Berlin

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Wappen von Berlin/Arms (crest) of Berlin
BERLIN

Country : Germany
Germany.jpg




State : Berlin
Additions: Municipalities with arms




Additions: Municipalities without arms

  • 1861 Moabit
  • 1920 Adlershof
  • 1920 Biesdorf
  • 1920 Blankenburg
  • 1920 Blankenfelde
  • 1920 Dahlme
  • 1920 Falkenberg
  • 1920 Frohnau
  • 1920 Gartenfeld
  • 1920 Gatow
  • 1920 Giesensdorf
  • 1920 Grünau
  • 1920 Grunewald
  • 1920 Grunewald-Forst
  • 1920 Haselhorst
  • 1920 Heinersdorf
  • 1920 Hessenwinkel
  • 1920 Karolinenhof
  • 1920 Karow
  • 1920 Kaulsdorf
  • 1920 Kladow
  • 1920 Klein-Glienecke
  • 1920 Malchow
  • 1920 Mariendorf
  • 1920 Niederschöneweide
  • 1920 Nikolassee
  • 1920 Pfaueninsel
  • 1920 Pichelsdorf
  • 1920 Staaken
  • 1920 Steinstücken
  • 1920 Waidmannslust
  • 1920 Wannsee
  • 1920 Wilhelmshagen
  • 1920 Wilhelmsruh


Berlin districts:



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Origin/meaning

Berlin and its neighbouring village Kölln/Cölln were two fishing villages that received city rights in 1230 and were united in 1307 for the first time (only in 1709 Kölln became finally a part of Berlin). The city gradually gained importance and was one of the major cities in Brandenburg.

In 1701 it became the capital of Prussia, in 1871 of Germany. Between 1945 and 1989 the city was divided and at present it is again the capital of Germany.

The oldest seal of Berlin dates from 1253 and shows the eagle of Brandenburg in front of a city wall (see also Spandau).

In 1280 on the new great seal the complete arms of the Dukes of Brandenburg are shown. On both sides of these arms a small shield appears, on which the canting bear can be seen. Soon afterwards the bear became the main symbol of the city. The bear also appears on medieval rolls of arms (see below).

On a seal from 1388 the bear has the arms of Brandenburg hanging on its neck, in 1448 the eagle appears on the back of a walking bear. The bear as the sole symbol does not appear on seals before 1618. Before that date it appeared as the sole symbol on coins and rolls of arms.

After the merger with the cities Kölln, Friedrichswerder and Dorotheenstadt in 1709, the bear became the main symbol. It was shown in a point, with the eagle of Brandenburg and the red eagle of Kölln above the point.

In 1839 the point was replaced by a small shield with the bear and a mural crown on the shield. The small arms of the city still only showed the bear.

After the declaration of the Republic in 1918 the arms of Brandenburg were removed and the bear was again the sole arms of the city. After Berlin had become a State within the German Federal Republic, the arms of the city were also used as arms of the State. At present the united Berlin again uses only the bear as the arms of city and State.

Image gallery

Literature: Stadler, 1964-1971, 8 volumes; Machatscheck, 1987; Vogel, 1987




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