Austria’s State Symbols: Anthem, Flag and Coat of Arms

If you live in Austria, you will encounter the country’s symbols on official buildings, at sporting events and during ceremonies. Austria’s state symbols have a long history and are protected by law, particularly where the national anthem and coat of arms are concerned.

What are Austria’s state symbols?

Four things are considered state symbols (Staatssymbol):

• the federal anthem (Bundeshymne),
• the flag of the Republic of Austria,
• the federal coat of arms (Bundeswappen),
• the Austrian emblems of sovereignty (Hoheitszeichen).

These symbols are legally protected. Section 248 of the Criminal Code (StGB), titled “denigration of the state and its symbols” (Herabwürdigung des Staates und seiner Symbole), makes it punishable to show contempt for them or otherwise denigrate them.

How was the Austrian national anthem created?

After the Second World War, Austria needed a new anthem to represent the country’s new beginning. Politicians did not want to bring back the former Haydn melody because the German Reich had also adopted it, meaning that peoples oppressed under National Socialist rule might have regarded it as a provocation.

The key dates were:

• 9 April 1946: the Council of Ministers decided to launch a competition.
• 22 October 1946: the Council of Ministers selected the melody.
• 25 February 1947: a Council of Ministers resolution approved the lyrics, making them the “Austrian federal anthem”.
• 7 March 1947: the anthem was broadcast on the radio for the first time.
• 9 March 1947: it appeared in the Wiener Zeitung.
• 1 July 1947: it was published in the official gazette of the Ministry of Education.

The competition prize was 10,000 schilling, which was a large amount at the time. Applicants had to transfer all copyright to the state.

Who wrote the anthem?

Approximately 1,800 entries were submitted. In the chamber hall of the Musikverein in Vienna, opera singers and Burgtheater actors performed 29 proposals. The jury ultimately selected a Masonic song, “Brüder reicht die Hand zum Bunde”.

The melody was attributed to Mozart at the time, but it was probably composed by Johann Baptist Holzer.

For the lyrics, nine applicants were asked to submit further proposals, including Paula Grogger, Alexander Lernet-Holenia and Paula von Preradović. Preradović’s lyrics were selected in a slightly modified form.

In the 1950s, there were unsuccessful attempts to bring back the popular Haydn anthem. Preradović’s sons claimed royalties from the Republic, but the claim was rejected because of the competition prize.

What changed in the anthem’s lyrics?

Attempts to make the lyrics more gender-balanced had been under way since the beginning of the 1990s. The breakthrough came with a decision by the Constitutional Committee of Parliament on 22 November 2011. This also created the basis for establishing the anthem in law; until then, only two Council of Ministers resolutions had referred to it.

• First verse: “Heimat bist du großer Söhne” was changed to “Heimat großer Töchter und Söhne”.
• Third verse: “Brüderchöre” was changed to “Jubelchöre”.

The new federal law was planned to enter into force on 1 January 2012. The opening lines of the modified version are:

Land der Berge, Land am Strome,
Land der Äcker, Land der Dome,
Land der Hämmer, zukunftsreich.

Can a company use the federal coat of arms?

Only as a special distinction. Section 68 of the Trade, Commerce and Industry Regulation Act (Gewerbeordnung, GewO 1994) authorises the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism (BMWET) to grant a commercial business the right to use the coat of arms of the Republic in business dealings, with a reference indicating that it is an honour.

Where it may be used

• on the letterhead of business documents,
• on forms and announcements,
• in external business names and other advertisements.

Where it may not be used

• on vehicles,
• to identify products.

There is no legal entitlement to receive the distinction (kein Rechtsanspruch); the ministry decides each case.

What conditions apply to use of the coat of arms?

The company must:

1. be listed in the company register (Firmenbuch),
2. have earned recognition through exceptional achievements for the Austrian economy,
3. hold a leading and generally recognised position in its own sector.

The business submits an informal application to the ministry. It must include a current company report, either the KSV 1870 “Handelsauskunft” or the Creditreform “Wirtschaftsauskunft”, together with material supporting the company’s achievements, such as newspaper articles, brochures, other distinctions, export data or investment data.

The ministry then requests the opinions of the economic chamber (Wirtschaftskammer) and the labour chamber (Arbeiterkammer). It also checks matters such as trade licences and administrative fines. Upon request, a notice about the distinction may be published in the Wiener Zeitung at the company’s expense. The last update was 1 January 2026.

Practical steps

1. Use the federal anthem, flag, coat of arms and other emblems respectfully, as they are protected by Section 248 of the Criminal Code (StGB).
2. If your company wants to use the federal coat of arms, first check whether it is listed in the Firmenbuch and can demonstrate exceptional achievements for the Austrian economy.
3. Prepare a current KSV 1870 “Handelsauskunft” or Creditreform “Wirtschaftsauskunft”, along with documents supporting the company’s achievements.
4. Send an informal application to the responsible ministry, remembering that there is no legal entitlement to the distinction.

Source: parliament.gv.at, oesterreich.gv.at