Gelsenkirchen
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Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of Germany - Deutsche Wappen (Gemeindewappen/Kreiswappen) |
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GELSENKIRCHEN
State : Nordrhein-Westfalen
Urban district (Kreisfreie Stadt) : Gelsenkirchen
Additions : 1903 Bismarck, Bulmke, Hessler, Hüllen, Schalke, Ückendorf; 1924 Rotthausen, 1928 Horst, Buer
Official blazon
Origin/meaning
The arms shown above were granted in 1954 and show the church and tools from the old arms, see below as well as a lion for Horst and a linden tree for Buer.
The arms are slightly different from the previous arms, granted in 1932:
The oldest arms of Gelsenkirchen date from 1877, after the town had become a city in 1875.
The arms were rather complicated; the arms showed a church, with in the gate the miner's tools, and on each side of the tower a small shield, one with the Prussian eagle, and one with the arms of the Counts of the Mark (in gold a bar, chequered of red and silver). The town grew rapidly the last century due to the mining. The church is canting (Kirche=church), the two shields represent the oldest rulers (Mark) and the rulers in 1875 (Prussia).
Literature : Stadler, 1964-1971