USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) Flag

Flag Adopted 1914
Abandoned 1991

This flag is the former flag of the now defunct Soviet Union. The red color was for communism. The red background was emulated around the world by most communist countries.

The hammer was the symbol of the proletariat and the sickle represented the peasants. The gold star represented unity and contained five points (one for each class in communist society - workers, peasants, intellectuals, youths and soldiers).

When adopted in 1914, the communists banned all other flags of the member republics of the USSR. When abandoned, most of these independent republic flags were restored.