Altmarkkreis Salzwedel

Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of Germany - Deutsche Wappen (Gemeindewappen/Kreiswappen)

ALTMARKKREIS SALZWEDEL (SAW)

State : Sachsen-Anhalt
Additions : 1994 Gardelegen, Salzwedel, Klötze (partly)

Origin/meaning :
The arms were granted on November 24, 1994.

The eagle is the eagle of Brandenburg, as the majority of the county was part of Brandenburg since 1807. The eagle was also part of the arms of Gardelegen and Salzwedel. The lion is the lion of Lüneburg as the former county of Klötze historically was part of Braunschweig-Lüneburg. In 1815 Klötze was taken from Prussia and transferred to Sachsen. The last quarter shows a figure which has been used by Albecht dem Bären as a symbol for the Altmark

Literature : Papendieck, H. : Die Wappen der Landkreise und kreisfreien Städte des Landes Sachsen-Anhalt. Landesarchiv Magdeburg, 1996.