The Heraldic development of the Freestate of Thuringia

Heraldry of the German speaking countries
Marcus Karlsson
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Joined: 13 Jul 2012, 08:52
Location: Sweden

The Heraldic development of the Freestate of Thuringia

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 15 Oct 2012, 20:27

Following the fall of the German Monarchies in 1918 the former small Duchies and Principalities of the Thuringia where united in 1920 to form the Freestate of Thuringia. Which in 1921 adopted the following Arms (shown below):

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The seven Stars symbolise the seven States that made up the Freestate. They where the Grand Duchy of Sachsen (Weimar-Eisenach), the Duchy of Sachsen-Altenburg, the Duchy Sachsen-Meiningen, the Duchy of Sachsen-Coburg and Gotha, the Principality of Reuss (was formerly divided into a Older and a Younger Branch, but one of these died out and thus the lines where united before the dissappearence of the Principality. Reuss also had (and has) a peculiar tradition in the all male members of the Princely Families are named Heinrich separated by a Roman number), the Principlaity of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen och the Principality of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt. The Crown on the Shield is a so called People's Crown (Volkskrone).

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The Taking of Power in 1933 by the NSDAP, led to the Arms being changed as shown above, in which form the Arms where used until 1945. The eschuteon shows the medival Arms of the Counts of Thuringia (from which later the Counts of Hessen [Hesse] would spring inheriting this Arms) holding the Swastika showing allegiance to the new regime. This shield was also used as the lesser Arms of Thuringia 1933-45. The quarters shows in first the Arms of Saxony relating to the Saxon parts, the second shows the Eagle for the two Schwarzburg Principalities. In the third quarter the Lion from the Reuss Arms and inte the fourth part the canting Arms of the Counts of Henneberg.

Marcus Karlsson
Posts: 975
Joined: 13 Jul 2012, 08:52
Location: Sweden

Re: The Heraldic development of the Freestate of Thuringia

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 15 Oct 2012, 20:41

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This Arms was introduced in 1945 and has in essentialy the same symbolism as the 1921 Arms, but an eight Star has been added symbolising the former Prussian Areas which was now added to Thuringia (Prussia itself would be abolished but the Allied Authorities in 1947). Also the Lion of Thuringia was added to the Shield. This Arms was to be used until 1952 when the Authorities of the German Democratic Republic abolished the Länder on its territories replacing them with Bezirke (Districts). Thuringia was divided into the Bezirke of Erfurt, Gera and Suhl. Non of the GDR Bezirke had Arms.

1990-91 the Former länder of the GDR was resurrected in anticipation of the German Unification. This led to new Arms being created for Thuringia, basicly on the same principles as the 1945 Arms, but with the Shield colour changed and the Lion made striped.

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Pictures ars form Wikimedia.


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