The banner of the Princely House, a 3:5 proportioned flag with two horizontal bands (gold above red) was used as the national flag from Liechtenstein’s creation until 1852, when red and blue, the colours of Prince Joseph Wenzel I (reigns: 1712-18, 1732-45 and 1748-72), were adopted and the horizontal bands replaced by vertical ones.
This was the Principality’s flag until October 1921 when the design was rotated 90˚ anticlockwise in accordance with the nation’s constitution, thus granting it ‘official’ status. This was also the year Liechtenstein adopted Swiss currency, two years after Switzerland replaced Austria as Liechtenstein’s representative abroad after the fall of the Hapsburg monarchy.
The Berlin Olympics saw Liechtenstein make its debut appearance in the Summer Games, having made its Winter Games debut in Garmisch-Partenkirchen early that year. At the Berlin Opening Ceremony, it was spotted that Liechtenstein’s and Haiti’s flags were absolutely identical.Fortunately for those in charge of medal ceremonies, Haiti’s only athlete withdrew prior to their event and none of Liechtenstein’s six athletes won medals.
To ensure their flags could be told apart in future, Liechtenstein added the now familiar crown on 24th June 1937. At the unveiling of the updated flag, Prime Minister Josef Hoop (1895-1959) clarified the symbolic meaning for each color: blue represented the sky, red the embers in a fireplace during evening gatherings, and the gold crown represented the unified heart and spirit of the people, the Princely House and Liechtenstein itself.
