Flags of the world war II.
The official flag of the United States (called The flag of the United States of America ), which is probably the most recognizable symbol of this country, is commonly known as Stars and Stripes, Old Glory or - most often - Star-Spangled Banner. In its best-known version, it was adopted on June 14, 1777, i.e. during the War of Independence of the United States (1775-1783), and is used with changes to this day. At present, it shows 7 red stripes and 6 white stripes alternately placed, and in the upper left corner (the so-called canton) - 50 white stars placed on a blue background. The symbolism of this flag is very clear. The thirteen white and red stripes symbolize the 13 founding states that laid the submarine under American statehood. The 50 stars, on the other hand, symbolize the 50 states that make up the United States. It is worth adding that the modern American flag was approved on July 4, 1960, with the adoption from the USA as the state of Hawaii. During the period 1777–1960 it changed with the addition of more stars in the upper left corner as the United States grew and added new states to them.
The official flag of the Japanese state is called Nisshoki (freely translated: flag with the sun) or Hi no Maru (literally: round sun). The motif of the rising sun was probably placed on Japanese banners in ancient times, and it probably came to the country of the blooming cherry trees from China. It is likely that this motif was used as a flag to symbolize rulership over all of Japan at the end of the 12th century. On the other hand, for the first time, the "round sun" appeared on war banners during the civil wars in Japan at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. It is worth adding, however, that it was recognized as the official flag of the Japanese Navy only in 1854 - at the end of the Tokugawa shogunate, and just before the beginning of the Meiji era! During the Meiji era, Hi no Maru (white flag with a red sun) was recognized as the national flag, while the Imperial Navy used a flag called Kyokujitsuki, which symbolized the rising morning sun with its rays. It fought under such a flag in World War I and II. It is worth noting that now a twin similar flag is also used on ships of the Navy Forces of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.
The flag of the Royal Navy, i.e. the British Navy, was and is the so-called White Ensgin. It is a white flag with the St. George, and in the upper left quarter is Union Jack, the flag of the United Kingdom. The flag is used on all Royal Navy ships, yachts included in the so-called The Royal Yacht Squadron and some Trinity House units. The genesis of the present Royal Navy flag dates back to the beginning of the 18th century, when Scotland and England with Wales were joined by the real union into one kingdom, which led to the change of the flag of the new state. Thus, the current flag of the Royal Navy using primarily the Holy Cross. George was changed with the addition of elements of the Union Jack flag. It is assumed that such a flag was used for the first time in 1707. Since 1864, such a flag has been reserved only for Royal Navy units and cannot be used - with exceptions - by merchant navy ships. It is worth adding that the White Ensgin flag influenced the shape of the navies of such countries as Australia, Canada, India and South Africa.