Coat of arms of Germany

Federal coat of arms of Germany
Federal coat of arms of Germany
Versions
	Version (Bundesschild) used on the German state and military flags
Armiger	Federal Republic of Germany
Adopted	20 January 1950;75 years ago
Shield	Or, aneagledisplayedsablearmed beaked andlanguedgules

The coat of arms ofGermany,also known asBundeswappendisplays a blackeaglewith a red beak, a red tongue and red feet on a golden field, which isblazoned:Or, an eagle displayed sable beaked langued and membered gules.This is theBundesadler(Germanfor'Federal Eagle'), formerly known asReichsadler(German:[ˈʁaɪ̯çsˌʔaːdlɐ]^ⓘ,German for'Imperial Eagle'). It is one of the oldest coats of arms in the world, and today the oldestnational symbolused in Europe.

It is a re-introduction of thecoat of armsof theWeimar Republic(in use 1919–1935), which was adopted by theFederal Republic of Germanyin 1950.^[1]The current official design is due toKarl-Tobias Schwab[de](1887–1967) and was originally introduced in 1928.

TheGerman Empireof 1871–1918 had re-introduced the medieval coat of arms of theHoly Roman Emperors,in use during the 13th and 14th centuries (a black single-headed eagle on a golden background), before the emperors adopted thedouble-headed eagle,beginning withSigismund of Luxemburgin 1433. The single-headed Prussian Eagle (on a white background; blazoned:Argent, an eagle displayed sable) was used as an escutcheon to represent the Prussian kings as dynasts of the German Empire. The Weimar Republic introduced a version in which the escutcheon and other monarchical symbols were removed.

TheFederal Republic of Germanyadopted theWeimareagle as its symbol in 1950. Since then, it has been known as theBundesadler( "federal eagle" ). The legal basis of the use of this coat of arms is the announcement by PresidentTheodor Heuss,ChancellorKonrad Adenauerand Interior MinisterGustav Heinemannof 20 January 1950, which is word for word identical to the announcement by PresidentFriedrich Ebertand Interior MinisterErich Koch-Weserby 11 November 1919:

By reason of a decision of the Federal Government I hereby announce that the Federal coat of arms on a gold-yellow shield shows the one headed black eagle, the head turned to the right, the wings open but with closed feathering, beak, tongue and claws of red color. If the Federal Eagle is shown without a frame, the same charge and colors as those of the eagle of the Federal coat of arms are to be used, but the tops of the feathers are directed outside. The patterns kept by the Federal Ministry of the Interior are definitive for the heraldic design. The artistic design is reserved to each special purpose.
— The Federal President Theodor Heuß, The Federal Chancellor Adenauer, The Federal Minister of the Interior Heinemann, Announcement concerning the federal coat of arms and the federal eagle.^[2]

Since the accession (1990) of thestatesthat used to form theGerman Democratic Republic,the Federal Eagle has been the symbol of thereunifiedGermany.

Official depictions of the eagle can be found not only in the federal coat of arms but also on the federal institutions flag, thestandardof thepresident of Germanyand official seals. These are designs by various artists of the Weimar period and differ primarily in the shape and position of the wings. A large and rather plump version of the eagle decorates the chamber of theBundestag,the German parliament; it is sometimes calledFette Henne( "Fat Hen" ), with a similar representation found on theGerman euro coins. In addition to the official depictions, artistic renderings of the federal eagle are permitted and have found their way onto coins, stamps and the letterhead of federal authorities. In 1997 the Federal Press Office implemented a slightly simplified version of the original von Weech seal design which has since been used as a corporate design of the Federal government especially for publications and media appearances. It has no official status though as it is not mentioned in any ordinance or shown in the binding patterns of 1952 still in effect.^[3]

Variants employed by institutions

Bundestag	Bundesrat	President	Cabinet	Federal Constitutional Court

The arms emblazoned on theGerman 1 euro coin(l.), as wellLudwig Gies's sculpture of the eaglecharge,as displayed previously in theFederal parliamentinBonn(m.) and presently in theReichstag buildinginBerlin(r.), respectively

Previous versions

Holy Roman Empire

Or, an eagle displayed sable, beaked and membered gules,attributedimperial coat of arms ofHenry VI, Holy Roman Emperor

The GermanImperial Eagle(Reichsadler) originates from a proto-heraldic emblem believed to have been used byCharlemagne,the first Frankish ruler crownedHoly Roman Emperorby thePopein 800, and derived ultimately from theAquilaoreagle standard,of theRoman army.

