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Communist symbolism represents a variety of themes, includingrevolution, theproletariat, thepeasantry,agriculture, orinternational solidarity. Thered flag, thehammer and sickle, and thered star - or variations thereof - are some of the symbols adopted bycommunist movements,governments, andparties worldwide.
A tradition of including communist symbolism insocialist-style emblems and flags began with theflag of the Soviet Union and has since been taken up by a long line ofsocialist states.
InIndonesia,Latvia,Lithuania, andUkraine,communist symbols are banned and displays in public for non-educational use are considered a criminal offense.[1]
Hammer and sickle
editThehammer and sickle appears on the flags of most communist parties around the world. Some parties have a modified version of the hammer and sickle as their symbol, most notably theWorkers' Party of Korea which includes a hammer representing industrial workers, a hoe representing agricultural workers, and a brush (traditional writing-implement) representing the intelligentsia.
The hammer stands for theindustrial working class and the sickle represents the agricultural workers, therefore together they represent the unity of the two groups.[2]
The hammer and sickle was first used during the1917 Russian Revolution, but it did not appear on theofficial flag of theUnion of Soviet Socialist Republics until 1924.[2] Since the Russian Revolution, the hammer and sickle has been used by variouscommunist parties andcommunist states.
Red star
editThe red five-pointed star is a symbol of the ultimate triumph of the ideas ofcommunism on the five (inhabited, excluding Antarctica)continents of the globe. It first appeared as a military symbol inTsarist Russia. It was then called the “Mars star,” reminiscent ofMars, the ancient Roman god of war. On January 1, 1827, the law was signed that put a five-pointed star on the epaulets of officers and generals. In 1854, the star began to be used on shoulder straps. Later, the five-pointed star with a two-headed eagle inside it was used to mark military trains and carriages. In Soviet Russia, the five-pointed star symbolized the protection of peacetime labor by the Red Army (again, like in Ancient Rome, where Mars was also the protector of the agricultural workers). In 1918, the drawing of the badge for the soldiers of the Red Army in the form of a red star with a golden image of a plough and a hammer in the center was approved. The star symbolized protection, while the plough and the hammer were read as a union of peasants and workers. By the 1920s, the red star began to be used as an official symbol of the state; and finally, in 1924, it became part of the Soviet flag and the official emblem of the Soviet Union.[3][4]
In the succeeding years, the five-pointed red star came to be considered a symbol ofcommunism as well as of broadersocialism in general. It was widely used byanti-fascist resisting parties and undergroundsocialist organizations in Europe leading up to and duringWorld War II. During the war, the red star was prominently used as a symbol of theRed Army troops of theSoviet Union countering theinvading forces ofNazi Germany and wiping them out of Eastern Europe; achieving absolute victory, and ending the war at theBattle of Berlin.[citation needed] Most states in theEastern Bloc incorporated the red star into state symbols to signify their socialist nature.
Red flag
editThe red flag is often seen in combination with other communist symbols and party names. The flag is used at various communist and socialist rallies likeMay Day. The flag, being a symbol ofsocialism itself, is also commonly associated with non-communist variants of socialism.
The red flag has had multiple meanings in history. It is associated with courage, sacrifice, blood and war in general, but it was first used as a flag of defiance.[5] The red flag gained its modern association with communism in the1871 French Revolution.[citation needed] After theOctober Revolution, the Soviet government adopted the red flag with a superimposed hammer and sickle as its national flag. Since the October Revolution, various socialist states and movements have used the red flag.
Red and black flag
editThe red and black flag has been a symbol of general communist movements, though generally used byanarcho-communists. The flag was used as the symbol of theanarcho-syndicalists during theSpanish Civil War. The black representsanarchism and the red representsleftist andsocialist ideals.[6] Over time, the flag spilled intostatist leftist movements, these movements include theSandinistas and the26th of July Movement, where the flags colors are not divided diagonally, but horizontally. As in the case of the Sandinistas, they adopted the flag due to the movement's anarchist roots.[7]
The Internationale
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The Internationale is an anthem of theCommunist movement.[8] It is one of the most universally recognized songs in the world and has been translated into nearly every spoken language. Its originalFrench refrain isC'est la lutte finale/Groupons-nous et demain/L'Internationale/Sera le genre humain (English: This is the final struggle/Let's group together and tomorrow/The International/Will be the human race). It is often sung with araised fist salute.
