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Deutsche Wappen (Gemeindewappen/Kreiswappen)
German Civic Heraldry

ALTENAU

State : Niedersachsen
District (Kreis) : Goslar (until 1972 Zellerfeld)

Origin/meaning:
The arms were granted in 1617 by Duke Christian of Braunschweig-Lüneburg-Celle. The three bear claws are derived from the arms of the Counts of Hoya, who ruled the area until 1582. The lower two claws hold some miner's tools, symbol for the silver and iron mining in the area. The upper one holds a so-called wolfs-hook, symbol for the forestry. The meaning of the divided shield is not known.

In the Kaffee Hag albums of the early 20th century as well as the list of arms of Hannover from 1891 the arms were shown in different (historically wrong) colours:

The arms as shown in 1891
The arms as shown around 1930

Literature : Stadler, 1964-1971, 8 volumes; Kaffee Hag picture albums, 1920s; Ahrens, 1891


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