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Gütersloh City (Germany)

Stadt Gütersloh, Kreis Gütersloh, North Rhine-Westphalia

Last modified: 2017-11-11 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: guetersloh | avenwedde | friedrichsdorf(guetersloh) | spexard | wheel | bordure | ram | fox | woodpecker(green) |
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[Gütersloh city flag] 2:3  image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 17 Feb 2007 See also:

Gütersloh City

Description of flag:
It is a green over white horizontal bicolour with the coat of arms in the centre of the flag

Coat of Arms


In a green shield, edged by 16 alternating pieces of black and silver(=white) are 3 bendy wavy silver(=white) lines. The whole is superimposed by a red wheel with 6 spokes.
The coat of arms was granted in 1844 by King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia.
Meaning:
The wavy lines are symbolizing the location of the city in a wet region near the river Ems. The wheel is said to be a spinning wheel. There were many manufactorers of yarn in that region in the 19th century. It's also a symbol for enterprise and progress. The colours green and white of the city have been known since 1843. The Prussian colours of the edge are symbolizing that the city then belonged to Prussia.
All flags have usually ratio 3:5; hanging flags 5:2
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 17 Feb 2007

These informations and images are based on the book by Veddeler that we have in our bibliography as [ved03] Peter Veddeler's Wappen, Siegel, Flaggen. Die kommunalen Hoheitszeichen des Landschaftsverbandes, der Kreise, Städte und Gemeinden in Westfalen-Lippe,2003 (in English: Coats-of-arms, seals, flags. The communal symbols of the Landscape Association, the counties, towns and municipalities in Westphalia-Lippe).
Although shortly mentioned in the text, the images section of [ved03] does show a banner, not a horizontal flag. [ved03] mentions that this has not been officially adopted, but there is a drawing (from around 1950) in the files of the Münster State Archives. A banner drawing is also shown in the city statute of 1999 (appendix).
M. Schmöger, 25 Feb 2007

Banner

[Gütersloh city banner]

Description of banner:
The banner is vertically divided into green and white with the coat of arms in the centre of the banner.
Note:
According to Veddeler 2003, p.134 probably there is no flag. Though in Hauptsatzung of the city of Gütersloh there is a "flag" mentioned, the image in the appendix shows a banner, the documents of Staatsarchiv Münster also show an image of a banner dated 1950. The banner seems to be never having approved officially.
Source: Veddeler 2003, p.396
Klaus-Michael Schneider; 30 May 2010

Avenwedde Borough

[Avenwedde borough flag] 3:5 image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 27 May 2017

Flag:
It is a yellow over black horizontal bicolour. The coat of arms is in the centre of a white flaghead.
Source: this online catalogue
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 27 May 2017

Avenwedde Coat of Arms

Shield Sable fimbriated Or, a ram salient Or garnished Argent.
Meaning:
he name of the borough is Old Lower German and means "rams' pasture". Thearms are thus canting.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 27 May 2017

Friedrichsdorf Borough

[Friedrichsdorf (Gütersloh) borough flag] 3:5 image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 27 May 2017

Flag:
It is a white over red horizontal bicolour. The coat of arms is in the centre of a black flaghead.
Source: this online catalogue
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 27 May 2017

Friedrichsdorf Coat of Arms

Shield Argent, a fox passant Gules in bend.
Meaning:
In the past there had been many foxes in the area.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 27 May 2017

Spexard Borough

[Spexard borough flag] 3:5 image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 27 May 2017

Flag:
It is a red over yellow horizontal bicolour. The coat of arms is in the centre of a white flaghead.
Source: this online catalogue
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 27 May 2017

Spexard Coat of Arms

Shield Argent, a part of a tree's stem and a green woodpecker (Latin: Picus viridis) both Proper.
Meaning:
In the past the name changed often, from e.g. Spehteshart (1189) via Spechteshart (1235) finally to Spexard (1847). The name is interpreted as "Spechtswald" (= wood of the woodpeckers). The arms are thus canting.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 27 May 2017

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