Arms of the German Federal States (Bundesländer)

Heraldry of the German speaking countries
Jonathan Webster
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Re: Arms of the German Federal States (Bundesländer)

Postby Jonathan Webster » 01 Sep 2013, 11:36

I especially like Otto Hupp's Weimar Republic-era depictions-the Hugo Strohl pictures are of course from his 'Deutsche Wappenrolle'-was there an equivalent publication that Hupp's pictures were taken from and if so does anyone know if it's still in print?

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

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 01 Sep 2013, 11:37

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The Arms of the Federal State of Rhineland-Palatine (Rheinland-Pfalz) was approved on 10 May 1948. It includes the Cross from the Archdiocese-Chur Prinicpality of Trier, the Wheel from the Arms of the Archdiocese-Chur Principality of Mainz and the Lion of Palatine.

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Arms of Saarland, approved by Law 9 July 1956, which begun to have legal force upon the entry of Saarland into the Federal Republic of Germany on 1 January 1957. Field I county of Saarbrücken, Field II Archdiocese-Chur Principality of Trier, Field III Duchy of Lothringen (Lorraine) and Field IV County of Palatine-Zweibrücken.

These Arms are based upon the one created in 1856 for the Historical Society of the Saar Area, seen below:

[img]ia/de/thumb/0/0e/Saargegend_Wappen.svg/425px-Saargegend_Wappen.svg.png[/img]

During 1947-56 Saarland was a French Protectorate. After a referendum Saarland joined The Federal Republic of Germany in 1957. During the Protectorate Arms as shown below was used:

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Prior to WW I there existed no separate administrative area called Saarland, but the changes brought by the German loss in the War brought about the first creating of this the Saargebiet. Arms for this unit was approved 28 July 1920:

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Field I Arms of the City of St. Ingbert, Fields II and IV from the Arms of the City of Saarbrücken, Field III Arms of the City of Saarlouis, whitout the chief of France.

The Saargebiet held a semi-independent status, but a referendum brougth about unification with Germany in 1935, the Arms then become obsolete.

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

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 01 Sep 2013, 11:40

Jonathan Webster wrote:I especially like Otto Hupp's Weimar Republic-era depictions-the Hugo Strohl pictures are of course from his 'Deutsche Wappenrolle'-was there an equivalent publication that Hupp's pictures were taken from and if so does anyone know if it's still in print?


I'am not sure if there was a publication like Deutsche Wappenrolle for Hupp's Arms. But I know that he published the Müncherner Wappenkalender with territorial and other Arms. Maybe they appeared in that.

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

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 16 Sep 2013, 09:32

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Arms of the Freestate of Saxony. This Arms are traced back to 1260.

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Greater Arms of the Former Kingdom of Saxony.

In the enschteon the Arms of Saxony, the main Shield shows in I. the Sable Lion of the Markgrafschaft Meissen, II. Landgrafschaft Thuringia, III. Palatine Thuringia, IV Palatine Saxony, V.Lordship of Pleissen, VI. County of Voigtland, VII. County of Orlamünde, VIII. Markgrafschaft Landsberg, IX. combined Markgrafschaft Oberlausitz (the Wall), Burggrafschaft Altenburg (the Rose) and the Princely county of Henneberg (the Rooster), X. Lordship of Eisenberg.

The Crests are in the Middle Saxony, on the dexter side Landgrafschaft Thuringia (Horns with lindenbranches) and County of voigtland (Dog's head). On the sinister side Markgrafschaft Meissen (the Man's head) and Oberlausitz (the Wing). The Order is the Order of the Rautenkrone founded 1807.

NB: In some instances I have kept the German territorial designation as I have found no good English translation.

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

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 16 Sep 2013, 09:44

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Arms of the Federal State of Saxony-Anhalt. The Upper part alludes to the Former Prussian Province of Saxony. This was the part of the Kingdom of Saxony that after the Napoleonic Wars was made part of the Kingdom of Prussia as punishment for Saxony having supported Napoleon. The Lower Part are the Arms of the Former Freestate of Anhalt. Following World War II Prussian Saxony and the Freestate of Anhalt was united to form Saxony-Anhalt.

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Arms of Saxony-Anhalt used 1947-52. The Land was in what become the German Democratic Republic, in which all Lands was abolished in 1952 and replaced by Soviet Style Districts (in German Bezirke). Following German Unification the Lands in the former GDR was resurrected.

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Greater Arms of the Province of Saxony. Note that for difference from the Arms of the Kingdom of Saxony the Fesses in the Province's Arms begin with a Golden one.
Last edited by Marcus Karlsson on 16 Sep 2013, 10:06, edited 1 time in total.

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

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 16 Sep 2013, 09:59

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Lesser Arms of the Province of Saxony 1927.

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Freestate of Anhalt.

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Greater Arms of the Duchy of Anhalt.

