Bochum

Heraldry of the World
Civic heraldry of Germany - Deutsche Wappen (Gemeindewappen/Kreiswappen)

BOCHUM

State : Nordrhein-Westfalen
Urban District (Stadtkreis) : Bochum
Additions : 1904 Grumme, Hamme, Hofstede, Wiemelhausen; 1926 Altenbochum, Bergen, Hordel, Riemke, Weitmar; 1929 Gerthe, Harpen, Hiltrop, Laer, Langendreer, Linden-Dahlhausen, Querenburg, Stiepel, Werne; 1975 Wattenscheid (1926 Eppendorf, Günnigfeld, Höntrop, Munscheid, Sevinghausen, Westenfeld, Westfälisch Leithe)

Official blazon

Origin/meaning

The arms of Bochum were granted on April 12, 1913 and again in 1975 after the merger with Wattenscheid. The arms combine the old arms of Bochum with a chequered bar, taken from the arms of Wattenscheid.

The arms of the city of Bochum historically show a canting book (Buch=book), although the name may not be derived from the word Buch. Bochum got city rights in 1321 and the oldest seal probably dates from the same time. The oldest existing seal dates from 1381 and already shows the book. All other seals of the city have shown a book, such as the seal shown below.

Seal from 1426 (Meijer, 1940)

The colours from 1913 were historical colours, but are not heraldically correct, as it is not accepted to have a coloured object (here black) on a coloured field (here blue); at least one of these should be of a metal colour (silver, gold). Both the State Archives as the famous heraldic artist Otto Hupp tried to change the colours, but the city finally got the historical arms approved.

The arms were granted in 1913 with a mural crown, which was used until the Second World War.

The arms as shown around 1900	Seal from around 1900
The arms with the mural crown from 1913 (Rühl, 1940)	The arms in the Kaffee Hag albums +/- 1925
The arms as shown by Stadler (1960s)