Schmalkalden (kreis)

Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of Germany - Deutsche Wappen (Gemeindewappen/Kreiswappen)

SCHMALKALDEN (SM)

State :Thüringen
Incorporated into : 1994 Schmalkalden-Meiningen

Origin/meaning :
The arms were officially granted on May 5, 1992.

The arms show (parts of) the arms of different rulers of the district during the centuries. The first quarter shows the rooster from the Henneberg County, the second the lion of Hessen, the third the lion of Thüringen and the fourth the arms of Sachsen. The are belonged to Henneberg and Hessen until 1583, when the Counts of Henneberg became extinct. Until 1944 the area belonged to Hessen and Hessen-Nassau. From 1945-50 it was part of Thüringen, in 1952 the area was enlarged with parts historically belonging to the duhies Sachsen-Meiningen and Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach.

Literature : Ulle, 1994