History

In the 8th century the Hammaburg was built, in which Charlemagne had a baptistery built in 810 to evangelize the pagan north. In 831, Louis the Pious founded a  diocese here, which a short time later became an archbishopric. But shortly after the division of Verdun in 843, Vikings attacked the region, later the Slavic Abodrites, and the archbishop moved his official residence to Bremen.

Count Adolf III. von Schauenburg und Holstein was the founder of a trading and market settlement on the western bank of the Alster in the 12th century. Due to the port rights allegedly granted by Emperor Friedrich I. Barbarossa in 1189 to this settlement and the trading privileges for the whole of the Lower Elbe, the city developed into a flourishing trading center in the Middle Ages and, with its 600 breweries, was known as the “brewery of the Hanseatic League”. In the 14th century, Hamburg developed as one of the first members of the Hanse merchants' association to become the most important German transshipment and stacking point between the North and Baltic Seas. From 1510 Hamburg was finally considered an imperial city. In 1558 the Hamburg stock exchange was one of the first to open in Germany, and in 1678, under the name Opern-Theatrum, the first German opera on Gänsemarkt. During the Reformation, the city-state became evangelical without bloodshed. The city of Hamburg experienced its cultural heyday especially in the 17th and 18th centuries with the establishment of the Hamburg National Theater (1767).

Even after the fall of the Hanseatic League and during the Enlightenment and industrialization, the city remained the most important economic center in northern Germany alongside Berlin. Hamburg was spared the effects of the Thirty Years' War and was able to use it to advantage to expand its supremacy in trade. In its eventful history, the city was under the Danish royal crown (but never formally recognized by Hamburg), was part of the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation and capital of the Elbe estuary (Département des Bouches de l’Elbe) in the French Empire (Hamburg's French period). 1813–1814 Hamburg was besieged by the Russian General Bennigsen. As a free city, it joined the German Confederation in 1815 after the Congress of Vienna. In 1867 it became a member of the North German Confederation, initiated by Otto von Bismarck, and in 1871 remained a member state of the federal state now renamed the German Empire

Heraldry

The Hamburg three-tower coat of arms, one of the most common symbols of a city, was handed down to us early on by coins from the end of the 12th century. The oldest city seal dates from 1241: two city towers flank a central tower with a cross and of a different shape - a pictorial reference to the archbishop's cathedral, i.e. on the archbishop city lord. According to H. Reinecke's investigation, the heraldic coloring of this Hamburg castle first appeared in 1460 in red on a white background. This was partly still the case in the 16th and 17th centuries. The red three-tower coat of arms on a white background also shone on the flags of the Hanseatic Legion in 1813 and on those of the federal contingent. Only since 1885 has the white castle in a red field, i.e. in reverse color, been in official use due to a strange report by the then archive director Lappenberg, Lappenberg mainly based on the relevant traditions of Siebmacher's coat of arms. The simple red-white-red Hamburg flag without coat of arms did not exist in the 17th century; even in the 18th century their use was not yet uniformly regulated. Today it is generally only shown with the three-tower coat of arms [1]

Seals of Hamburg [2]

1241

1254

1309 Secret seal

1318 Secret Seal

1554

1743-1810

Arms of Hamburg, Neuwerker Leuchtturm

The coat of arms of Hamburg was first established by law of 20 June 1811. [3] The imperial decree reads:

Napoléon par la Grâce de Dieu Empereur des Français, Roi d'Italie, Protecteur de la Conféderation du Rhin, Médiateur de la Conféderation Suisse,

à tous présents et à venir Salut:

        Par notre décret du dix sept mai mil huit cent neuf, nous avons déterminé que les Villes, Communes et corporations qui désireraient obtenir des lettres patentes portant concession d’armoiries, pourraient, après s'être fait préalablement autoriser par les autorités  administratives compétentes, s’adresser à notre cousin le Prince Archichancelier de l’Empire, lequel prendrait nos ordres à cet effet.

        En conséquence, le Maire de notre bonne ville de Hambourg, duement autorisé, s’est retiré pardevant notre cousin le Prince Archichancelier de l’Empire, à l’effet d’obtenir nos lettres patentes portant concession d’armoiries.

