Page 153 - (DK) Complete Flags of the World

Europe

Austria

Ratio: 2:3 Adopted: May 1, 1945 Usage: National and Civil

According to The traditional
legend, the red flag, retained after
and white flag the fall of the
was modeled on Habsburgs in 1918
the blood-stained
surcoat of a Duke
wounded in battle

Europe
#ZECH 2EP
#ZECH 2EP
'ERMANY Austria once ruled much of central Europe, but
lost most of its territory in 1919. Between 1938 and
3WITZ Z !5342)! (UNG (U
WITZ
)TALY 3L 3LOVENIA A 1945 Austria was annexed to Germany.
Tradition states that a Duke of During World War II, the Austrian
Austria once fought so fiercely in flag and arms were banned, they
battle that the white surcoat he wore were restored in 1945.
was soaked in blood, except for the
part covered by his sword-belt. So he ARMS OFAUSTRIA
adopted red with a white band across The coat of arms depicts an imperial
the center as his colors. black eagle, an emblem used by the
Habsburgs. It originally had two
ONE OF THE WORLD’S OLDEST FLAGS heads, but they were changed to
The story is probably apocryphal, one when the Habsburg Empire
but stripes of red-white-red have disintegrated. On the eagle’s chest
been an emblem of Austria for over is a shield in the national colors.
800 years. Their use on a flag was The eagle holds a hammer and sickle
recorded in 1191, making the recalling agricultural and industrial
Austrian flag one of the world’s workers. Its crown, with three
oldest flags. It was officially adopted turrets, also represents agriculture,
as the national flag after the fall of industry, and commerce. The broken
the Habsburg Dynasty, and the chains on the eagle’s feet symbolize
formation of a republic in 1918. the restoration of freedom.

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