By the 13th century the imperial coat of arms was generally recognized as:Or, an eagle displayed sable beaked and membered gules(a black eagle with wings expanded with red beak and legs on a gold field). During the medieval period the imperial eagle was usually single-headed. Adouble-headed eagleisattributedas the arms ofFrederick IIin theChronica Majora(c. 1250). In 1433 the double-headed eagle was adopted bySigismund, Holy Roman Emperor.Thereafter the double-headed eagle was used as the arms of the German emperor, and hence as the symbol of theHoly Roman Empire of the German Nation.From the 12th century the Emperors also used a personal coat of arms separate from the imperial arms. From the reign ofAlbert II(reigned 1438–39), theEmperorsbore the old Imperial arms with aninescutcheon of pretenceof his personal family arms, which appears as the black eagle with an escutcheon on his breast.

Coats of arms of the Holy Roman Empire
Usual depiction of arms of Holy Roman Emperor (c. 1200– c. 1300)
Coat of Arms of the Holy Roman Emperor (c.1300-c.1400)
First depiction of theReichsadleras a double-headed eagle (coat of arms ofOtto IVfrom theChronica Majora,c. 1250)
Coat of arms of theHoly Roman Empirewith twoputti(1540s manuscript)
Imperial coat of arms (Römischer Kayserlicher und Königlicher Mayestät Wappen) fromSiebmachers Wappenbuch(1605)
Coat of arms from 1804 to 1806 underFrancis II

German Confederation

Germany's first national parliament meeting in Frankfurt. The double-headed eagle, now without the haloes of the Holy Roman Emperor's eagle, can be seen.

In 1815, aGerman Confederation(Bund) of 39 loosely united German states was founded on the territory of the former Holy Roman Empire. Until 1848, the confederation did not have a coat of arms of its own. The Federal Diet (Bundestag) meeting atFrankfurt am Mainused a seal which carried the emblem of theAustrian Empire,since Austria had taken over the union's leadership. It showed a black, double-headed eagle, which Austria had adopted just before the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation.

During the1848 revolution,a newReichcoat of arms was adopted by theNational Assemblythat convened inSt. Paul's ChurchinFrankfurt.The black double-headed eagle was retained, but without the four symbols of the emperor: the sword, the imperial orb, the sceptre and the crown. The eagle rested on a golden shield; above was a five-pointed golden star. On both sides the shield was flanked by three flags with the colors black-red-gold. The emblem, however, never gained general acceptance.

The coat of arms itself was the result of a decision of thefederal assembly:

The federal assembly constitutes the old German imperial eagle with the surrounding scripture "German Confederation" and the colors of the former German imperial coat of arms – black, red, gold – to be the coat of arms and colors of the German Confederation and reserves the right, to make further decision about its use according to the lecture of the committee.
— The Federal Assembly of the German Confederation, Federal decision about coat of arms and colors of the German Confederation of 19 March 1848 ^[4]

Coats of arms in the times of the German Confederation
Coat of arms of theAustrian Empire,1804–1867
Coat of arms of theGerman Confederation,1815–1866
Coat of arms of theGerman Empire,1848–1849

North German Confederation

In 1867, theNorth German Confederationwas established without Austria and the four southern German states (Bavaria,Württemberg,Baden,Hesse-Darmstadtwith only its southern half) and under the leadership of theKingdom of Prussia(seeCoat of arms of Prussia). A new coat of arms was adopted, which consisted of a shield with the colors black-white-red, flanked by twowild menholding cudgels and standing on a pedestal.