        Et sur la présentation qui nous a été faite de l’avis de notre Conseil du Sceau des titres et des conclusions de notre Procureur général, nous avons autorisé et autorisons, par ces présentes signées de notre main, notre bonne ville de Hambourg à porter les armoiries telles quelles sont figurées et coloriées aux présentes, et qui sont: d’argent au Château, crénelé, donjonné de trois tourelles terminées en Dôme de gueule soutenu de Sinople, au chef des bonnes villes de l’Empire qui est de gueules a trois abeilles en Fasce d’or; pour livrées, blanc, rouge, jaune, verd, le verd en bordure seulement: Voulons que les ornemens extérieurs desdites armoiries consistent, en une Couronne murale à sept créneaux, sommée d’une aigle naissante, pour Cimier, le tout d’or, soutenu d’un Caducée du même, posé au dessus du chef et auquel sont suspendus deux Festons servant de Lambrequins, l’un à dextre de chêne, l’autre à sénestre, d’olivier, d’or, noués et rattachés par des Bandelettes de gueules.

        Chargeons notre cousin le Prince Archichancelier de l’Empire de donner communica-tion des présentes aus Sénat et de les faire transcrire sur ses registres. Car tel est notre bon plaisir. Et afin que ce soit chose ferme et stable à toujours, notre cousin le Prince Archichancelier de l’Empire y a fait apposer, par nos ordres, notre grand sceau, en présence du Conseil du sceau des titres.

        Donné en notre Palais de St. Cloud, le Treizieme jour du Mois de Juin, de l’an de grâce mil huit cent onze.

                                                                                                                  (sign.) Napoléon  

        Scellé le vingt Juin mil huit cent onze,

        Le Prince Archichancelier de l’Empire,

                         (sign.) Cambacéres.

On 6 June 1834, another decision was taken, but this only concerned the national colors that were set at red and white.

1855 [4]

About the arm of Hamburg Von Hefner in Siebmachers Wappenbuch (1856) writes[5]

Freie und Hanse-Stadt Hamburg

Staatswappen

            Das Staatswappen von Hamburg hat in R. ein aus Quadern gebaute s. Burg, deren mittelerer Thurm ein rundes Dach mit s. Kreuz geziert trägt; über jedem der beiden Seitenthürme schwebt ein s. Stern. [6]

            Auf dem Schild ein offener Helm mit r., s. Wulst und derfarbigen abfliegende Bändern, doch ohne Helmdecken.

            Als Kleinod erscheinen drei Pfauenspiegel, dazwischen in der Mitte je zwei, außen aber je ein Banner steht; die Banner sind abwechselnd r. und s.

            Schildhalter: Zwei widersehenden. Löwen.

            Ältere Wappen  resp. Siegel der Stadt Hamburg hab ich selbst mehrere in Originalen gesehen, auch finde sich deren (wiewohl in ziemlich schlechter Auffassung) viele abgebildet in Westphalen, monumenta inedita T. IV tab. D. etc. Da es jedoch außer der Bestimmung dieses Werkes liegt, Siegel wieder zu geben, so  muss ich mich darauf beschränken, hier zu erwähnen, daß diese alte Siegel mit wenigen Änderungen in der Form immer die dreithürmige Burg geben, das spitze Dach des mittleren Thurmes mit einem Kreuze besteckt, über den anderen manchmal aber Sterne schwebend. Ich halte nun zwar diese Sterne durchaus nicht für integrirende Theile des Wappens, sondern bin überzeugt, daß solche anfange blosse Lückenbüsser zur Ausfüllung des leeren Siegelfeldes waren, wie wir ähnliche Beispiele oft genug finden dnnoch gehören sie, wie oben erwähnt, jezt wieder als wesentliche Figuren in den Schild. Wichtiger scheint mir der Umstand, daß man heutzutage noch die Fähnlein und Pfauenspiegel als Kleinod beibehalten hat. Es ist dies aber weiter nichts als der etwas veränderten Helmschmuck der Grafen von Holstein, und stand den älteren Wappen der Stadt Hamburg in natürliche Beziehung zu dem Holstein’schen Schilde mit dem Nesselblatt, der unter dem Thor des mittleren Thurmes zu sehen war. Nun hat man zwar in neueren Zeiten diesen Schild weggelassen und dafür das Thor einfach # oder b. geschlossen gezeichnet, dagegen auffallender Weise das Kleinod beibehalten, und es nur darin etwas modifizirt daß man statt die Banner alle r. mit dem Schildlein und dem Nesselblatt [7]) zu malen, dieselben leer und abwechselnd r. und s. tingirte.

H.G.Ströhl [8]

Otto Hupp. 1918

Gau: Hamburg, 1933-1945

Verwaltungssitz: Hamburg

Einwohner (1941): 1.711.877

Gauleiter (exkl. Stellvertreter): Joseph Klant von 1925 bis 1926, danach von 1927 bis 1928 Albert Krebs, danach von 1928 bis zum 15. April 1929 Hinrich Lohse, danach ab 15. April 1929 Karl Kaufmann

The arms were established the last time by law in the Constitution of the Freie und Hansestadr Hamburg of 6 June 1952 GVBl. p. 117, Art. 5, §. 1.