The song has been used by communists all over the world since it was composed in the 19th century and adopted as the official anthem of theSecond International. It later became the anthem ofSoviet Russia in 1918 and of theSoviet Union in 1922. It was superseded as the Soviet Union anthem in 1944 with the adoption of theState Anthem of the Soviet Union, which placed more emphasis onpatriotism. The song was also sung in defiance to Communist governments, such as in theGerman Democratic Republic in 1989 prior toreunification as well as in thePeople's Republic of China during theTiananmen Square protests of the same year.[9][10]
Plough or Starry Plough
editThe original Starry Plough was designed by William H. Megahy, though the concept may have originated withGeorge William Russell, for theIrish Citizen Army[11] and showed silver stars on a green background.[12] The flag depicts anasterism (an identified part) of theconstellationUrsa Major, calledThe Plough (or "Starry Plough") inIreland andBritain, theBig Dipper in North America, and various other names worldwide. Two of the Plough's seven stars point toPolaris, the North Star.James Connolly, co-founder of the Irish Citizen Army withJack White andJames Larkin, said the significance of the banner was that a free Ireland would control its own destiny from theplough to the stars.[13] The sword as the plowshare is also a biblical reference inIsaiah 2:3-4. In thebible verse, God pushes his followers to turn their weapons into tools, turning the means for war into the means for peace. The marriage ofCatholic tradition, the biblical reference being integral to the flag's design, with socialist concepts, like the working class and the oppressor forcing them to take up their plowshares as arms, leaves the Starry Plough flag with complexity and nuanced implications, which culminate in a very wide range of interpretations.[14] During the 1930s the design changed to a blue banner which was designed by members of theRepublican Congress, and was adopted as the emblem of the Irish Labour movement, including theLabour Party. Labour adopted the rose as its official emblem in 1991 but continued to use the Starry Plough for ceremonial occasions, and in 2021 the party reverted to using the Starry Plough as their primary symbol (this time with white stars on a red background).
In China, thePlough flag (Chinese:犁头旗), a red flag with white or yellow plough, was widely used in the period of theFirst Revolutionary Civil War as the flag of theChinese Peasants' Association, an organization led by theChinese Communist Party.[15][16] It is believed thatPeng Pai (Chinese:彭湃) was the first user in 1923 at the peasants' association ofHailufeng.[17] The Plough flag has many different versions and some are combined with the flag of Blue Sky, White Sun or Red Field;[18] other are different on the details of the plough.[19][20]
National emblems
editMany communist governments purposely diverged from the traditional forms of European heraldry in order to distance themselves from themonarchies that they usually replaced, with actual coats of arms being seen as symbols of the monarchs. Instead, they followed the pattern of the national emblems adopted in the late 1910s and early 1920s in Soviet Russia and the Soviet Union.[citation needed]
Other communist symbols
editWhile not necessarily communist in nature, the following graphic elements are often incorporated into the flags, seals and propaganda of communist countries and movements.
- Socialist realism, an art style developed in the Soviet Union.
- Crossed proletarian implements, including picks, hoes, scythes and in the case of theWorkers' Party of Korea a brush to represent the intelligentsia. The ubiquitous hammer and sickle also belongs in this category.
- Rising sun, exemplified on the state emblems of theSoviet Union,Turkmenistan,Croatia,Romania andPASOK.
- Cogwheels, exemplified on the emblems ofAngola andChina.
- Wreaths of wheat, cotton, corn or other crops, present on the emblems of almost every historical Communist-ruled state.
- Cherries resemblance from theLe Temps des cerises exemplified in the emblem of theCommunist Party of Bohemia and Moravia.
- Rifle such as theAK-47 on theflag of Mozambique andMosin–Nagant onAlbanian lek.
- Red banners with yellow lettering, exemplified on the emblems ofVietnam andSoviet Union.
- Red or yellow stars, perhaps the most common communist symbol behind the hammer and sickle.
- Open books, exemplified on the state emblems ofMozambique andAngola; and also on the party emblems ofCommunist parties of Russia andUkraine.
- Factories or industrial equipment, exemplified on the emblems ofNorth Korea,Bosnia and Herzegovina,Democratic Kampuchea, emblem ofCPUSA andAzerbaijan.
- Natural landscapes, exemplified on the emblems ofArmenia,Macedonia,Romania, andKarelo-Finland.
- Torches, exemplified on theEmblem of Yugoslavia.
- Sword and shield, exemplified on theSoviet Committee for State Security emblem and theMother Motherland.
- Cross and sickle, the symbols of theChristian communism andChristian socialism
- Portraits of various communist leaders, such asVladimir Lenin,Joseph Stalin,Mao Zedong,Josip Broz Tito, etc.
- Che Guevara's image, in particular as it appears inGuerrillero Heroico (“Heroic Guerilla”), is a common symbol of theCuban Revolution,[21]: 19 Guevarism, and revolution in general.[21]: 73 [22]
- TheArm and hammer, exemplified in the logo of theSocialist Labor Party of America
Notable examples of communist states that use no overtly communist imagery on their flags, emblems or other graphic representations areCuba and the formerPolish People's Republic.
Gallery
editExamples of these symbols in use.
