Last modified: 2020-05-30 by 
klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: heinsberg(county) | selfkant(county) | erkelenz(county) | lion(black) | lion(silver) | cross(fleury) | crowned | double queued | flax(blossom) | parrot |
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![[Heinsberg county flag]](../images/d/de-hs.gif)
3:5 
image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 1 Aug 2011
On 1 October 1932 the county was established as Geilenkirchen-Heinsberg County by a merger of the county of Geilenkirchen with the biggest part of the county of Heinsberg. Geilenkirchen became seat of the county. The name giving municipality of Selfkant is the westernmost municipality of Germany and also a region consisting of Gangelt, Waldfeucht and Selfkant proper. On 23 April 1949 the municipalties of Havert, Höngen, Millen, Saeffelen, Tüddern and Wehr were separated from the rest of the county and administrated by the Netherlands. In 1951 the county was renamed to Selfkantkreis Geilenkirchen-Heinsberg, in order to stress that a permanent Dutch occupation was not accepted by the local people. On 1 August 1963 the occupied municipalities were given back by the Netherlands and the Selfkant was reunited with the rest of the county. In 1972 the county merged with Erkelenz county and was renamed to Heinsberg county.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 9 Aug 2011
It is an armourial flag (banner of arms).
Source: §2 of Hauptsatzung of Heinsberg County, version 19 December 2008
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 9 Aug 2011
![[Heinsberg county banner]](../images/d/de-hs_.gif)
5:2 image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 1 Aug 2011
The two upper thirds would be an armourial banner. Another third vertically divided into red and yellow is added below.
Source: §2 of Hauptsatzung of Heinsberg County, version 19 December 2008
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 8 Aug 2011
![[Heinsberg county BoA]](../images/d/de-hs_1.gif)
2:1 image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 1 Aug 2011
It is a banner of arms.
painting of Falko Schmidt, based on Hauptsatzung
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 8 Aug 2011
The shield is divided per fess. Below in a silver (=white) field is a red cross fleury superimposed by a blue blossom of flax. Above the shield is divided per pale. The dexter side shows a rampant,crowned, double queued, silver (=white) lion in a red field. The sinister side shows a black, rampant lion in a golden (=yellow) field.
Meaning:
The silver lion is symbolising the Counts of Heinsberg, the black one the Dukes of Jülich and the City of Geilenkirchen as well. The lower part is a modification of the arms of former Erkelenz county. The cross is alluding to a seal of the city of Erkelenz, showing a red fleur de lis. The blossom is symbolising the importance of agriculture, especially the cultivation of flax.
Source: Nagel 1986 and Stadler 1964, p.32
Klaus-Michael Schneider,
Flag, banner and arms were approved on 3 September 1973 by district governor (Regierungspräsident) of Köln.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 9 Aug 2011
![[Erkelenz county banner]](../images/d/de-hs-c1_.gif)
5:2 
image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 21 May 2020
It was a yellow-red vertical bicolour with arms shifted to the top.
Source: letters from county administration and Main State Archive Düsseldorf to Falko Schmidt
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 21 May 2020
Shield Or a cross fleury Gules, superimposed in its centre by a flax blossom proper.
Meaning:
The cross fleury is taken from a city seal of Erkelenz from the 16th century. It is alluding to the collegiate church of St. Mary in Aachen, which owned the area since 961, when Emperor Otto I donated the area to the church. In the following years Erkelenz became an important market of grain and linen. The latter is symbolised by the flax blossom.
Source: Stadler 1964, p.32
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 21 May 2020
Flag and banner were approved on 9 May 1955. The symbols were abolished on 31 December 1971.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 21 May 2020
![[Selfkant county banner]](../images/d/de-hs-c2_.gif)
5:2 image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 21 May 2020
It was a green-white vertical bicolour with arms shifted to the top.
Source: letters from county administration and Main State Archive Düsseldorf to Falko Schmidt
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 21 May 2020
Shield parted per pale; at dexter parted per fess, above Or a demi-lion issuant Sable tongued Gules, beneath a parrot Vert armed Gules on a branch Sable leafed Vert; at sinister Gules a lion rampant double queued Argent crowned Gules.
Meaning:
Parrot and black lion had been granted to the lay judges of Geilenkirchen in 1556 by Duke Wilhelm of Jülich. The white lion displays the arms of the Lords of Heinsberg. It appeared first on a court seal of Heinsberg in 1298 and later in the city arms of Heinsberg since the 16th century.
Sources: German WIKIPEDIA and Stadler 1964, p.83
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 21 May 2020
The banner was approved on 3 November 1964. The amrs were approved on 1 March 1950 by the government of Nordrhein-Westfalen. The symbols were abolished on 31 December 1971.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 21 May 2020
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