Albania

?ÿ A communist country since the end of World War II, Albaniaƒ??s emblem includes a red gold-edged five-pointed star. At the base in gold letters on a red riband is the date May 24, 1944, when the Peopleƒ??s Republic was proclaimed. Golden shaves of wheat support the design on either side as an indication of the agrarian character of the nation. When the flag was originally adopted in 1913, after Albaniaƒ??s liberation from Ottoman rule, the field area was deep crimson; the change to bright red came about in 1934 during the reign of King Zog. In that royal period the flagƒ??s shape was almost square. ?ÿ Symbols of the Nations, 4 ?ÿ