Red Banner

The Red Banner is a flag deeply associated with socialist and communist movements. Its origins can be traced back to the French Revolution, symbolizing popular rights against autocratic rule. By the 19th century, it became a prominent symbol for socialist movements across Europe, notably adopted by the Paris Commune in 1871.1

Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, the Red Banner became strongly identified with communist ideology. The Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic adopted a version with gold lettering in 1918. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.) later used a flag featuring a hammer, sickle, and star, representing workers, peasants, and the goal of global communist victory, which remained in use until the Soviet Union's dissolution in 1991. The red color itself also holds traditional significance in some cultures, such as being the ethnic color of the Han Chinese.12