Mönchengladbach
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MÖNCHENGLADBACH
State : Nordrhein-Westfalen
District (Kreis) : Mönchengladbach
Additions : 1921 Gladbach-Land, Neuwerk, Rheindahlen; 1929 Hardt; from 1929-1933 Giesenkirchen, Hardt, Odenkirchen, Rheydt, Schelsen; 1974 Rheydt (1933 Giesenkirchen, Odenkirchen, Schelsen), Wickrath
Official blazon
(de) Unter rotem Schildhaupt, darin einen silbernen Wechselzinnenbalken, gespalten von Blau und Gold, vorne eine silberne Abtskrümme, hinten ein durchgehendes schwarzes Kreuz.
Origin/meaning
Mönchengladbach got city rights in 1364 from Duke William V of Jülich. The lion of Jülich was the only symbol used on the seals until the 16th century.
In the early 16th century the image of St. Veit, the patron saint of the local Benedictine abbey is added. The abbey also gave the town part of its name. The saint is accompanied by 14 stars, the 14 'helpers' of which St. Veit is one.
The wavy bar, or brook (Bach) is a canting element. These arms were officially granted in 1903 and used until 1929 when the city merged with Rheydt and some other municipalities. The name of the new city was Gladbach-Rheydt.
 The arms from 1903-1929 and 1933-1974 |
 The arms from 1929-1933 |
In 1933 Rheydt bacame a separate city again and the city (now München-Gladbach) returned to the arms from 1903. In 1974 Rheydt and Wickrath merged with Mönchengladbach.
After the merger in 1974 the arms were changed and the name finally established as Mönchengladbach. The upper part of the new arms is taken from Wickrath, the saint is replaced by the crosier, to represent the abbey in Mönchengladbach and the cross is taken from the arms of Rheydt.
 Seal from around 1900 |
 The arms in the Wappen-Sammlung (1900) |
 The arms in the Abadie albums |
 The arms by Hupp in the Kaffee Hag albums +/- 1925 |
 The arms in a 1936 album |
 The arms on a matchbox label (1960s) |
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© since 1995, Heraldry of the World, Ralf Hartemink 
Index of the site
Literature : Stadler, K. : Deutsche Wappen - Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Angelsachsen Verlag, 1964-1971, 8 volumes; Nagel, R. : Rheinisches Wappenbuch, Köln, 1986.