Achievement

Lesser Arms

Smaller Arms

Larger seal  of State

Larger seal

Smaller seal

Admiralty

Stern Carving

on the ship “Wapen von Hamburg” 1667 (model)

The Hamburg Admiralty College, or Admiralty for short, was founded in 1623 on the initiative of Hamburg merchants with the aim of protecting Hamburg merchant ships from pirate attacks, especially in the Atlantic, with their own armed ships. Attempts to create such an organization had already been made in the 16th century, but these bodies usually did not last long.

The Hamburg Admiralty originally consisted of a councilor, a few merchants and a captain. Since the Hamburg merchants were not satisfied with the activities of the Admiralty, they founded their own committee in 1662 with the "Convoy-Deputation" (from which the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce later emerged), which has since been successfully protecting Hamburg's merchant shipping. The Admiralty was gradually given other tasks: It was the highest police authority in the port, the college was responsible for piloting on the Lower Elbe and it was responsible for the beacons on Neuwerk and the navigation signs on the Elbe. In addition, as the Hamburg Admiralty Court, the college had been the highest judicial authority since 1623 in disputes in the port, relating to shipping and sea trade. The Admiralty was thus also responsible for the insurance system and the dispatcher. Since 1639, the average expert appointed by the council has been designated as the dispatcher. The Admiralty leased waterfront properties to shipbuilders. The Admiralty shipyard in Hamburg, which operates on its own account, built two convoy ships between 1668 and 1669, including the first Wapen von Hamburg. In addition, the Admiralty was responsible for appointing consuls and agents working abroad for Hamburg. In 1754, the training of boatmen was regulated and regulated by the establishment of a navigation school. During the French period in Hamburg in 1811, the Admiralty was dissolved and not re-established. Their tasks were transferred to the commercial court (Handelsgericht) and the newly established shipping and port deputation. Hamburg port authorities are still flying the admiralty flag, a Hamburg flag with a blue anchor with a yellow cross stick under the castle gate. It is also used as the service flag on the water: Fire boats and the boats of the water police carry them as jacks, formerly made of sheet metal, today made of hard plastic.

Stern carving of  Hamburg Admrality ship

Coll. Museum für Hambugische Geschichte

Hamburg pilot badge 1849

Emblem of Harbour Police Hamburg

Harbour Police Station, n° 2,  Kehrwieder, 1899

Hamburg Admiralty Flag

(version 1952)

Sleeve patch

Shipping and Harbour Affairs service

Police

Police Star, 2013

Until the time of French rule in Hamburg (1806–1814), police tasks were distributed among various institutions. The most important of them were the Bürgerwache and the Wedde. The Wedde was responsible for the customs and order, civil status and foreign affairs, the monitoring of weights and measures, the market, health care and many other areas. The praetors were responsible for the lower jurisdiction and security. The Hamburg Admiralty ensured order and security in the port. After Hamburg was annexed to the French Empire, all police tasks were grouped under a general police commissioner by decree.

After the French were driven out, their reforms were immediately reversed by the Senate. On 26 May 1814, the Police authority was founded by a corresponding Senate resolution. The town house on Neuer Wall was designated as the seat of this authority. The first officials were hired a little later.

During Nazi Germany (1933–1945), the police took part in the Gleichschaltung. The state police units were transferred to the armed forces. The now 56,000 members of the Landespolizei that were incorporated as self-contained police units no longer existed. In 1936 all other police units were under the control of the SS by law.

After the end of the Second World War, the military government of the British zone of occupation was initially responsible for the police in Hamburg. The presidium was located in the DAG building at today's Johannes-Brahms-Platz until the new building at Berliner Tor was moved into in 1962.

Polisc Star 1921

Ordnungspolizei Hamburg,

Banner, 1933-1945

Police Hamburg star, (post war)

Cap badge

Sleeve patch

Short Bibliography

Wappen und Flaggen der Bundesrepublik Deutschland und der Bundesländer.

 Herausgegeben vom Bundesministerium des Inneren. Bonn, 1956.

Wappen und Flaggen der Bundesrepublik Deutschland und ihrer Länder. Bonn, 1987.

Laitenberger, Birgit & Maria BassierWappen und Flaggen der Bundesrepublik Deutschland und ihrer Länder. 5., neubearbeitete und ergänzte Auflage. Carl Heymanns Verlag KG. Köln, Berlin, Bonn, München. 2000,