Hammer and sickle
edit- Flag of theChinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army
- Flag of theWorkers' Party of Korea with a hammer, sickle and paintbrush.
- Flag of the TurkishRevolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front
- Flag of theCommunist Party of Bangladesh
- Flag of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic from 1954 to 1991
- Flag of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic from 1950 to 1992
- Flag of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic from 1951 to 1991
- Flag of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic from 1952 to 1991
- Flag of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic from 1953 to 1992
- Flag of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic from 1951 to 1990
- Flag of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic from 1956 to 1991
- Flag of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic from 1953 to 1988
- Flag of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic from 1952 to 1990
- Flag of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic from 1953 to 1990
- Flag of the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic from 1952 to 1992
- Flag of the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic from 1953 to 1991
- Flag of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic from 1952 to 1990
- Flag of the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic from 1953 to 1992
- Flag of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic from 1953 to 1990
- Flag of the Karelo-Finnish Soviet Socialist Republic from 1953 to 1956
- Emblem of theSoviet Army
- Logo of theCommunist International
- Symbol of theFourth International
- FirstState Emblem of the Soviet Union (1923–1936)
- State emblem ofLao People's Democratic Republic (1975–1991)
- Logo of theCommunist Party of the Soviet Union
- Logo of theCommunist Party of Vietnam
- Logo of theLao People's Revolutionary Party
- Logo of theNepal Communist Party
- Logo of theItalian Communist Party
- Logo of theCommunist Party USA with a hammer, sickle and gear.
- Logo of theCommunist Party of India with a sickle and wheat.
- TheNational emblem of East Germany, a compass, hammer and circle of rye.
- TheEmblem of the Hungarian People's Republic from 1946 to 1949, a hammer and ear of wheat.
- TheEmblem of Angola.
- Logo ofFRELIMO used from 1987 to 2004 with a hammer and hoe.
- Coat of arms of thePeople's Republic of the Congo with a gold hammer, hoe, and star.
- Flag of the Communist Party of Ireland, a red and yellow version of theSunburst flag.
- Flag of the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova, including a Book.
Red flag
edit- The flag of theCommunist Party of Cuba.
- Flag of theMaoist Communist Party of China.
- Flag of thePolish United Workers' Party.
Red star
edit- Flag ofPeople's Republic of Benin (1975–1990)
- Flag of theWorkers' Party of North Korea
- Flag of theWorkers' Party of South Korea
- Flag of theEZLN and theNeozapatista ideology
- Flag of thePopular Front
- Flag of theKurdistan Workers' Party
- Flag of theYouth International Party
- Flag ofSouth Yemen (1967–1990)
- Coat of Arms of South Yemen (1970–1990)
- Emblem ofSFR Yugoslavia (1945–1992)
- Flag ofSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1945–1992)
- Emblem of theTranscaucasian SFSR (1930–1936)
- Flag of theTranscaucasian SFSR
- Flag of theHungarian Working People's Party.
- Coat of arms ofHungarian People's Republic (1957–1990)
- SovietOrder of Victory Award (1945)
- Emblem of theChinese People's Liberation Army
- Logo of theRed Army Faction (West Germany)
- Logo of theRevolutionary Movement Tupamaro (Venezuela)
- Logo of theUnited Socialist Party of Venezuela
- Logo of theFrench Communist Party
- Logo of theRed Party (Norway)
- Flag of the American Party of Labor
Red and black flag
edit- Flag of theConfederación Nacional del Trabajo (Spain)
- Flag of theSandinistas (Nicaragua)
- Flag of the26th of July Movement (Cuba)
- Flag of theNational Liberation Army (Colombia)
- Flag of theRebel Armed Forces (Guatemala)
- Flag of thePartido por la Victoria del Pueblo (Uruguay)
- Flag of theRevolutionary Left Movement (Chile)
- Flag of theAwami Tahreek (Pakistan)
- Flag of theRevolutionary Movement Tupamaro (Venezuela)
- Flag of theIntransigent Party (Argentina)
- The logo forAntifa
Plough
edit- TheStarry Plough flag used by theIrish Citizen Army
- A modern variant of the Starry Plough used by theIrish National Liberation Army
- Flag of theIrish Republican Socialist Party and theIrish People's Liberation Organisation
- 2021 logo of theLabour Party (Ireland)
- Flag of theChinese Peasants' Association
- Flag of the Guangdong Peasants' Association during the period of theFirst United Front
- Star, hammer and plough cockade of theRed Army (1918, soon replaced with a hammer and sickle cockade).
Arabic-Communist Symbols
edit- Tatarstani USSR Emblem by an unknown artist showcasing the friendship between two farmers
Other symbols
edit- The emblem of theJapanese Communist Party. It represents the two aspects of industry and agriculture, with the ear of rice and the cog in front of four red flags.
