Flag of Austria

The national flag of Austria consists of three equal horizontal bands of color in a 2:3 aspect ratio. A central white stripe is positioned between two identical red stripes at the top and bottom. No additional emblems or symbols are present on the standard civil version of this rectangular design.

The specific arrangement of colors is traditionally linked to the Siege of Acre in 1191, where Duke Leopold V's white tunic was purportedly soaked in blood except for a white band beneath his belt. Beyond this medieval legend, the red and white elements originate from the heraldic shield of the Babenberg family, which governed the Duchy of Austria. These colors serve as a historical commemoration of the nation's medieval roots and its enduring sovereignty through various political transitions.

Duke Frederick II of the Babenberg dynasty first introduced this red-white-red triband in 1230 to replace the previous black panther emblem. While the Habsburg monarchy later utilized black and gold as imperial colors, the traditional design was formally reinstated as the national flag in 1918 after the founding of the First Republic. Following a period of suppression during the Anschluss from 1938 to 1945, the flag was officially readopted by the Second Republic on May 1, 1945.