The national emblem of East Germany featured a hammer and a compass, surrounded by a ring of rye.[citation needed] It was an example of what has been called "socialist heraldry". It was the only heraldic device of a European socialist state with a ring of grain which does not contain a red star.
The hammer represented the workers in the factories. The compass represented the intelligentsia, and the ring of rye the farmers. The first designs included only the hammer and ring of rye, as an expression of the GDR as a communist "Workers' and Farmers' state" (Arbeiter- und Bauernstaat).
When the federated states in East Germany were abolished and replaced by Bezirke, making the GDR into a unitary state, the national emblem came to be used by the Bezirke too. The East German government did not want regional symbols to be used, since they could stir up regional patriotism and movements for independence.[1]
The emblem was adopted as the GDR's national emblem by a law of 26 September 1955,[2] and added to the national flag by a law of 1 October 1959.[3]
The emblem in West Germanyedit
The display of the East German national emblem was for some years regarded as unconstitutional in West Germany and West Berlin and was prevented by the police. Only in 1969 did the West German government of Willy Brandt reverse this policy in what was known as Ostpolitik.
1990edit
After the ruling Socialist Unity Party fell from power, the political progress of die Wende saw suggestions for a new national emblem. One prominent suggestion was an image of a smith remaking a sword to a plough along with the text "Schwerter zu Pflugscharen" (German for "swords to ploughshares", from Isaiah 2:3–4), a well known symbol of peace. On 31 May the newly elected parliament (the Volkskammer) decided, at a suggestion from the conservative German Social Union party, that all images of the national emblem on public buildings would be removed or covered. There was never a decision made for a new national coat of arms or emblem. The emblem was never formally abolished but became obsolete on the same moment the German Democratic Republic was dissolved, on 3 October 1990.[4]
Galleryedit
National Emblem of the GDR (12 January 1950 – 28 May 1953)
National Emblem of the GDR (28 May 1953 – 26 September 1955)
National Emblem of the GDR (26 September 1955 – 3 October 1990)
Official gazetted version published in the Gesetzblatt der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik, 27 October 1955
Stylised version: Commonly used on printed materials.
Schurdel, Harry D. (1995). Flaggen & Wappen Deutschland (in German). Augsburg: Battenberg. ISBN3-89441-136-8.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Coats of arms of the German Democratic Republic.
Gesetz über das Staatswappen und die Staatsflagge der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik
Gesetz zur Änderung des Gesetzes über das Staatswappen und die Staatsflagge der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik
February 16, 2024
national, emblem, east, germany, national, emblem, east, germany, featured, hammer, compass, surrounded, ring, citation, needed, example, what, been, called, socialist, heraldry, only, heraldic, device, european, socialist, state, with, ring, grain, which, doe. The national emblem of East Germany featured a hammer and a compass surrounded by a ring of rye citation needed It was an example of what has been called socialist heraldry It was the only heraldic device of a European socialist state with a ring of grain which does not contain a red star National Emblem of East GermanyArmigerGerman Democratic RepublicAdopted12 January 1950 a predecessor see below Relinquished3 October 1990BlazonGules and a hammer and compass orSupportersRing of ryeOther elementsFlag of GermanyUseNational People s ArmyVolkspolizei Contents 1 Description 2 The emblem in West Germany 3 1990 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External linksDescription editThe hammer represented the workers in the factories The compass represented the intelligentsia and the ring of rye the farmers The first designs included only the hammer and ring of rye as an expression of the GDR as a communist Workers and Farmers state Arbeiter und Bauernstaat Surrounded by a wreath the national emblem also acted as the emblem for the National People s Army and when surrounded by a twelve pointed white star for the People s Police When the federated states in East Germany were abolished and replaced by Bezirke making the GDR into a unitary state the national emblem came to be used by the Bezirke too The East German government did not want regional symbols to be used since they could stir up regional patriotism and movements for independence 1 The emblem was adopted as the GDR s national emblem by a law of 26 September 1955 2 and added to the national flag by a law of 1 October 1959 3 The emblem in West Germany editThe display of the East German national emblem was for some years regarded as unconstitutional in West Germany and West Berlin and was prevented by the police Only in 1969 did the West German government of Willy Brandt reverse this policy in what was known as Ostpolitik 1990 editAfter the ruling Socialist Unity Party fell from power the political progress of die Wende saw suggestions for a new national emblem One prominent suggestion was an image of a smith remaking a sword to a plough along with the text Schwerter zu Pflugscharen German for swords to ploughshares from Isaiah 2 3 4 a well known symbol of peace On 31 May the newly elected parliament the Volkskammer decided at a suggestion from the conservative German Social Union party that all images of the national emblem on public buildings would be removed or covered There was never a decision made for a new national coat of arms or emblem The emblem was never formally abolished but became obsolete on the same moment the German Democratic Republic was dissolved on 3 October 1990 4 Gallery edit nbsp National Emblem of the GDR 12 January 1950 28 May 1953 nbsp National Emblem of the GDR 28 May 1953 26 September 1955 nbsp National Emblem of the GDR 26 September 1955 3 October 1990 nbsp Official gazetted version published in the Gesetzblatt der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik 27 October 1955 nbsp Stylised version Commonly used on printed materials See also edit nbsp Heraldry portal nbsp East Germany portal nbsp Communism portalHammer and sickle Square and Compasses Coat of arms of Germany State Emblem of the Soviet UnionReferences edit Schurdel p 84 Schurdel p 81 Schurdel p 82 Schurdel p 88 90 Bibliography editSchurdel Harry D 1995 Flaggen amp Wappen Deutschland in German Augsburg Battenberg ISBN 3 89441 136 8 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Coats of arms of the German Democratic Republic Gesetz uber das Staatswappen und die Staatsflagge der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik Gesetz zur Anderung des Gesetzes uber das Staatswappen und die Staatsflagge der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title National emblem of East Germany amp oldid 1177352621, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
