Origin of the coats of arms of German federal states

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The origins of the coats of arms of German federal states covers the historical context for the current arms of the German länder.

After the end of the Third Reich, Germany had lost significant parts of its territory and was divided into four occupation zones. Several former states were split between two or more of these zones. The state of Prussia, which spread over more than half the territory of Germany, was shattered; on its former lands several new states were formed.

Some of these states were direct successors of former states, although the former borders had changed. Many of these states were new constructions. In some cases parts of former states were declared states; in other cases, parts of different states formed a new state. Only the Town states of Hamburg and Bremen survived the end of the Third Reich without significant changes of territory.

In 1957, the Saarland and in 1990 the five states of the former German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic. The Federal State and the single states all created new coats of arms.

Although these coats of arms were new creations, as were the states they represent, only the combination of the fields within the partition can be considered new. The states did not create new coats of arms, but adapted the centuries-old arms of the former states (or ruling houses) from whose territories they were formed.

Contents 1 Breakdown of arms and historical versions 1.1 Coat of arms of Baden-Württemberg 1.2 Coat of arms of Bavaria 1.3 Coat of arms of Berlin 1.4 Coat of arms of Brandenburg 1.5 Coat of arms of Bremen 1.6 Coat of arms of Hamburg 1.7 Coat of arms of Hesse 1.8 Coat of arms of Lower Saxony 1.9 Coat of arms of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 1.10 Coat of arms of North Rhine-Westphalia 1.11 Coat of arms of Rhineland-Palatinate 1.12 Coat of arms of Saarland 1.13 Coat of arms of Saxony 1.14 Coat of arms of Saxony-Anhalt 1.15 Coat of arms of Schleswig-Holstein 1.16 Coat of arms of Thuringia 2 References

[edit] Breakdown of arms and historical versions

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[edit] Coat of arms of Baden-Württemberg

• Coat of arms of Baden-Württemberg
  • Coat of arms of Hohenstaufen
  • Coat of arms of the Elector Palatine, one shield used in full arms
  • Coat of arms of Wurzburg, one shield used in full arms
  • Coat of arms of Baden, predecessor state of the Weimar Period and before; one shield used in full arms
    • Coat of arms of Württemberg-Baden, predecessor state of the Weimar Period
    • Coat of arms of Württemberg-Hohenzollern, predecessor state of the Weimar Period
      • Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Württemberg, historical state
  • Coat of arms of Hohenzollern, one shield used in full arms
    • Predecessing states (Zollern, Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, Hohenzollern-Hechingen and the Province of Hohenzollern) until Württemberg-Hohenzollern used these arms; rulers chose variations and additions thereupon.
  • Coat of arms of the Electoral Palatinate, one shield used in full arms
  • Coat of arms of Austria (lesser), one shield used in full arms

[edit] Coat of arms of Bavaria

• Coat of arms of Bavaria
  • Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Bavaria and preceding Wittelsbach dynasty
  • Coat of arms of Kraiburg
  • Franconian rake, one charge used in full arms
  • Coat of arms of the Elector Palatine, one charge used in full arms

[edit] Coat of arms of Berlin

• Coat of arms of Berlin
  • Historical arms

[edit] Coat of arms of Brandenburg

• Coat of arms of Brandenburg
  • Historical arms, including the Province of Brandenburg

[edit] Coat of arms of Bremen

• Coat of arms of Bremen
  • Historical arms

[edit] Coat of arms of Hamburg

• Coat of arms of Hamburg
  • Historical arms

[edit] Coat of arms of Hesse

• Coat of arms of Hesse
  • Historical arms

[edit] Coat of arms of Lower Saxony

• Coat of arms of Lower Saxony
  • Saxon Steed, principle charge and motif
    • Coat of arms of the Free State of Brunswick (1918–1946), predecessor state
    • Coat of arms of the Duchy of Brunswick (1815–1918) (full and lesser), predecessor state
    • Coat of arms of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1235–1708) predecessor state
    • Coat of arms of the Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Hanover), predecessor state
    • Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Hanover (1814–1866), predecessor state
    • Coat of arms of the Prussian Province of Hanover (1868–1946), predecessor state
    • Coat of arms of the Free State of Oldenburg (1918–1946), predecessor state
    • Coat of arms of Oldenburg (1180–1918), predecessor state
    • Coat of arms of the Free State of Schaumburg-Lippe (1918–1946), predecessor state
    • Coat of arms of Schaumburg-Lippe (1643–1918), predecessor state
    • Coat of arms of Schaumburg (1110–1640), predecessor state

[edit] Coat of arms of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

• Coat of arms of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
  • For history, see Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Duchy of Pomerania, predecessor states.

