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French Protectorate of Morocco (1912-1946)

by Željko Heimer, 08 Jun 2002

Introduction
Description of the flag
Civil ensign 1923-1946
Sultanʼs standard
General Resident
Incorrect flag in Casablanca

See also:

Introduction

In the end of the XIXth century, there were a lot of revolts in Morocco and the European powers decided to solve the “Moroccan problem”. France occupied Ujda and Casablanca in 1907, whereas Spain occupied Salwan and other strategic places in 1909. In spite of German protest, the French Protectorate over Morocco was established on 30 March 1912. The Sultan kept a nominal sovereignty. The Spanish zone was completely autonomous (treaty from 27 November 1912).
Ivan Sache, 15 Jun 2003, based on [lux01]

Morocco was theoretically an independent state under protectorate, with its own flag and administration, “advised” by a Resident-General.

The most famous Redident-General was Lyautey (1854-1934), who commanded in 1907 the first French intervention in Morocco, created the protectorate in 1912 and was appointed Resident-General from 1912 to 1925. Based on his extensive knowledge of the country and his inhabitants, Lyautey combined military operations of pacification, restoration of traditional Morocco and rejection of direct French administration, and economical development and modernization.

In comparison with the colonial ideology of resource exploitation and direct administration which was widespread at that time, Lyautey can be considered as one of the best French colonial administrators and the relatively peaceful way to independence in Morocco owes him a lot. The comparison with the sad history of neighbouring Algeria, which was part of France, is straightforward.

Ivan Sache, 08 Dec 2000

General Lyautey was appointed High-Commissioner and Resident-General of Morocco in 1912. He attempted to pacify the country and increase the Sultanʼs authority. Lyautey believed that colonial military operations were totaly unefficient if not associated with deep political reforms, which was extremely wise and progressive for the time. At the end of the First World War, most of Morocco was pacified and economical development of the country was in process.
Ivan Sache, 08 Dec 2000, based on [lux01]

Independance of Morocco was accepted by France on 6 November 1955 and officialized on 2 March 1956, when King Muhammad V came back from exile. Spain gave back the Rif area to Morocco on 7 April 1956 and the port of Ifni in June 1969.
Ivan Sache, 15 Jun 2003, based on [lux01]

Description of the flag

by Željko Heimer, 08 Jun 2002

According to Lux-Wurmʼs book [lux01], on 17 November 1915, the civil ensign of Morocco under French Protecorate was officialized, as a red flag with a green pentagram placed in the middle. In 1923, the French Tricolore was added in canton to the civil ensign.
Ivan Sache, 15 Jun 2003

According to Flaggenbuch [neu92], the current (and pre-colonial) Moroccan flag was the “national” flag.
Ivan Sache, 19 Mar 2000

In Neubeckerʼs Flaggenbuch [neu92] the French Zone National Flag is the same as same as current (ratio: 2:3).
Željko Heimer, 12 Jun 2002

Civil ensign (1923-1946)

by Željko Heimer, 12 Jun 2002

The article [ivaXX] confirms this design.
Mark Sensen, 06 Jun 1996

[See construction sheet contributed
by Christopher Southworth, 23 Jan 2002]

Kannik [kan56] mentions that the French tricolour was included in the canton of the Moroccan flag from 1923 to 1956.
Ole Andersen, 2000 Mar 12

According to Lux-Wurmʼs book [lux01], in 1923, the French Tricolore was added in canton to the civil ensign.
Ivan Sache, 15 Jun 2003

In Neubeckerʼs Flaggenbuch [neu92] the French Zone Merchant Flag is a red flag with green pentagram in the middle and with white fimbriated French tricolour in the canton, 1/3 of hoist high. (ratio: 2:3).
Željko Heimer, 12 Jun 2002

According to Flaggenbuch, the flag with the French Tricolore in canton was the civil ensign, not the national flag. This is not illogical, since the French protectorates of Morocco and Tunisia were theoretically independent states which had “required” the generous protection of France (as opposed to Algeria, which was part of the French Republic and had not required anything). The Grand Larousse Illustré du XX^ème Siécle (1929) also shows a “plain” Moroccan flag (as well as a “plain” Tunisian flag).
Ivan Sache, 19 Mar 2000

Sultanʼs standard

by Željko Heimer, 12 Jun 2002

1:2 triangular pennant, red with yellow border on outer edges with green bordered yellow penatgram in the middle. The two coloured pentagram is made so as if there is green pentagram over which is superimposed somewhat smaller yellow pentagram (this is important how the colouring shall be at crossing areas).
Željko Heimer, 12 Jun 2002

According to Flaggenbuch, the Sultanʼs standard was a triangular red flag with a yellow Moroccan star fimbriated in yellow.
Ivan Sache, 19 Mar 2000

According to Flaggenbuch, it shows a yellow star, without gaps, fimbriated in green, with gaps. Proportion of the flag is 1:2. Diameter of the star, fimbriation included, is ca. 2/3rd of the hoist height.
Ivan Sache, 05 Dec 2000

According to Flaggenbuch, the star is yellow, continuous (without gaps). Therefore, there is a “second” green star being the fimbriation, and three non-connected green sgements to fimbriate the inner pentagone (i.e. the green segments never cross the yellow lines). Image captioned «Sultanstandarte».
Ivan Sache, 08 Dec 2000

General Resident

Flaggenbuch [neu92] adds to the French Zone section: «Flagge des Generalresidenten siehe unter Frankreich», which means «Flag of the General Resident, see under France.», refering to this flag.
Željko Heimer, 12 Jun 2002, and Santiago Dotor, 13 Jun 2002

Incorrect flag in Casablanca

António Martins and Željko Heimer, 27 Jun 2004

Iʼve just watched Casablanca (again) and noticed that, right at the beginning of the film above the outside door to the Préfet de Policeʼs offices there was a French tricolor with an Islamic star and crescent in the central white band (with the open end of the crescent “pointing” upwards). Being a black-and-white film, I donʼt know the color of the symbol, but it appeared to be the same shade of gray as the right-hand red band.
Owen Blacker, 27 Oct 2002