Arms of the German Federal States (Bundesländer)

Heraldry of the German speaking countries
Marcus Karlsson
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Arms of the German Federal States (Bundesländer)

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 24 Aug 2013, 11:46

Starting this thread where I intend to describe the Arms of the Federal States of Germany and their historical development.

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Baden-Württemberg (BW), greater Arms.
The Shield shows the Arms used by the King Heinrich VII (reigned 1216-20) as Duke of Swabia. This later become used by the Dukes and Kings of Württemberg as inheritors of the Dukes of Swabia. On top of the Shield a Shieldcrown with the Arms of the Main historical entities which make of the present State. I the middle the Arms of Baden (Dexter) and Württemberg (Sinister). On the Dexter side they ar accompanied by the Arms of Franconia (Franken) and the quartered shield of Hohenzollern. The former principality of Hohenzollern forms part of BW, and here is situated the Schloss Hohenzollern. On the Sinister side is the Arms of Pfalz (the Lionshield for the former Kurpfalz posessions) and Vorderösterreich (the former Austrian posessions in the Area). The supporters are the Stag from the Arms of the Kingdom of Württemberg and the Griffin from the Arms of the Grand Duchy of Baden.

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Lesser Arms of BW. On top of the Shield a so called Volkskrone (People's Crown) which was introduced after the Fall of the German Monachies in 1918-19. Both types of the BW Arms was approved 2 August 1954.

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

Re: Arms of the German Federal States (Bundesländer)

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 24 Aug 2013, 11:55

Baden-Württemberg was created in 1952 by brining togheter tree States created during the Occupation following WW2. They where:

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Baden, whose greater Arms are seen here. The Lesser one was only the Shield. As for the Volkskrone this Arms are nearly indentical with the One used by the Grand Duchy of Baden.

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Württemberg-Hohenzollern greater Arms. The Lesser one was only the Shield. The Main elements are from the Arms of the Kingdom of Württemberg.

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Württemberg-Baden didn't have a greater Arms.

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

Re: Arms of the German Federal States (Bundesländer)

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 24 Aug 2013, 12:05

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Arms of the Republic/Freestate of Baden created after the abdication of the Grand Duke.

The Kingdom of Württemberg was created upon the abdication of its King the People's State (Volksstaat) of Württemberg. This had Arms which was later used by Württemberg-Hohenzollen, for picture see previous post.

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Greater Arms of the Kingdom of Württemberg.

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Greater Arms of the Grand Duchy of Baden.

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Greater Arms of the Prussian Province Hohenzollernsche Lande.

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

Re: Arms of the German Federal States (Bundesländer)

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 24 Aug 2013, 12:18

The Kingdom and later the Freestate of Bayern (Bavaria) (Freistaat a designation perefered to Republik following the Fall of the Monarchies) has allways have had a strong independent tendency, Today this is shown by still beeing one of the few Federal States that continue to use the designation Freistaat in its official designation.

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Greater Arms of the Freestate used 1923-1950 here made by Professor Otto Hupp. Field I shows the Bavarian blue and silver Arms, Field II the Arms of Pfalz, Field III Variation of the Arms of the Staufen/Swabia and Field IV Franconia.

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In 1950 there was a slighly rearangement of the Shield by plancing the Bavarian Arms in the Middle and by adding the Panther of the Pfalzcounts of Ortenburg to the Arms. The later to symbolise Upper and Lower Bavaria.

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Lesser Arms of Bavaria.

The Artist behind the 1950 Versions are Eduard Ege.

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Greater Arms of the Kingdom of Bavaria.

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

Re: Arms of the German Federal States (Bundesländer)

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 24 Aug 2013, 12:27

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Arms of the City and Land Berlin in the version used since 1954. Berlin has had separate adminstrative status since in was made independent from the Province of Brandenburg on 30 June 1883.

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Greater Arms of Berlin during the Imperial Times. This version approve in 1875 was shligthly changed in 1883 when the Head of the black Reich Eagle was turned to the other side.

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The Red Eagle of Brandenburg appears for the first time in the Zücher Wappenrolle of 1330. It has since been the symbol of Brandenburg. Which was recrated as a Bundesland following the unification of the two German States.

