City of Frankfurt (Oder) (Brandenburg, Germany)

Stadt Frankfurt (Oder), until 1933 Frankfurt an der Oder

Last modified: 2011-06-13 by german editorial team
Keywords: stadt frankfurt (oder) | frankfurt (oder) | frankfurt an der oder | coat of arms: gate (red) | coat of arms: rooster (red) |
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3:5
by Stefan Schwoon and Jens Pattke

• Description
• Flag 1949-1992

See also:

• County and Municipal Flags (Brandenburg, Germany)
• Brandenburg (Germany)
• Germany

Red-green-white with the arms. Arms from Bensing et al, Lexikon Städte und Wappen der DDR, Leipzig, 1984.

Stefan Schwoon, 14 February 2001

The coat of arms of the city was changed slightly in 1992 — the cock now stands with both feet on the ground. Previously, he was advancing. If I understand correctly, the exact form of the cock has political implications, and currently both forms are in use, although the standing variant will become official eventually. I am sure Jens Pattke can explain this much better than me.

Stefan Schwoon, 10 March 2001

From Ralf Hartemink's International Civic Arms website:

The arms show a city gate with the eagle of Brandenburg, as Frankfurt received city rights by the Counts of Brandenburg in 1253. The meaning or origin of the rooster is not clear, it may be simply a symbol of watchfulness. It may also be a canting symbol. Frankfurt means Ford [Fort?] of the Francs, a German tribe, which were often named Gallus/Gallii in Latin. Gallus is also Latin for a rooster.

The whole composition already appears on the oldest known seal of the city, dating from 1294. Most other seals showed the same composition, but some smaller seals only showed the rooster.

Literature: Bensing et al. 1984.

Santiago Dotor, 28 November 2001

A city flag was used since 1890, while the city colours are used since approximately the 17th century. A new coat-of-arms was officially adopted on 22 October 1992, changing the rooster to a 'stationary' one. German description:

In Silber auf grünem Berg stehend, ein gold bewehrter Hahn im Kleeblattbogen eines von zwei sechseckigen roten Türmen beseiteten offenen roten Torbaus, darüber schwebt ein silberner Schild mit rotem Adler, auf den goldbeknauften Dächern der Seitentürme steht je ein abgewendeter, widersehender goldener Vogel,der breitgedachte mittelbau ist an den ecken mit je einem goldenen Kreuz versehen.

Die Flagge ist von Rot über Grün zu Weiß zu gleichen Teilen längs-gestreift, mit dem Stadtwappen in der Mitte.

Jens Pattke, 4 December 2001

My translation:

Silver, a [red] roaster armed in gold standing on a green mountain in the clover-leafed doorway of an opened red towergate flanked with two hexagonal red towers, on which [the gate] is placed a silver shield with a red eagle; on the lateral towers topped with a golden knob, two gold birds back to back; on the angles of the large-roofed central building a golden cross.

Ivan Sache, 5 December 2001

3:5
by Stefan Schwoon

This is the flag with the coat-of-arms used in the German Democratic Republic era. The arms with a 'striding' rooster was used from 1949 until 22 October 1992. German description:

In Weiß auf grünem Berg schreitend, ein gelb bewehrter Hahn im Bogen eines bedachten, von zwei sechseckigen roten Türmen beseiteten offenen roten Tores, darüber schwebt ein weißer Schild mit dem brandenburgischen roten Adler, auf den Seitentürmen je ein widersehender gelber Vogel.

Jens Pattke, 4 December 2001

My translation:

White, a yellow roaster armed in white striding on a green mountain, in the doorway of the opened red gate flanked by two hexagonal red towers, on which [the gate] is placed a white shield with the red eagle of Brandenburg, on the lateral towers, two yellow birds back to back.

Ivan Sache, 5 December 2001