![[Halle (Saale) flag]](../images/d/de-sy-ha.gif)
Last modified: 2019-10-23 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: halle(saale) | halle-neustadt | crescent(recumbent) | star(6-point) | key | doves(3) | bud |
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3:5 image by Stefan Schwoon, 16 Feb 2001
It is a red over white bicolour with centred arms.
Sources: Günther 1996a and Staack 1997
Stefan Schwoon, 16 Feb 2001
![[Halle (Saale) flag]](../images/d/de-sy-ha_.gif)
5:2 
image by Stefan Schwoon, 16 Feb 2001
However the banner is white-red with arms shifted to the top. Günther 1996a points out that this (erroneous) swapping of colours between flag and banner versions happens in several cities in Saxony-Anhalt.
Sources: Günther 1996a and Staack 1997
Stefan Schwoon, 16 Feb 2001
Shield Argent, above a 6-point star Gules in a crescent recumbent Gules, beneath a smaller 6-point star Gules.
Meaning:
Halle became a city in the 14th century. Before this two councils ruled the area, the 'mountain council' or Berggericht and the 'valley council' or Talgericht. Both already used the crescent and some stars in their seals, dating from the early 14th century. The oldest seal of the city itself dates from the end of the 14th century and shows St. Mary with child on a throne. On both sides of the throne and below it, there are three shields with the present arms. The arms have not changed ever since.
Sources: H. Papendieck: "Die Wappen der Landkreise und kreisfreien Städte des Landes Sachsen-Anhalt", Landesarchiv Magdeburg, 1996, Günther 1996a and Ralf Hartemink's webpage
Santiago Dotor, 3 Dec 2001 and Klaus-Michael Schneider, 13 Aug 2018
![[Halle-Neustadt white]](../images/d/de-sy-ha-hn.gif) 1:2 image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Oct 2019 |
![[Halle-Neustadt blue]](../images/d/de-sy-ha-h2.gif) 1:2 image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Oct 2019 |
Although there had never been approved official city flags, as everywhere in the DDR, the city used decorating flags on occasion of the 25th anniversary of the city in July 1989. They were either blue or white with centred arms and had the unusual ratio of 1:2.
Source: Erwin Günther: "Wappen und Flaggen der Stadt- und Landkreise Sachsen-Anhalts, der ehemaligen Provinz Sachsen und des Landes Anhalt", Ansbach 1996; p.24
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Oct 2019
Shield Gules, a group of three doves Argent, rising from a bursting bud of Or and Vert; in chief a key Or in fess with a hexagonal ring and a square bit, charged with a red 6-point star.
Meaning:
Halle-Neustadt had been the most ambitious project of urban development in the former DDR. Started in 1964, the settlement for the workers of a new built chemical plant, was upgraded to a county-free city in 1967. Its number of inhabitants increased to nearly 94,000 in 1989. After the fall of the DDR about two thirds of the population voted for a reunification with the city of Halle.
The arms are a typical product of socialist "heraldry". The group of white doves was symbolising peace. Bud and key were referring to the new aspirant, socialist city. The hexagonal shape is representing a benzene ring and thus referring to the chamistry companies. The star in the key stresses the connectivity with the city of Halle.
Source: Blaschke et alii 1979, p.189
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Oct 2019
The arms were adopted in 1984. A flag had never been adopted officially.
back to Saxony-Anhalt County and Municipal Flags click here.