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Greater Arms of Brandenburg as a Province of the Kingdom of Prussia.

Marcus Karlsson
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Re: Arms of the German Federal States (Bundesländer)

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 25 Aug 2013, 10:46

The Free and Hanseatic City of Bremen becom a Imperial Free City in 1646 which ment that it was only answerable to the Emperor. Which infact meant that it was independent, and as such it has remained eversince and are today thogehter with Hamburg the sole remaint of the once numerus Imperial Free Cities that doted the map of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation.

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Flagg Arms of Bremen.

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Greater Arms of Bremen.

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Middle Arms of Bremen. The Lesser one which acctualy is a Badge consists of the Key only. The Key of St. Peter originates in the City's lesser Seal from 1366. The City's Cathedral was consecrated to St Peter. The former Archdiocese of Bremen used two Keys in saltite in its Arms.

During Napoleconic Times Bremen was briefely incorporated into France and in 1811 granted Arms as a Bonne Ville. Seen below without external ornaments. The Historical Arms was soon reinstated after the Fall of Napoleon.

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Marcus Karlsson
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Re: Arms of the German Federal States (Bundesländer)

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 25 Aug 2013, 10:56

The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg was made a Imperial Free City in 1510. The King of Denmark to which the territories surrounding Hamburg belonged at that time didn't acknowledge this until 1768. The Castle and Stars have been used in the Hamburg Arms since 1241, during the times a Crest and supporters had been added.

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Greater Arms of Hamburg in a modern version.

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Greater Arms of Hamburg, Hugo Gerard Ströhl*s Version from 1897.

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Middle Arms of Hamburg. The Lesser one shows the Shield only.

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

Re: Arms of the German Federal States (Bundesländer)

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 25 Aug 2013, 11:02

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Federal State of Hesse (Hessen) approved in 1949 but in reality similar to the one used by the People's State of Hesse following WW 1. The Striped Lion hails from the 13th Century when the Landgraf Konrad of Thuringia (died 1240) also ruled Hesse (until 1234). He used Arms with the Striped Lion which later also become Arms of Hesse. In the Arms of the Grand Duchy of Hesse-Dramstadt a Sword and Crown was added to the Lion.

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Arms of the People's State of Hesse.

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Arms of the Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt.

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

Re: Arms of the German Federal States (Bundesländer)

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 27 Aug 2013, 09:46

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania) is a modern day creation formed from the Former Freestates/Grand Duchies of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz plus the part of the former Prussian Province of Pomerania which was left to Germany after WW2. A lite bit of the Province of Brandenburg was also incorporated.

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Greater Arms of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern approved by Law of 23 July 1991. The Bulls head of Mecklenburg combined with the Griffin of Pomerania and the Eagle of Brandenburg.

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The lesser Arms with just Mecklenburg and Pomerania approved at the same time as the greater Arms.

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Freestate of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

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Freestate of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Later used by the Landkreis Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
Last edited by Marcus Karlsson on 27 Aug 2013, 10:00, edited 1 time in total.

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

Re: Arms of the German Federal States (Bundesländer)

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 27 Aug 2013, 09:57

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Greater Arms of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

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Greater Arms of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

The two are nearly identical, with the Mecklenburg-Strelitz lacking the Motto Scroll and Chain of the House Order of the Wendian Crown. Then Enschuteon shows the Arms of the County of Schwerin. The Bull's Head in field I are the Arms of the Duchy of Mecklenburg, Field II shows the Arms of the Lordship of Rostock, Field III is the Arms of the Principlaity of Schwerin, Field IV shows the Arms of the Principlaity of Ratzeburg, Field V Arms of the Lordship of Stargard, Field VI Arms of the Pricipality of Wenden (Lordship of Werle).

The Crests are in the Middle Duchy of Mecklenburg with on the dexter side the hors of the county of Schwerin and the issuant Griffin of the Principality of Schwerin. On the sinister side the Wings of the Lordship of Rostock and the Banners of the Principality of Ratzeburg.

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Greater Arms of the Prussian Province of Pomerania in "Republican" From used 1929-45.

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Greater Arms of the Prussian Province of Pomerania in "Royal" From approved in 1881.


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