Berlin has the honor of becoming the capital of a state that is one of the world's leaders. In terms of the number of residents, this settlement ranks 2nd in the EU, and in terms of the territory it occupies, it is in 5th position. The city is located in the central part of the federal state of Brandenburg, on one of the banks of the Spree River. Therefore, it is not surprising that the coat of arms of Berlin is known to many people.
Adoption of the coat of arms
At the beginning of the 15th century, the rulers of the Duchy of Prussia and the Elector of Brandenburg decided to unite into one state. So, in 1417, Germany appeared on the map of Western Europe, which turned into an empire. Berlin became its capital.
It's hard to imagine that a solid city lacks its own official symbols. The modern coat of arms of Berlin has existed since 1954, when the appropriate decision was made by the city authorities.
Image of state symbols
What is depicted on the coat of arms of Berlin, all Germans know. This isbear.
Despite the fact that bears with brown hair are usually found in nature, the predator's coat of arms was painted black. The beast stood up on its hind legs, menacingly bared its mouth, from which a red tongue would stick out. The claws on the hind and front paws are also red. With his whole body, he is turned to the left side in relation to the viewer.
The upper part of the emblem composition, the crown is the traditional gold crown of the autocrat. The artist depicted the rim of the symbol of absolute power in the form of masonry, which was used during the construction of castles and some types of towers during the Middle Ages. In the central part of the masonry there are securely closed gates. From above, along the entire length, the crown is completed by teeth in the amount of 5 pieces. A carved leaf is attached to the end of each of them.
Any organization, institution or ordinary citizen, at their own discretion, has the full right to display the described image of the coat of arms of Berlin.
A look into the distant past
The idea to depict a black bear on a white (silver) background of a heraldic shield is not new. Connoisseurs of history are ready to bring facts in favor of the fact that this character has long flaunted on the main symbol of the capital. The coat of arms and the flag of Berlin appeared for a reason, they were state symbols in ancient times. Over the years, they have been modified and even interpreted a little differently.
According to historical information that has survived to this day, in 1280 the coat of arms of Berlin appeared. The sources are seals on documents of those times thatfound when viewing archives. However, there are some external differences between the modern and the old versions. First of all, then two predators were drawn on the heraldic shield: one is a black bear, and the other is brown. In addition, the image of an eagle was present on the coat of arms. A sign of the inviolability of power and a strong connection between the present and the distant past was the helmet of the margrave. This is how the coat of arms of Berlin asserted its position. Photos of the old state symbols can be found in the archives of Germany.
Also has the right to exist another version of the origin of the coat of arms. The middle of the 12th century was marked in the history of Germany and the Holy Roman Empire by the crusades of the German knights to the east, the colonization of the territory that was inhabited by the Lutich Slavs. A huge merit in this is the feudal prince Albrecht, who was given the nickname "Bear". It can be assumed that the bear and helmet on the coat of arms of Berlin were painted in honor of the first margrave of the eastern state of Brandenburg, annexed to the empire.
Evolution of the coat of arms of Berlin
On the seal of the city of Berlin in the middle of the 15th century, only one bear remained, without his second companion. An eagle perched on the back of the beast, firmly clinging its claws to the wool. The bird of prey was present on the coat of arms of the Brandenburg princes, who were endowed with the right to elect the emperor (electors). The fact that Berlin was under their rule, and was thus "encrypted" in the above figure. Until 1709, this version of the coat of arms of Berlin was still used.
In 1588, the small seal of the magistrate was missing an eagle, only a drawing of a bear was applied. At the beginning of the 18th century, the black bear "rose" on its hind legs, and there were two raptors. One of the birds represented Prussia, the second - Brandenburg. These lands united around the administrative center, the role of which was assigned to the modern capital of Germany. The coat of arms of Berlin has changed along with the history of the state.
In 1835, the picture of the heraldic shield finally acquired its final form, and almost four years later, a golden crown appeared on top.
Flag of Berlin
At the end of May 1954, the flag of West Berlin was approved, more precisely that of its territory, which was under the control of the Western allies - the USA, Great Britain and France. The flag had three stripes: two red at the edges and one white in the center. The extreme red stripes occupied one-fifth of the height.
In the middle of the white stripe is a small coat of arms of Berlin, which was mentioned above. This version of the flag of Berlin was chosen after summing up the results of one of several competitions. In 1990, the flag became the symbol of the capital of Germany, a state that arose as a result of the unification of the FRG and the GDR after several decades of separation.
On administrative buildings you can always see the flag and coat of arms of Berlin. The description of these state symbols is known to every German, since this item is part of the rich history of the whole country. Now you know about these symbols too.