- Theflag of Vietnam, an example of a red flag with a gold star.
- Flag of theMongolian People's Republic.
- Emblem of thePeople's Democratic Party of Afghanistan, with a gold ear of grain and a gear on a red background.
- Theflag of Afghanistan from 1978 to 1980.
- Emblem of theSocialist Labor Party of America, an arm and hammer.
- Emblem of theAmerican Labor Party, a cogwheel with two hands shaking.
- Young Pioneers pin featuring a stylized portrait ofVladimir Lenin.
- Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung (aka the "Little Red Book"), associated with Maoism.
- The "Four Heads" of Marxism: Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Stalin.
- The "Five Heads" of Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, and Mao.
- Che Guevara's image, symbol ofGuevarism.
- A revolutionary worker in socialist realist style.
- Stylizedraised fist, used both as a symbol in itself and as a salute.
- The portraits ofKarl Marx,Emiliano Zapata, andSubcomandante Marcos, all symbols used in theNeozapatismo ideology.
- Badge of theDemocratic Army of Greece, with a stylized letter D (Δ).
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Het spook van het communisme waart nog steeds door Europa" (in Dutch). 22 December 2009. Archived fromthe original on 5 November 2020. RetrievedJuly 14, 2012.
- ^ab"Flag of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics | Symbol, Colors & Meanings | Britannica".www.britannica.com. Retrieved2024-11-15.
- ^"The Soviet flag EXPLAINED". 20 June 2021. RetrievedJune 25, 2021.
- ^"The Soviet flag EXPLAINED". 21 June 2021. RetrievedJune 25, 2021.
- ^1602 Dekker Satirom.Wks. 1873 I. 233 What, dost summon a parlie, my little Drumsticke? tis too late: thou seest my red flag is hung out.1666Lond. Gaz. No. 91/4 That the Red Flag was out, both Fleets in sight of each other, expecting every hour fit weather to Engage.Flags of the World,"Flag of Defiance".
- ^"Anarchist FAQ Appendix"Archived 2015-09-01 at theWayback Machine.
- ^"El socialismo libertario de" (in Spanish). Centro Para la Promoción, Investigación Rural y Social. Archived fromthe original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved30 March 2009.
- ^The Guardian, Australia (25 October 2009)."The International". pp. first paragraph. Archived fromthe original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved3 April 2018.
- ^"Telling the Story with Music: The Internationale AT TIANANMEN SQUARE".Association for Asian Studies. Retrieved2024-11-15.
- ^Tuohy, William (1989-10-09)."E. German Police Beat Protesters : Brutality in Berlin Comes on 2nd Day of Demonstrations".Los Angeles Times. Retrieved2024-11-15.
- ^"Irish Literary Portraits" ed. W. R. Rodgers p.195
- ^"History of Starry Plough Flag". Angelfire.com. 1989-11-06. Retrieved2010-07-23.
- ^"The Plough and the Stars Irish Theatre Players Perth".www.dfa.ie.Department of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved20 February 2017.
- ^"The Starry Plough Flag". Irish Studies Group at SUNY Geneseo.
- ^"002这是好的很 毛泽东发表《湖南农民运动考察报告》发表四十四周年".
- ^"土地革命时期农民秋收暴动旗帜"Archived 2017-09-26 at theWayback Machine.
- ^"彭湃与陆丰农民运动"Archived 2021-04-28 at theWayback Machine.
- ^"广明龙农会会旗"Archived 2016-10-25 at theWayback Machine.
- ^"#消夏计划#石塘双峰寨——中国的意大利费拉拉式水"Archived 2018-10-20 at theWayback Machine.
- ^"【网络媒体走转改】湖北红安这条古街记录过革命时期的壮怀激烈,更见证了新中国的巨大变迁".
- ^ab“Che Guevara: Revolutionary & Icon”, by Trisha Ziff, Abrams Image, 2006
- ^“Communists, Capitalists still buy into Iconic Che Photo, Author says” by Brian Byrnes,CNN, May 5, 2009
Bibliography
edit- Arvidsson, Stefan (2017).Style and mythology of socialism: socialist idealism, 1871-1914. Routledge.
- Barisone, Silvia, Czech, Hans-Jörg & Doll, Nikola (2007).Kunst und Propaganda im Streit der Nationen 1930 - 1945: eine Ausstellung des Deutschen Historischen Museums Berlin in Zusammenarbeit mit The Wolfsonian-Florida International University. Dresden: Sandstein.
- Groys, Boris (2011 [1992]).The total art of Stalinism: avant-garde, aesthetic dictatorship, and beyond. Verso Books.
- King, David (2009).Red star over Russia: a visual history of the Soviet Union from 1917 to the death of Stalin : posters, photographs and graphics from the David King collection. London: Tate.