File:Memorial Flag (~1990).gif

English: I was reminded by some documentary films on TV today of a flag used in Zagreb around 1990. The flag was named then in media as the flag of Ban Josip Jelacic, but it was in fact a ornamental flag hoisted only in the middle of the main square in Zagreb. It was hoisted since about 1989, when it was decided that the statue of the named Croatian Ban shall be returned to the main square (at the time called Republic Square, before and now named after the Ban). This flag symbolized the return of that statue, as the physical return was not possible at the moment (the statue had to be cleaned and prepaired, it was held in basement divided in parts in one museum). The return of the statue had great symbolic significance.

When the statue was returned in 1990, the flag was remained in the main square in honour position just behind the statue (actually it was being cleaned regularly) until several years latter, probably until it was made unusuable by passage of time. Nowdays, a "normal" Croatian flag (in long ratio) is hoisted at the same point. The flag is vertically hoisted, long, ratio about 1:4, white with tricolour set diagonally defaced with coat of arms of the Triunar Kingdom of Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia. The reverse of the flag was the same with the CoA replaced with the CoA of Ban Josip Jelacic. The flag is based, obviously on the 1848 flag of Ban Jelacic, but was changed considerably in graphical design. It was hoisted still when Croatian flag had the red star in the middle, as predcessor of the soon to be made changes.

This flag was not official in any way, but nevertheless has importance in the Croatian flag history.