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Heinsberg County (Germany)

Kreis Heinsberg, Northrhine-Westphalia

Last modified: 2011-08-12 by german editorial team
Keywords: heinsberg county | lion(black) | lion(silver) | cross fleury |
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[Heinsberg county flag] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 1 Aug 2011 See also:

Introduction


Klaus-Michael Schneider, 8 Aug 2011

In October 1932 Geilenkirchen-Heinsberg was established, when the counties of Geilenkirchen and Heinsberg merged. Geilenkirchen became seat of the county.
After WWII the western part, the so called Selfkant was occupied and administrated by the Netherlands.
As a protest against the occupation the county was renamed in 1951 into Selfkantkreis Geilenkirchen-Heinsberg in order to claim, that the Selfkant was still considered to be part of the county.
In 1963 the Selfkant was reunited with the rest of the county.
In 1972 the county merged with Erkelenz county and was renamed into Heinsberg county.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 9 Aug 2011

County Flag

Description of flag:
The flag's ratio is 3:5. It is an armorial flag.
Source: §2 of Hauptsatzung of Heinsberg county, version 19 December 2008
Description of coat of arms:
The shield is divided per fess. Below in a silver (=white) field is a red cross fleury superimposed by a blue blossom of flax. Above the shield is divided per pale. The dexter side shows a rampant,crowned, double queued, silver (=white) lion in a red field. The sinister side shows a black, rampant lion in a golden (=yellow) field.
Meaning:
According to source the silver lion is symbolizing the counts of Heinsberg, the black one the dukes of Jülich and the city of Geilenkirchen as well. The lower part is a modification of the arms of former Erkelenz county. The cross is alluding to a seal of the city of Erkelenz, showing a red fleur de lis. The blossom is symbolizing the importance of agriculture, especially the cultivation of flax. Sources: Nagel 1986 and Stadler 1964, p.32 /Klaus-Michael Schneider/; 9 Aug 2011 Köln.

Banner

[Heinsberg county banner] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 1 Aug 2011

Description of banner:
The two upper thirds would be an armorial banner. Another third vertically divided into red and yellow is added below.
Source: §2 of Hauptsatzung of Heinsberg county, version 19 December 2008
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 8 Aug 2011

Flag, banner and coat of arms were approved by Regierungspräsident Köln on 3 September 1973.