Last modified: 2012-08-01 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: vlotho | chevrons(3) | lily(natural) |
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![[Vlotho flag]](../images/d/de-hf-vl.gif)
3:5 
image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 29 May 2010
Description of current flag:
The flag's ratio is 3:5. It is a 5-stripes flag with alternating red and white horizontal stripes with the coat of arms shifted to the hoist.
Source: Veddeler 2003, p.534
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 29 May 2010
![[Vlotho banner]](../images/d/de-hf_vl.gif)
3:5 image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 29 May 2010
Description of banner:
It is a 5-stripes banner with alternating red and white vertical stripes with the coat of arms shifted to the top.
Source: Veddeler 2003, p.534
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 29 May 2010
Description of coat of arms:
The shield is divided per fess by a wavy line into silver(=white) and red. In the silver field are three free red chevrons(i.e. not connected with the edges). In the red field are two outward bound silver(=white) "natural lilies" (according to source, i.e. no fleur de lis) upon green stems.
Meaning:
According to source the chevrons are symbolizing that the city belonged to the dominions of the counts of Ravensberg. According to Stadler 1972, p.94 the lilies probably are alluding to a monastery of the Order of Cistercians (German: Zisterzienser), which was located in Vlotho from 1258 until 1550. But that is not for sure. The wavy line is symbolizing that the city is lying at the banks of river Weser.
The coat of arms is probably based on seals reported 1650 and 1735. In the church of St.Stephan is another coat of arms, carved in wood, showing the lilies in a golden field. Due to proposals of Heroldsamt the golden colour was replaced by red in 1908.
Vlotho gained city rights in the 13th century but without any visible effect. Later on it gained the rank of a market town in 1650 and regained the rank of a city by Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm I. in 1719.
Source: Veddeler 2003, p.233
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 29 May 2010
Flag and banner were approved by Regierungspräsident Detmold on 30 November 1970 and was a minor modification of the coat of arms granted on 16 March 1910 by the King of Prussia.
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