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Deutsche Wappen (Gemeindewappen/Kreiswappen)
German Civic Heraldry
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WERDAU
State : Sachsen
District (Kreis) : Zwickau (until 2008 Zwickauer Land)
Additions : 1996 Königswalde, Steinpleis; 1997 Langenhessen; 1999 Leubnitz
Origin/meaning:
The oldest seal of the city dates from 1403 and shows the local patron saint, St. Aegidius. In 1480 the roe appeared in the base of the shield. Since 1583 the saint and the roe are placed in a church gate. The arms have not changed since.
On the meaning of the roe exists a local legend;
Once a bishop was hunting in the area around the Pleisse river. Somehow he got lost and finally fell asleep under a tree. In his sleep he dreamt about a roe following him. Suddenly he woke up from a sound in the woods and cried Wer Da ? (who is there ?), from which the name Werdau is derived. In front of him stood a roe with an arrow in its throat. He saw this as a divine symbol and founded the city.
Seal from the city from around 1900.
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Literature : Bensing et al., 1984; legend from Sebastian Fischer
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coats of arms on-line ! 
