Interested in German eagle symbols? Learn more about the cultural as well as national importance of German Eagle symbols…
Not only does Germany have national symbols, it also has different cultural symbols.
German Coat of Arms
The first and most prominent placement of the German eagle symbol is on the German Coat of Arms. The color of the coat of arms is the same as that of the German national flag. The solid black, red and gold color is considered one of the oldest European state symbols. The eagle represents the bird of the god Odin, who was worshiped by a Germanic tribe. The designs were initially created by some of the artists from the Weimar period. Initially the style of the wings and the shape of the eagles differed a lot and it has changed over time.
German Confederation
Another emblem belonging to the Arms of the German confederation shows the double headed eagle with its wings spread out wide. This black eagle is placed on a gold background and has red claws.
State Symbols
The chamber of the Bundestag or the German parliament carries a large version of the eagle symbol. The symbol is also referred to as the fat hen or ‘Fette Henne’ in German.
The German eagle symbol can be seen on the flag for different federal institutions, letterhead of the federal official as well as the stamps and official seals and coins issued in Germany. There are specific German eagle imprinted gold coins that have been issued as commemorative coins but were previously used as currency.
German Eagle Symbol on Architectural Structures
The German eagle symbol is used as a national symbol on top of buildings and architectural structures. It was utilized as a national symbol or a Nazi party symbol by facing it towards the right or the left. In most of Germany the symbols can be found on different historical buildings. Even though the insignia was vehemently removed after the occupation forces arrived in German lands, some of the eagles have still survived. However, the insignia of the swastika was removed from the claws of the Eagle. From federal government buildings in Berlin to concentration camps in Austria, the symbol was evident on every structure and announced its ownership under the German government.
German Eagle Symbols on Unexplained Locations
Interestingly enough some placements of the German eagle on monuments and columns in nondescript areas are still unexplained. One such location is the Burg Eltz which lies in the Mosel River region. You can see the iron eagle on a column that is placed on local basalt and falls very close to the small chapel. This valley falls right below the Burg Pyrmont and most of the history of this eagle is unknown.
You can see a majority of the remaining eagles in the air raid bunkers as well as the bunkers in the west wall that survived the demolition through the Allied Forces occupation. When the Allied Forces entered Germany they ordered the removal of many eagle symbols across the country. One such case was the concentration camp in Austria known as Mauthausen Concentration Camp.
