Berlin-Mitte
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BERLIN-MITTE (Ortsteil und Bezirk)
State : Berlin
Additions : 2001 Tiergarten,Wedding
German | blazon wanted |
English | blazon wanted |
Origin/meaning
In 2001 the Berlin districts were re-organised and the new district Mitte was created from the old Mitte as well as Tiergarten and Wedding. The new district recieved its arms on October 9, 2001.
The new arms show the position of the district in the centre of Berlin; the small shield with the bear and the division of the shield in 6 fields. The red and silver are the colours of Berlin. The bear holds a small shield with a sceptre. The sceptre is the symbol of power and indicates that the city has been the capital of many different areas and countries. The sceptre was also part of the arms of Dorotheenstadt, one of the historical cities that are now part of the district.
Berlin-Mitte is the oldest part of Berlin and until 1920, when the Berlin districts were established, its arms were identical to the arms of the city as a whole. The new district chose as its arms the eagle of Brandenburg, which was taken from the seal of the former city of Cölln, which also was part of the district. The use of the arms was abandoned after 1945.
The seals of Cölln from 1399 and the 16th century |
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The arms of 1920-1945 |
The oldest seal of Berlin (1253) |
The arms of 1987 |
Literature: Machatscheck, 1987; Vogel, 1987, new image from http://www-berlinstreet-de.startplus.de/archiv/103/21-2.html