The first colour document with display red - white - red flag comes from the 1232.
Duke Leopold V. of Babenberg in 1191 on a crusade to the Holy Land after the Battle of Acre passed a belt with a sword. Just below the belt remained spotless white blood waist. The remainder of the garment was red from the blood of the enemy. Looking at his garment realized that sees the most powerful symbol of Babenberg family crest valiant and decided to take it and use it. In 1230 Duke Friedrich II., The last of the house of Babenberg officially adopted the new red - white - red coat, which declared its desire for independence from the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation.
Entering the Habsburg dynasty on the imperial throne changed the appearance of the flag. The eagle was changed to a double-headed eagle was gradually by a coat of arms, imperial crown, sword and coronation apple. This flag has been very difficult to make and use it as emperor. To indicate Empire was used simple black flag - gold, where gold was expressed yellow. In 1806 Napoleon ended the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation and forced the Habsburg Emperor Franz pass the imperial crown. After the Battle of Nations was established in the year 1815 - 1866 the German Confederation, which used the imperial flag with a black two-headed eagle with a red beak and claws on golden field.
Discrepancies between Austria and Prussia provoked military conflict and division of the North German Confederation led by Prussia and South German Confederation and Austria on the forehead.
02.08.1867 Austria is merged with Hungary and adopted jointly by the flag. After the First World War and the disintegration of Austria - Hungary was established on 12.11.1918 First Austrian Republic and used red - white - red flag until 03.13.1938, when Austria was annexed by Germany. After the Second World War used from 1.5.1945 Austria national flag red - white - red national flag and red - white - red with a black eagle with red - white - red shield on the chest, with yellow beak, crown, claws, which holding the hammer and sickle with torn handcuffs. The crown symbolizes the historical legacy of the past, torn cuff end of the monarchy and the prison of nations with a hammer and sickle symbol of hard working people.
