Bremerhaven City (Germany)

Stadt Bremerhaven, Bremen

Last modified: 2020-10-31 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: bremerhaven | ship(red) | base(water) | fish | sails(3) |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors

• Introduction
• Bremerhaven Flag
• Bremerhaven Banner
• Bremerhaven Coat of Arms
• Former Bremerhaven Flag 1880-1939
• Wesermünde Flag 1929-1947
• Geestemünde Flag 1891

See also:

• Hannoverian Flags reported 1891
• Germany

Bremerhaven is situated at the mouth of the river Weser. Although separated from Bremen itself by some 50 kilometers, it belongs to the city-state of Bremen. The city has a comparatively short, but complicated history. In 1827, when the sea port of Bremen became handicapped because the river Weser became shallower, Bremen built a new port at the mouth of the Weser. This port, Bremerhaven, got city rights in 1851. The surrounding area belonged to the Kingdom of Hanover which built its own port, Geestemünde in Bremerhaven's neighbourhood. In 1929, the city of Wesermünde was formed by uniting Geestemünde with Lehe and some other neighbouring municipalities. In 1939 Bremerhaven was annexed to Wesermünde (and hence to the Prussian province of Hanover). In 1947 the united city was renamed to Bremerhaven and transferred back to Bremen.
Stefan Schwoon, 30 Mar 2001

The flag of Bremerhaven is red-white-red with the arms. The arms show a ship with three sails which show the arms of the former towns (from right to left): Lehe, Geestemünde and (former) Bremerhaven. An image of the flag can be seen at this flag-seller's website.
Stefan Schwoon, 30 Mar 2001

It is a red red-white-red vertical triband. The coat of arms is shifted to the top.
Source: I spotted this banner on 26 September 2015 in front of the DSM in Bremerhaven.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Oct 2020

Shield Argent with base wavy Azure, charged with a fish najant Argent, issuant from base a sinister pointing ancient ship Gules planked Sable and blue roof on stern, with three swollen sails; at sinister (prow) parted of Argent and Gules, above a cross patty Gules, beneath a key Argent in pale; at centre Azure an anchor Or in pale, at dexter (stern) Gules two scythe blades Argent in saltire, the main mast topped by a pennant parted horizontally of Gules and Argent.
Meaning:
The local harbour was founded in 1827. The settlement the rank of a city in 1851. It was united in 1947 with the former municipalities of Geestemünde and Lehe. The sail at prow displays the former arms of Bremerhaven, the sail in centre those of Geestemünde, the sail at stern those of Lehe. A scythe is called a "Le" in the region, the blades had thus been canting. The pattern is known from a local seal from the 16th century.
According to article 143 of the Constitution of Bremen, version 21 October 1947, published in Bremer GBl. p.251, Bremerhaven is an independent municipality and thus gained proper symbols a bit later.
Source: Stadler 1966, p.84
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Oct 2020

Flag, banner and arms were approved on 4 November 1947 by the Senate of Bremen according to §7 of the Constitution of Bremerhaven.
Source: Stadler 1966, p.84
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Oct 2020

According to Keyser 1939-1974 the flag of former Bremerhaven was vertically divided red-white-red in proportions 1:2:1 with the former arms on the white stripe.
Stefan Schwoon, 30 Mar 2001

According to Keyser 1939-1974 the city colours of Wesermünde were black-red-blue.
Stefan Schwoon, 30 Mar 2001

From Ralf Hartemink's International Civic Arms website:

Bremerhaven was founded in 1827 and became a city in 1851. In 1947 the towns of Geestemünde and Lehe were added. The arms were granted at the same time and are a combination of the old arms of Bremerhaven, which showed a ship with on its sail the key from Bremen and the cross of the Hanseatic League. The anchor and fish were added for Geestemünde and the red sail with two silver scythe blades crossed per saltire for Lehe. The latter were taken from a 16th century seal of Lehe.
Source: Stadler 1966, p.84

The ratio is given as 1:2. It was a blue over yellow horizontal bicolour.
Source: H.Ahrens "Hannoversche Landschafts-und Städtewappen", 1891, plate XX
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 22 Nov 2011

back to Bremen main page click here.