Origin of the coats of arms of German federal states

The current länder

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 historical state of Prussia, which spread over more than half the territory of Germany, was officially abolished by the Allies; and several new states were formed from its former lands while other parts were annexed by Poland or the USSR.

Some of these states were direct successors of former states, although the former borders changed; others were new constructions. In some cases parts of former states were declared states; in other cases, parts of different states formed a new town. Only the historic city-states of Hamburg and Bremen survived the end of the Third Reich without significant changes of their territory.

The Federal Republic was joined by the Saarland in 1957 and by five states of the former German Democratic Republic in 1990. Each of these states adopted new arms upon joining the federation, by combining the centuries-old coats of the former states (or ruling houses) from whose territories they were formed.

Breakdown of arms and historical versions

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

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

Coat of arms of Berlin

• Coat of arms of Berlin
  • Historical arms

Coat of arms of Brandenburg

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

Coat of arms of Bremen

• Coat of arms of Bremen
  • Historical arms

Coat of arms of Hamburg

• Coat of arms of Hamburg
  • Historical arms

Coat of arms of Hesse

• Coat of arms of Hesse
  • Historical arms

Coat of arms of Lower Saxony

• Coat of arms of Lower Saxony
  • Saxon Steed, principal 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

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.

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.

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)

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)

Coat of arms of Saxony

• Coat of arms of Saxony
  • Historical arms

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

Coat of arms of Schleswig-Holstein

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

Coat of arms of Thuringia

• Coat of arms of Thuringia

References