On 31 October 1918 the council of state agreed upon the colours
of the republic (red-white-red) as well as the new coat of arms
composed personally by chancellor Karl Renner. The coat of arms was
composed quickly due to the need for having a seal at the peace
talks after World War I. The coat of arms consisted of black tower
representing the bourgeoisie, two crossed red hammers representing
workers and a golden wreath of ears of corn representing farmers.
The colours black, red and gold was deliberately chosen because
they were the German national colours. this coat of arms was
heavily criticised and was replaced in 1919. The current coat of
arms of Austria, has been in use by the Republic of Austria
essentially since 1919. Between 1934 and the German annexation in
1938 Austria used a different coat of arms, which consisted of a
double-headed eagle. The establishment of the Second Republic in
1945 saw the return of the original (First Republic) arms, with
broken chains added to symbolise Austria's liberation. It consists
of a black, single-headed eagle with a hammer in one claw, a sickle
in the other, and broken chains on both. A shield of red and gold
is over the chest of the eagle.