[edit] Coat of arms of North Rhine-Westphalia

• Coat of arms of North Rhine-Westphalia
  • For history, see also Rhine Province, Province of Westphalia and Principality of Lippe, predecessor states.

[edit] Coat of arms of Rhineland-Palatinate

• Coat of arms of Rhineland-Palatinate
  • Wheel of Mainz, principal charge
  • Coat of arms of the Elector Palatine, principal charge
  • Coat of arms of the Archbishop of Mainz (historical)

[edit] Coat of arms of Saarland

• Coat of arms of Saarland
  • Coat of arms of Nassau-Saarbrücken, predecessor state and one of the quarters of the arms
  • Coat of arms of the Duchy of Lorraine, predecessor state, predecessor state and one of the quarters of the arms
  • Coat of arms of the Archbishop of Trier, predecessor state, predecessor state and one of the quarters of the arms
  • Coat of arms of the Elector Palatine, predecessor state, predecessor state and one of the quarters of the arms
    • Coat of arms of the Saar under French protectorate (1947–1956)
    • Coat of arms of the Saar under League of Nations mandate (1920–1935)

[edit] Coat of arms of Saxony

• Coat of arms of Saxony
  • Historical arms

[edit] Coat of arms of Saxony-Anhalt

• Coat of arms of Saxony-Anhalt
  • Historical arms, including the Prussian province of Saxony
  • Coat of arms of Anhalt, predecessor Princedom

[edit] Coat of arms of Schleswig-Holstein

• Coat of arms of Schleswig-Holstein
  • Coat of arms of the Dukes of Holstein-Gottorp, predecessor dukedom

[edit] Coat of arms of Thuringia

• Coat of arms of Thuringia

[edit] References

v • d • e Coats of arms of Germany German states Baden-Württemberg • Bavaria • Berlin • Brandenburg • Bremen • Hamburg • Hesse • Lower Saxony • Mecklenburg-Vorpommern • North Rhine-Westphalia • Rhineland-Palatinate • Saarland • Saxony • Saxony-Anhalt • Schleswig-Holstein • Thuringia

v • d • e Coats of arms of Europe Sovereign states Albania · Andorra · Armenia1 · Austria · Azerbaijan2 · Belarus · Belgium · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus1 · Czech Republic · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Georgia2 · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Iceland · Ireland · Italy · Kazakhstan3 · Latvia · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Macedonia · Malta · Moldova · Monaco · Montenegro · Netherlands · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Russia3 · San Marino · Serbia · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · Turkey3 · Ukraine · United Kingdom (England • Northern Ireland • Scotland • Wales) · Vatican City Other entities European Union · Sovereign Military Order of Malta Dependencies, autonomies, other territories Abkhazia 2 · Adjara1 · Adygea · Akrotiri and Dhekelia · Åland · Azores · Bashkortostan · Catalonia · Chechnya · Chuvashia · Crimea · Dagestan · Faroe Islands · Gagauzia · Gibraltar · Guernsey · Ingushetia · Jan Mayen · Jersey · Kabardino-Balkaria · Kalmykia · Karachay-Cherkessia · Republic of Karelia · Komi Republic · Kosovo · Madeira · Isle of Man · Mari El · Mordovia · Nagorno-Karabakh1 · Nakhchivan1 · North Ossetia-Alania · Northern Cyprus1 · South Ossetia 2 · Svalbard · Tatarstan · Transnistria · Udmurtia · Vojvodina Italics indicates an unrecognised or partially recognised country.  1 Entirely in Asia, but historically considered European.  2 Partially or entirely in Asia, depending on the border definitions.  3 Transcontinental country.