Berlin
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Country:Germany  State:Berlin
Additions:Municipalities without arms
Berlin districts: |
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
The oldest seal of Berlin (1253)
The seals of Berlin from 1338 and 1460
The arms in the Armorial Jörg Rügen (1495)
The arms in a manuscript from 1514
The arms in a 16th century manuscript
The arms of Berlin in 1780
The arms of Berlin in 1839
The arms in an album from around 1905
The arms in an album from around 1910
The arms in an album from around 1950
The arms in an album from 1968
The arms in the Kaffee Hag albums +/- 1918
The arms by Hupp in the Kaffee Hag albums +/- 1925
>The arms on a Siegerin Margarine card
The arms in the Stollwerck series
(actually the Prussian arms)
The arms in a British cigarette card
The arms in the Abdulla-Deutsche Städtewappen album 1928
The arms on a cinderella, around 1900
The arms on a matchbox label, 1960s
The arms on a postcard
The arms on a postcard
The arms on a postcard
The arms on a postcard
Literature:Stadler, 1964-1971, 8 volumes; Machatscheck, 1987; Vogel, 1987
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