File talk:Flag allied powers.jpg

This is a proposal. My logic for having such a thing is to serve as a symbol of unity amongst a very diverse alliance, which also serves as a quick identifier. Lets face it--the various nations involved in GW2 were very many and making sure your side had an instantly identifiable flag had extremely practical applications. In the US civil war, the Confederacy actually lost troops when they tried to use a slight variation of the US flag as their banner. When they finally got around to choosing a flag based on the battle flag of the Army of North Virginia (the famous "stars and bars") they put it as a canton on an all-white field!

Anyway, this is intended to look simple, yet distinct, and instead of bearing any specific emblems from any of the allied powers, contains colors that are present at least once in each flag of those united to defeat Hessler. Zahir 18:12, 22 March 2006 (PST)

*here* there was no such thing during any war involving multi-national coalition. Any common flag would have been perceived as an effort toward unification which would have been resisted. The other reason is that by the time of the second great war, flags were no longer carried into combat pretty much negating the need for a battle flag. --Marc Pasquin 03:13, 23 March 2006 (PST)

Marc, they can't have stopped utterly and completely with that practice, or I shouldn't have been able to find a picture of Soviets raising a flag over (I believe) Berlin that is now here: Image:Snorreichstag flag.jpg... They may have largely stopped, but this and Iwo Jima are two examples *here* that stand out strongly in my mind. BoArthur 19:09, 23 March 2006 (PST)

Those were both post-battle, however. Nik 21:12, 23 March 2006 (PST)

You might find many pictures showing soldiers with national flags or airfield flying some type of airforce ensign. Again, this is not the same as using a flag in battle for the purpose of recognition. --Marc Pasquin 06:16, 24 March 2006 (PST)

The Allies during WWII began using the UN flag, even though at the time there was no UN. I would also point out that *there* the existence of federations, codominions, etc. is much more common so such entities tend to have their own flags. I'm not in love with the idea, but I rather like it, so offer it for consideraton. Zahir 06:31, 23 March 2006 (PST)

The Commonwealth of Nations has a flag, so that alone could drastically reduce the number of flags in use during the conflict. I'd be more worried about the disparate uniforms and traditions in use. That war must have been a logistical nightmare! I would think that anything that could simplify identification would be used. Elemtilas 13:23, 23 March 2006 (PST)

Ah, but the Commonwealth didn't exist until the 1950s. Zahir 13:36, 23 March 2006 (PST)

Regarding the use of the UN flag during WW2, I think you might be thinking of the korean war. It wasn't adopted until the first meating of 1945.

In any case, the use of flags like the UN or NATO are not like battle flags you first gave in your example. They are use for office decoration and flying over buildings, not carried into battle for recognition purpose. Battle flags use pretty much went out (beside parades) with the habits of soldiers slowly walking toward one another. --Marc Pasquin 15:22, 23 March 2006 (PST)

Odd as it sounds, there were units in WWII using the UN flag. It was far, far more common in the Korean War, yes. Honestly, I'm at rather a loss to explain why they did that, but it is a matter of record. And while I do believe that an "Allied" flag might have some use in combat, I of course cannot deny it would be more useful (and far more likely to be used) as a departmental thing. Hence the article Allied Powers. Zahir 18:32, 23 March 2006 (PST)

Zahir, the UN flag was not *designed* until 1945. I have no idea what are the records you speak of but these must either be mistaken or refering to something else. --Marc Pasquin 06:16, 24 March 2006 (PST)

Administrative Flag?

I think that even if it is only to be an administrative flag, I vote to keep it because I quite like it. BoArthur 19:02, 23 March 2006 (PST)

Thank you. I myself think it could use some kind of charge, but for the life of me I couldn't imagine one that the French, English, Scottish, Kemrese, Italians, etc. could all agree upon!

And I do believe its use would be most administrative. Zahir 19:36, 23 March 2006 (PST)

I don't like the idea myself. I'd imagine there would be a lot more to worry about during the War then coming up with a unified flag! I could see some kind of usage of multiple flags, though Nik 21:12, 23 March 2006 (PST)

You're just contrary. :P. But seriously, I could see some old lady's group in the NAL wanting to contribute to the war effort and come up with the flag, à la Betsy Ross... BoArthur 21:40, 23 March 2006 (PST)

Wouldn't even have to be a bunch of little old ladies. Bureacracies focus on amazingly mundane details. Or they can, anyway. Look at the huge arguments over the Red Cross versus the Red Crescent and the lack of a Red Star! Phhhhht. Zahir 21:51, 23 March 2006 (PST)

I keep thinking it would look nicer as a saltire, which only proves you right :) I also think it would make a good sleeve badge for grunts, which may hint to its use. Then after the war it could be used as the badge of the TransAtlantic Treaty Alliance (TATA, rhymes with the vegetable, tater). - AndrewSmith 02:49, 24 March 2006 (PST).

If we go with design habits *here*, as decorative and rarely seen items, these flags tend to be less abstract then national ones. A logo with or containing the orginisation name is almost always present. Usualy the logo is something along the lines of a shield with all the members flags in pattern, a sword, a map, initials, etc... --Marc Pasquin 06:16, 24 March 2006 (PST)

I should point out though that its use would probably be very limited. Countries tend to get nervous about pan-national symbols as it seem to take away some of their sovereignty. A badge worn on the national uniforms is quite possible (when you look at troops serving under mandates from the UN, AU, EU or NATO) but these would probably just be for those *actively* engage in the organisation activity. In other words, it wouldn't be worn in everyday situations. --Marc Pasquin 06:16, 24 March 2006 (PST)

Betina Rosen, je me souviens --Quentin 14:42, 28 May 2006 (PDT)

????? --Marc Pasquin 18:06, 29 May 2006 (PDT)