The World Wars in Municipal Heraldry

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The World Wars in Municipal Heraldry

Marcus K

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Posted: 29 January 2008 05:51

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Arms_Rotterdam.jpg/300px-Arms_Rotterdam.jpg

CoA of the City of Rotterdam. The motto which translates as "Stronger through battle" was awarded by Queen Wilhelmina in 1948 as a reminder of the City’s sufferings durning WW II. Picture from the Dutch Wikipedia.

http://stijlweb.amsterdam.nl/contents/pages/00000231/kleur_wapen.jpg

The Queen also awarded a Motto in 1947 to the City of Amsterdam. The Motto which translates as "Heroic, Steadfast and Merciful" denotes the stance taken by the City’s inhabitants during the German Occupation 1940-45. Picture from http://stijlweb.amsterdam.nl/

Marcus K

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Posted: 29 January 2008 05:55

http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/images/p/ph-ban.gif

The arms of the Philippine Province of Bataan here on the Provincial Flag, denotes the American and Philippino Troops defence of the Peninsula of Bataan and the Fortess Island of Corregidor. Picture from FOTW.

Jonathan R. Baker

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Posted: 29 January 2008 09:26

Thanks for sharing all of these Marcus. I really enjoy learning the symbolism behind the charges in civic heraldry, especially when they can be tied to such heroic events.

Marcus K

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Posted: 29 January 2008 12:26

Thanks Jonathan, and yes it is always interessting to know the symbolism behind a CoA.

Joe123

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Posted: 29 January 2008 18:57

Marcus - thanks for the exceptional presentation - great history, great CoA’s. Send more…

gilgamasheck

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Posted: 30 January 2008 12:42

Why does the arms of the City of Amsterdam shown in one of the previous posts have the Austrian Imperial Crown (or what appears to be) in topping the shield?

Dohrman Byers

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Posted: 31 January 2008 00:03

gilgamasheck;53819 wrote:

Why does the arms of the City of Amsterdam shown in one of the previous posts have the Austrian Imperial Crown (or what appears to be) in topping the shield?

In 1488, the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I granted the city of Amsterdam the privilege to ensign its arms with the imperial crown. Apparently the heralds of Amsterdam kept pace with changing fashion, adopting the style of the crown created in 1602 for the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph II. In 1804. the last Holy Roman Emperor, Francis II, assumed the title Francis I, Emperor of Austria, at which point this crown became the Austrian imperial crown.

Marcus K

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Posted: 02 February 2008 07:33

http://www.ieper.yucom.be/pict/wapen_gr.gif

CoA of the city of Ieper (Ypres). The surroundings of the City saw heavy fighting during World War I, and after the War it was awarded the French Croix de Guerre 1914-1918 and the British Military Cross in recognition of its sufferings.

Marcus K

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Posted: 02 February 2008 07:49

Not a Municipality but a whole Country, The Island of Malta was awarded the highest British civilian Gallantry Decoration the George Cross by King George VI on 14 April 1942. This i recognition of the Heroism during the Heavy German and Italian Bombing of the Island.

The offical motivation from the book "Alook at Malta Insignia" by Adrian Strickland, Cyan LTd. 1992:

" Buckingham Palace

The Governor

Malta.

To honour her brave people I award the George Cross to the Island Fortress of Malta to bear witness to a heroism and devotion to duty that will long be famous in history.

George R.I. "

The George Cross where later incorporated into Malta’s CoA and Flag.

http://www.ngw.nl/int/mal/images/malta.jpg

CoA since 1988. During 1975 (when Malta became a republic) and 1988 only a Seal showing a local type of boat was used.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/COA_of_Malta_1964.jpg

CoA of Malta 1964-1975.

Marcus K

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Posted: 27 March 2008 08:11

Apart from placing symbols in the shield, there is also in some countries the custom to award decorations to denote some heroic deed by its citizens. This tradition is especially videspread in France and here is a list of those cities/muncipalities who has been awarded decorations for the World Wars:

Legion of Honour:

1914: Liege (Belgium)

1916: Verdun (The most decorated city in France with a total of 26 different awards) 1919: Bitche, Reims, Dunkerque, Phalsbourg, Strasbourg, Arras, Lens, Cambrai, Douai, Longwy, Baupame, Nancy, Metz, Béthune.

1920: Soissons, Thionville, Château-Thierry, Noyon, Belgrad (Serbia).

1924: Montdidier.

1928: Nomény.

1929: Badonviller.

1930: Gerberviller, Audun-le-Roman, Longuyon, Pont-à-Mousson.

1932: Albert.

1947: Boulogne-sur-Mer, Calais.

1948: Brest, Abbeville, Amiens, Caen, Saint-Lô, Saint-Malo, Falaise, Évreux.

1949: Argentan, Ascq, Étobon, Le Havre, Lorient, Lyon, Oradour-sur-Glane, Rouen, Saint-Dié, Saint-Nazaire.

1957: Luxembourg (Capital of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg), Beauvais.

1984: Volgograd (Stalingrad)

Croix de Guerre 1914-18 was awarded 2 952 cities and municipalities.

Croix de Guerre 1939-45 was awarded 1 585 cities and municipalities.

A total of 209 was awarded both crosses.

Order of Liberation (a World War II peculiar) was awarded Nantes, Grenoble, Paris Vassieux en Vecors and l’Ile de Sein.

Marcus K

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Posted: 28 March 2008 14:03

http://www.ngw.nl/int/afr/images/ndjamena.jpg

Arms of N’Djamena the capital of Chad. The waves symbolises the River Chari and the Crecent and Cross symbolizes the mixed religious background of Chad with Muslims in the north and Christians in the south. The form of the Cross is the Cross of Lorraine symbolizing the Free French Forces under Gen. Leclerc who used N’Djamena (then known as Fort Lamy) as base for their cross-desert raids on the German Forces in North Africa.

Nicolas Vernot

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Posted: 10 April 2008 04:17

On this website, you will find information about five french localities which recieved the "Ordre de la Libération" medal. Among them, the CoA of the Isle of Sein is really impressive :

http://www.ordredelaliberation.fr/fr_doc/4_2_commune.html

Nicolas

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