The enschuteon show the Arms of Anhalt. The Main shield shows in I. Duchy of Saxony, II. Palatine of Saxony, III. Duchy of Engern, IV. the Beringer Family Line, V. the enschuteon, VI. Lordship of Ballenstedt, VII. county of Askanien, VIII. County of Waldersee, IX. High County of Warmsdorf, X. County of Mühlingen, XI. no meaning just filler, XII. Lordship of Bernburg.

The Crests are from dexter to sinister:
1. County of Mühlingen, 2. Duchy of Engern, 3. Beringer Family Line, 4. Anhalt, 5. Duchy of Saxony, 6. Palatine of Saxony och 7. County of Askanien.

The Order surrounding the Shield are the Houseorder of Albrecht the Bear founded 18 November 1836.

The Lesser Arms of the Duchy was the enschuteon crowned with a Ducal Crown.

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

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 16 Sep 2013, 10:06

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Federal State of Schleswig-Holstein. Showing the Lions of Schleswig and the Nettle Leave of Holstein. The later an inheritance from the Counts of Schauenburg (later Schaumburg/Schaumburg-Lippe) and Holstein.

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Greater Arms of the Prussian Province of Schleswig-Holstein.

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Lesser Arms of Schleswig-Holstein following the fall of the Prussian Monarchy.

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

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 24 Sep 2013, 20:30

The last federal state Thuringia was formed as the Freestate or Thuringia in 1920 by uniting the Grand-Duchy of Saxony-Weimar-Eisenach, The Duchy of Saxony-Altenburg, the Duchy of Saxony-Meiningen-Hildburghausen, the Duchy of Saxony-Coburg and Gotha, the Principality of Reuß older line (or Reuß-Greiz), the Principlaity of Reuß younger line (or Reuß-Gera-Köstritz), the Principality of Sacharzburg-Rudolstadt and the Principality of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen. In 1919 the Two Reuß states was united to form the Republic of Reuß.

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Arms of the Freestate of Thuringia 1921-1933. The seven Stars alludes to the seven States forming Thuringia in 1920.

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In 1933 following the taking of Power by the Nationalsocialists, Thuringia's Arms was changed. In the enschuteon the Lion of the medival counts of Thuringia is holding the symbol of the new regime. The Main sheild shows in I. the Arms of Saxony for the former Saxon Duchies, II. shows the Eagle from teh Arms of the former Schwarzburg Principalities, III. shows the Lion of Reuß and IV. shows the Arms of the Counts of Henneberg.

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In 1945 new Arms was intruduced for Thuringia. To the Arms of 1921 the Lion of Thuringia has been added. Also an eight Star appears symbolising the former Prussian territories now incorporated into Thuringia. Yes to the many Duchies and Principalities dividing the Area prior to 1920 one should also add small patches of territories belonging to the Kingdom of Prussia (and later to the Freestate of Prussia) Like the City of Erfurt. Following the territorial reorganisation of the GDR Thuringia was abolished in 1952 beeing divided into the Districts of Erfurt, Gera and Suhl.
Last edited by Marcus Karlsson on 07 Dec 2013, 11:01, edited 2 times in total.

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

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 24 Sep 2013, 20:41

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Following the German reunification in 1990 Thuringia reemerged with yet a new Arms. This was more closely based on the Arms of the Counts of Thuringia. The eight Stars with the same meaning as in the 1945 Arms was kept.

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Greater Arms of the Grand-Duchy of Saxony-Weimar-Eisenach.

In the enscutheon the Arms of Saxony. the Main shield shows in I. the County of Thuringia, II. Markgrafschaft Meissen, III. Princely county of Henneberg impaling the Lordship of Neustadt-Arnshaugk and IV. the Lordship of Blankenhein impaling the Lordship of Tautenburg.

The Crests are Saxony between Thuringia and Meissen.

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

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 07 Dec 2013, 11:00

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Duchy of Saxony-Altenburg.
The Arms of Saxony are placed on the Arms of the Markgrafschaft Landsberg (field V). The other fields show I. Lantgrafschaft Thuringia, II. Duchy of Kleve (Cleves), III. Meissen, IV. Duchy of Jülich, VI. Duchy of Berg, VII. Palatine of Saxony, VIII. Palatine of Thuringia, IX. County of Orlamünde, X. County of Altenburg, XI. Lordship of Pleissen, XII. Lordship of Eisenberg, XIII. Duchy of Wetphalia, XIV. County of Brena, XV. County of Mark, XVI. County of Ravenstein, XVII. County of Ravensberg, XVIII. Lordship of Römhild, XIX. Princley County of Henneberg and XX. filling field with no meaning.

The Crests are middle Saxony, on the Dexter side: Duchy of Berg, Duchy of Cleves and Mark, Lantgrafschaft Thuringia. On the Sinister side Meissen, Jülich and Engern.

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Middle Arms of Saxony-Altenburg. Enschuteon Saxony, Fields I. Altenburg, II. Eisenberg, III. Orlamünde and IV. Pleissen. The Crests are Saxony between Thuringia (dexter) and Meissen (sinsiter).

The lesser Arms (not shown) was the Shield of Saxony placed on a Reagaly crowned Purpure Mantle.


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