Switzerland’s national flag is a white Greek cross on a red square field. Its square shape is highly unusual among national flags and reflects the military-banner tradition from which the design developed.
What does the Swiss flag look like?
The Swiss flag is square, red and bears a centred white cross whose arms are equal and slightly longer than they are wide. Switzerland and Vatican City are the two sovereign states best known for using square national flags.
Origins of the white cross
According to Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the white cross on red can be traced back to the fourteenth century. Swiss soldiers used white crosses as identifying marks, including at the Battle of Laupen in 1339. The emblem later appeared on Swiss military banners and weapons.
History of the Swiss flag
During the Helvetic Republic from 1798 to 1803, Switzerland briefly used a green-red-yellow tricolour. The modern white-cross-on-red design was created in the nineteenth century and became the official national flag when the modern federal state was established in 1848.
Switzerland flag facts
- Colors: red and white
- Shape: square
- Symbol: white cross
- Historic use of white cross: since the fourteenth century
- Official national flag since: 1848
Source
Primary reference: Federal Department of Foreign Affairs — Swiss flag.
