Roßlau

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ROSSLAU

State : Sachsen-Anhalt
District (Kreis) : Anhalt-Zerbst
Additions : 1965 Meinsdorf; 2001 Streetz; 2003 Mühlstedt
Incorporated into : 1935-45 Dessau; 2007 Dessau-Roßlau

Official blazon

(de) In Silber auf blauen Wellen ein linkshin fahrendes rotes Segelschiff, auf dessen goldenem Segel ein aufgerichteter, linksgewendeter, silbern gekrönter und rot bewehrter schwarzer Bär steht mit je einem abgewendeten Beil in beiden Vordertatzen; die rote Mastspitze mit einem blauen Karpfen beheftet; am Bug die Stadtfahne in Blau über Silber

Origin/meaning

The arms show a ship on the Elbe river, as a symbol for the longtime importance of shipping for the economy of the city. Already in 1439 there was a toll station in the town for ships sailiing the Elbe.

The bear on the sail is taken from the arms of the Dukes of Anhalt, lords of the city since around 1300. The axes in the fron paws symbolise forestry and trading in timber.

Above the sail is a carp. There are two stories regarding the origin of the carp. The first story tells that when they wanted to built a new city hall in 1740, they needed to empty the local pond on the town square. A large carp was found in the pond, which was later symbolised as a weather vane. From that it ended up in the arms. The other stody tells that during a large flood of the Elbe a large carp was found in a room in the town hall.

The small flag on the ship shows the historical colours blue and silver.