Coat of arms of the North German Confederation

German Empire

Many of the traditionalGerman Student Corpsuse varying forms of the black eagle as part of their coat of arms, such as theCorps Altsachsen in Dresden.

TheReichsadlerhad already been introduced at the Proclamation of Versailles, although the first version had been only a provisional one. The design of the eagle was altered at least twice during theGerman Empire(1871–1918). It shows the imperial eagle, a comparatively realistic black eagle, with the heraldic crown of theGerman Empire.The eagle has a red beak, tongue and claws, with open wings and feathers. In contrast to its predecessor, the eagle of the German Confederation, it has only one head, looking to the right, symbolising that important parts of the old empire, Austria and Bohemia, were not part of this new empire. Its legal basis was an imperial rescript:

To the Reich Chancellor Prince of Bismarck. Following your report of 27 June of this year I authorise: 1. that public authorities and public servants, appointed by the Emperor according to the requirements of the constitution and the laws of the German Empire, are to be called imperial; 2. that the black, one-headed, rightward-looking eagle with red beak, tongue and claws, without scepter and orb, on the breast shield the Prussian eagle, overlaid with the shield of the House of Hohenzollern,(i.e. withinescutcheon of pretenceof Hohenzollern ( "quarterly argent and sable" ))over the same the crown in the form of the crown of Charlemagne, but with two crossing bows, may be brought into use; 3. that the Imperial standard [Script continues]
— Kaiser Wilhelm, Rescript of August third, 1871, concerning the names of the public authorities and public servants of the German Empire, as well as the declaration of the Imperial coat of arms and the Imperial standard^[5]

The coats of arms of the German Empire (1871–1918)
Lesser coat of arms of the German Emperor
Coat of arms of the German Emperor with crest: imperial coat of arms of His Majesty, 27 April 1871 – 3 August 1871
Greater coat of arms of the German Emperor: imperial coat of arms of His Majesty
Middle coat of arms of the German Emperor
Provisional coat of arms of the German Empire at the Proclamation of Versailles
Small or 'lesser' coat of arms of the German Empire, 1871–1889
Small or 'lesser' coat of arms of the German Empire, 1889–1918

Weimar Republic

Title page of the Constitution of the Weimar Republic, with Schwab's design of the coat of arms

After the introduction of the republic the coat of arms of Germany was also altered accounting for the political changes. TheWeimar Republic(1918–1933), retained theReichsadlerwithout the symbols of the former Monarchy (Crown, Collar, Breast shield with the Prussian Arms). This left the black eagle with one head, facing to the right, with open wings but closed feathers, with a red beak, tongue and claws and white highlighting.

The republicanReichsadleris based on theReichsadlerintroduced by thePaulskirche Constitutionof 1849, which was decided by theGermany National Assemblyin Frankfurt upon Main, at the peak of the German civic movement demanding parliamentary participation and the unification of the German states. The achievements and signs of this movement had been mostly done away after its downfall and the political reaction in the 1850s. Only the tiny GermanPrincipality of Waldeck-Pyrmontupheld the tradition and continued to use theGerman colourscalledSchwarz-Rot-Goldin German (English:Black-Red-Or).

These signs had remained symbols of the Paulskirche movement and Weimar Germany wanted to express its view of being also originated in that political movement between 1848 and 1852. The republican coat of arms took up the idea of the German crest established by the Paulskirche movement, using the samecharge animal,an eagle, in the same colors (black, red and or), but modernising its form, including a reduction of the heads from two to one. The artistic rendition of the eagle was very realistic. This eagle is mounted on a yellow (golden) shield. The coat of arms was announced in 1919 by the PresidentFriedrich Ebertand Interior MinisterErich Koch-Weser:

