This year [2005] we face the 60th anniversary of the Holocaust, an event we hope not to face again in our time. In honor of this event, Michael Faul, editor of Flagmaster, had designed a flag.
The flag, in the ratio of 3:5, was designed by Michael based on a hint by his aunt and by using paper, pencil and felt-pens. Dr. Peter Orenski of TME-ALF fine-tuned the colors, having them in the following settings:
Grey - PMS 428
Blue - PMS 279
Yellow - PMS 143
Red - PMS 186
The technical details are from Michael: "The flag consists of six equal horizontal stripes, alternately grey and blue, with a grey stripe at the top.
"A six-pointed yellow star, two-thirds the height of the flag, is set 40% of the flag length from the hoist and positioned centrally on the stripes, with two points of the star vertical. The two triangles forming the star are outlined in narrow black lines.
"At the centre of the star is a stylised drop of blood in red, one-quarter the height of the flag."
The symbolism of the flag, also from Michael: "The six stripes symbolise the six million Jews who died in the Holocaust. They also refer to the six extermination camps of Auschwitz-Birkenau, Belzec, Chelmno, Majdenek, Sobibor, and Treblinka.
"The colours of the stripes are those of the prison garb won by inmates of these and other camps, as it appeared at the time of their liberation.
"The yellow star is that which Jews were forced to wear.
"The drop of blood symbolises the many Jews who died in the Holocaust, but in massacres and other persecutions, rather than in the camps."
With the blessing of Michael, I drew the image of 216x360 pixels. However, I must stress the copyright Michael has stated.
"Copyright
"The copyright of this design rests with the designer. The flag may not be manufactured as a full-size flag, table flag or in any other form, nor published, printed nor portrayed in any way, on any surface electronically or otherwise, without the written permission of the copyright holder. This permission will be granted freely to any manufacturer, printer, publisher or commemoration centre or organisation on one condition. That is that no profit shall be made from this design. Costs of production and distribution may be recovered, but no profit whatsoever. The Holocaust may not be a means of self-enrichment."
I was given permission by Michael to present this flag to the mailing list, which I am thankful for. Zachary Harden, 9 February 2005
Two notes:
1) This is a private initiative and I really don't know if it will ever be materialized or adopted as such. I must say that this flag was the subject of massive correspondence which included me, and I made an "unscientific" poll between some Israelis and the idea of having an "holocaust" flag didn't appeal to anyone. I may suggest to keep it "on hold" until the future tells if it will become a "real," used flag.
2) The concept of the flag is a bit "trivial" to my eyes. It somehow reminds me of the Gay Holocaust flag which I saw in the Auschwitz-I death camp during my visit there (stripes charged with upside-down pink triangle). I also think that the use of gray on the flag will make it look "used."
I guess that if the memorials (Yad va-Shem or the Holocaust Museum) will decide that there is a place for such a flag, there will be held a contest. Dov Gutterman, 10 February 2005
