CZECH REPUBLIC

The flag of the Czech Republic is the same as the flag of the former Czechoslovakia. Upon the dissolution of Czechoslovakia the Czech Republic kept the Czechoslovak flag while the Slovak Republic adopted its own flag. The first flag of Czechoslovakia was based on the arms, and was white over red. This was identical to the flag of Poland, so a blue triangle was added at the hoist. The original flag was restored in 1945. When the new Czech Republic and Slovakia separated in 1993, the Czechs decided to keep their existing flag.