By reason of a decision of the Reich's Government I hereby announce, that the Imperial coat of arms on a gold-yellow shield shows the one headed black eagle, the head turned to the right, the wings open but with closed feathering, beak, tongue and claws in red colour. If the Reich's Eagle is shown without a frame, the same charge and colors as those of the eagle of the Reich's coat of arms are to be used, but the tops of the feathers are directed outside. The patterns kept by the Federal Ministry of the Interior are decisive for the heraldic design. The artistic design may be varied for each special purpose.
— President Ebert; Minister of the Interior, Koch, Announcement concerning the federal coat of arms and the imperial eagle of 11 November 1919^[6]

However, in 1928 the Reichswappen (Reich's coat of arms) designed by Tobias Schwab (1887–1967) in 1926 (or 1924^{[note 1]}) for the German Olympic team became the official emblem.^[7]^[8]^[9]The Reichswehr adopted the new Reichswappen already in 1927.^[9]Emil Doepler's earlier design then became theReichsschild(Reich'sescutcheon) with restricted use such aspennantfor government vehicles. In 1920,Sigmund von Weech[de]designed aStaatssiegel(State seal), of which the smaller version was used since 1921 by all Reich ministries and authorities on official documents as a consistent sign. It also appeared on the German passports. In 1949, theFederal Republic of Germanyadopted all signs of Weimar Republic, Reichswappen, Reichsschild, Staatssiegel, Reichsflagge as Bundeswappen, Bundesschild. Bundessiegel and Bundesflagge in the 1950s.^[9]

Coats of arms of the Weimar Republic (1919–1933)

Coat of arms of the German Reich (Reichswappen), 1919–28	Coat of arms of the German Reich (Reichswappen), 1928–35	TheReichsschild(Reich's escutcheon), used on governmental flags of the Weimar Republic between 1921 and 1933	The small coat of arms as used on official seals and for federal institutions, 1921–1935

Nazi Germany

Nazi Germanyused the Weimar coat of arms until 1935. TheNazi Partyused a stylised black eagle above an oak wreath, with aswastikaat its centre. With the eagle looking over its left shoulder, that is, looking to the right from the viewer's point of view, it symbolises the Nazi Party, and was therefore called theParteiadler.After 1935 the Nazis introduced their party symbol as the national insignia (Hoheitszeichen) as well. This version symbolises the country (Reich) and was therefore called theReichsadler.It can be distinguished from theParteiadlerbecause the eagle of the latter is looking over its right shoulder, that is, looking to the left from the viewer's point of view. The emblem was established by a regulation made by the Fuhrer and Reich ChancellorAdolf Hitler,5 November 1935:

To express the unity of party and state in relation to their emblems too, I decide:
Article 1The Reich holds as emblem of its nationality the national emblem of the National Socialist German Workers Party.
Article 2The national emblems of the Wehrmacht remain intact.
Article 3The announcement concerning the imperial coat of arms and the imperial eagle (Reichsgesetzbl. Pg 1877) is cancelled.
Article 4In agreement with the Representative of the Führer, the Reich Minister of the Interior will enact the regulations necessary to implement Article 1.
— The Führer and Reich Chancellor Adolf Hitler (and others), Regulation concerning the national emblem of the reich of 5 November 1935^[10]

Hitler added on 7 March 1936 that:

In relation to the Regulation concerning the national emblem of the Reich of 5 November 1935, Article 1, I decide: The national emblem of the Reich shows the swastika surrounded by an oak wreath, on the oak wreath an eagle with spread wings. The head of the eagle is turned to the right. For the heraldic design of the national emblem, the included patterns are decisive. The artistic design is varied for each special purpose.
— The Führer and Reich Chancellor Adolf Hitler (and others), Regulation concerning the design of the national emblem of the Reich of 7 March 1936^[11]

Insignia of Nazi Germany (1933–45)

Coat of arms of the German Reich (Reichswappen), 1933–35	Emblem of the German Reich (Reichsadler), 1935–45	Emblem of theNSDAP(Parteiadler)	Variant emblem of the NSDAP (Parteiadler)	Variant emblem of the German Reich for a German Army (Heer) helmet

German Democratic Republic

Proposed coat of arms of the DDR (1949)

East Germany(German Democratic Republic) used asocialist insigniafrom 1950 until itsreunificationwithWest Germanyin 1990. In 1959 the insignia was also added to theflag of East Germany.

