag ratio and does not match naval or military regulation sizes. The non-standard proportion implies that the flag was not produced according to Soviet specifications, but likely tailored for symbolic or Allied-controlled use.

Markings and Identification

The hoist is clearly marked with a faded black ink stamp: “1 YD SOVIET UNION”. This is a British-style textile marking, indicating the flag was manufactured in imperial units — one yard in length — and intended for export or Allied internal use. No other official Soviet stamps, serial numbers, or date codes are present.

The combination of wool fabric, English-language stamping, and lack of Soviet manufacturing identifiers strongly supports British or Commonwealth origin, likely intended for diplomatic or administrative display during World War II.

Historical Context and Possible Use

This flag likely dates to the period between 1940 and 1945, when the Soviet Union and United Kingdom were military allies against Nazi Germany. During this time, British production of Allied flags was common — especially for liaison offices, international meetings, and identification of Soviet-affiliated areas within Allied command structures.

Flags of this type may have been used for interior decoration at Allied headquarters, or as temporary symbolic displays in locations where Soviet representatives were present. The absence of any mounting features further suggests a fixed indoor role rather than field deployment. The flag's unusual proportions, fabric choice, and symbolic print indicate it was produced for visibility and recognition, not regulation or ceremony.