Insignia of the German Democratic Republic

Emblem of East Germany, 1950–53	Emblem of East Germany, 1953–55	Emblem of East Germany, 1955–90

Notes

^According to sources of the Germany national football team Schwab created the emblem for the team in 1924.

References

^Bekanntmachung betreffend das Bundeswappen und den Bundesadler(Proclamation on the Federal Coat-of-Arms and the Federal Eagle), published 20 January 1950, in theBundesgesetzblattI 1950, p. 26, andBekanntmachung über die farbige Darstellung des Bundeswappens(Proclamation on the Coloured Representation of the Federal Coat-of-Arms), published 4 July 1952 in theBundesanzeiger№ 169, 2 September 1952.
^Heuss, Theodor;Adenauer, Konrad;Heinemann, Gustav(20 January 1950),Bekanntmachung betreffend das Bundeswappen und den Bundesadler[Announcement concerning the federal coat of arms and the federal eagle], Bonn{{citation}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Walter J. Schütz: Die Republik und ihr Adler. Staatliche Formgebung von Weimar bis heute, in: Christian Welzbacher (ed.): Der Reichskunstwart. Kulturpolitik und Staatsinszenierung in der Weimarer Republik 1918–1933, Weimar 2010, pp. 116–135, here pp. 133–134.
^the German Confederation, The Federal Assembly of (9 March 1948).Bundesbeschluß über Wappen und Farben des Deutschen Bundes vom 9. März 1848. Federal decision about coat of arms and colors of the confederation of German states of 9 March 1848.Frankfurt.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^von Hohenzollern, Wilhelm (The German Emperor and King of Prussia) (1919-11-11).Allerhöchster Erlass vom 3. August 1871, betreffend die Bezeichnung der Behörden und Beamten des Deutschen Reichs, sowie die Feststellung des Kaiserlichen Wappens und der Kaiserlichen Standarte (Rescript of August 3rd, 1871, concerning the names of the public authorities and public servants of the German Empire, as well as the declaration of the Imperial coat of arms and the Imperial standard).Berlin. pp. Reichsgesetzblatt 1871. Nr. 681 Pg. 318 and 458.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Ebert, Friedrich; Koch-Weser, Erich (11 November 1919).Bekanntmachung betreffend das Reichswappen und den Reichsadler (Announcement concerning the imperial coat of arms and the imperial eagle).Berlin.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Cf. Reichswappen as depicted in the table: "Deutsches Reich: Wappen I" in:Der Große Brockhaus: Handbuch des Wissens in zwanzig Bänden:21 vols., Leipzig: Brockhaus,¹⁵1928–1935; vol. 4 "Chi–Dob" (1929), p. 648.
^Jürgen Hartmann, "Der Bundesadler", in:Vierteljahrshefte für Zeitgeschichte(No. 03/2008),Institut für Zeitgeschichte(ed.), pp. 495–509, here p. 501.
^^a ^b ^cJana Leichsenring, "Staatssymbole: Der Bundesadler", in:Aktueller Begriff,Deutscher Bundestag– Wissenschaftliche Dienste (ed.), No. 83/08 (12 December 2008), p. 2.
^Hitler, Adolf; Frick, Wilhelm; Heß, Rudolf (5 November 1935).Verordnung über das Hoheitszeichen des Reichs vom 5. November 1935[Regulation concerning the national emblem of the reich of 5 November 1935]. Berlin.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Hitler, Adolf; Frick, Wilhelm; Heß, Rudolf (7 March 1936).Verordnung über die Gestaltung Hoheitszeichen des Reichs vom 7.März 1936[Regulation concerning the design of the national emblem of the reich of 7 March 1936]. Berlin.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

External links

Media related toBundesadlerat Wikimedia Commons
Media related toReichsadlerat Wikimedia Commons
Media related toCoats of arms of Holy Roman Emperorsat Wikimedia Commons

[7] According to sources of the Germany national football team Schwab created the emblem for the team in 1924.

[1] Bekanntmachung betreffend das Bundeswappen und den Bundesadler(Proclamation on the Federal Coat-of-Arms and the Federal Eagle), published 20 January 1950, in theBundesgesetzblattI 1950, p. 26, andBekanntmachung über die farbige Darstellung des Bundeswappens(Proclamation on the Coloured Representation of the Federal Coat-of-Arms), published 4 July 1952 in theBundesanzeiger№ 169, 2 September 1952.

[2] Heuss, Theodor;Adenauer, Konrad;Heinemann, Gustav(20 January 1950),Bekanntmachung betreffend das Bundeswappen und den Bundesadler[Announcement concerning the federal coat of arms and the federal eagle], Bonn{{citation}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[3] Walter J. Schütz: Die Republik und ihr Adler. Staatliche Formgebung von Weimar bis heute, in: Christian Welzbacher (ed.): Der Reichskunstwart. Kulturpolitik und Staatsinszenierung in der Weimarer Republik 1918–1933, Weimar 2010, pp. 116–135, here pp. 133–134.

[4] the German Confederation, The Federal Assembly of (9 March 1948).Bundesbeschluß über Wappen und Farben des Deutschen Bundes vom 9. März 1848. Federal decision about coat of arms and colors of the confederation of German states of 9 March 1848.Frankfurt.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[5] von Hohenzollern, Wilhelm (The German Emperor and King of Prussia) (1919-11-11).Allerhöchster Erlass vom 3. August 1871, betreffend die Bezeichnung der Behörden und Beamten des Deutschen Reichs, sowie die Feststellung des Kaiserlichen Wappens und der Kaiserlichen Standarte (Rescript of August 3rd, 1871, concerning the names of the public authorities and public servants of the German Empire, as well as the declaration of the Imperial coat of arms and the Imperial standard).Berlin. pp. Reichsgesetzblatt 1871. Nr. 681 Pg. 318 and 458.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[6] Ebert, Friedrich; Koch-Weser, Erich (11 November 1919).Bekanntmachung betreffend das Reichswappen und den Reichsadler (Announcement concerning the imperial coat of arms and the imperial eagle).Berlin.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[8] Cf. Reichswappen as depicted in the table: "Deutsches Reich: Wappen I" in:Der Große Brockhaus: Handbuch des Wissens in zwanzig Bänden:21 vols., Leipzig: Brockhaus,¹⁵1928–1935; vol. 4 "Chi–Dob" (1929), p. 648.

[9] Jürgen Hartmann, "Der Bundesadler", in:Vierteljahrshefte für Zeitgeschichte(No. 03/2008),Institut für Zeitgeschichte(ed.), pp. 495–509, here p. 501.

[Leichsenring-10] Jana Leichsenring, "Staatssymbole: Der Bundesadler", in:Aktueller Begriff,Deutscher Bundestag– Wissenschaftliche Dienste (ed.), No. 83/08 (12 December 2008), p. 2.

[11] Hitler, Adolf; Frick, Wilhelm; Heß, Rudolf (5 November 1935).Verordnung über das Hoheitszeichen des Reichs vom 5. November 1935[Regulation concerning the national emblem of the reich of 5 November 1935]. Berlin.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[12] Hitler, Adolf; Frick, Wilhelm; Heß, Rudolf (7 March 1936).Verordnung über die Gestaltung Hoheitszeichen des Reichs vom 7.März 1936[Regulation concerning the design of the national emblem of the reich of 7 March 1936]. Berlin.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

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