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Hesse-Darmstadt

1567–1806 Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt
1806–1918 Grand Duchy of Hesse
1923–1945 People's State of Hesse
1945 merged into Greater Hesse

• Flags

• Meaning/Origin of the Flag

• Coat of Arms

• Meaning/Origin of the Coat of Arms

• Cockade

• Map

• Numbers and Facts

• History

• The states of Hesse

• Origin of the Country's Name

Flags

Flagge Fahne Landgrafschaft Hessen-Darmstadt flag Landgraviate Hesse-Darmstadt

Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt,
1567–1806,
Flag of the country (colours),
Quelle, nach: Flags of the World

Flagge Fahne Großherzogtum Hessen-Darmstadt flag Grand Duchy Hesse-Darmstadt

Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt,
1806–1839,
Flag of the country (colours),
Quelle, nach: Flags of the World

Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt,
1839–1933,
Flag of the country (colours),
Quelle, nach: Flags of the World

Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt,
1839–1903,
State flag,
Source, by: Flags of the World

Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt,
1839–1903,
Flag for members of the dukal family,
Source, by: Snamjena Germanii

Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt,
1903–1918,
State flag,
Source, by: Flags of the World

Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt,
1839–1918,
Flag of the Princes and Princesses,
Source, by: Flags of the World

Flagge Fahne Großherzogtum Hessen-Darmstadt flag Grand Duchy Hesse-Darmstadt Großherzog Grand Duke

Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt,
1870–1903,
Flag of the Grand Duke,
Source, by: Snamjena Germanii

Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt,
1903–1918,
Flag of the Grand Duke,
Source, by: Snamjena Germanii

Flagge Fahne Großherzogtum Hessen-Darmstadt flag Grand Duchy Hesse-Darmstadt Kronprinz Crown Prince

Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt,
1903–1918,
Flag of the Crown Prince,
Source, by: Snamjena Germanii

Flagge Fahne Volksstaat Hessen flag People's Staate Hesse

People's Staate of Hesse,
1923–1933,
Flag of the country (colours),
Source, by: Flags of the World

People's Staate of Hesse,
1933–1934,
Flag of the country (colours),
Source, by: Flags of the World

The flags of the Hessian Lanfgraviates were always red-and white or white-red striped bicolours. The colours go back to the lion in the coat of arms of the Landgraviate of Thuringia in the 12th and 13th centuries, from which the country finally emerged, which was horizontally striped in white and red. In 1806 the Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt became levied to the Grand Guchy of Hesse and in 1839 was introduced a new flag. It was a three striped bicolore, with three stripes in red, white and red in the rato 1:2:1, with the blue shield and the white-red striped lion in the middle. It could be used by anyone until 1867, then only for official purposes (state or official flag). In 1903 a new state flag was adopted, namely the model that was used from 1939 as the flag of the princes and princesses. The People's State of Hesse continued three striped bicolore in 1923. The shape of the shield was changed too, and a "people's crown" was placed on the shield. Following the practice of the previous years, is described a state flag with coat of arms for the People's State of Hesse. It was a three striped bicolore, with three stripes in red, white and red in the ratio 1:2:1, with the blue shield and the white and red striped lion in the middle, but the coat of arms without a crown, the lion without the crown and without the sword. After the seizure of power of the national-socialist movement was re-adoped the two-striped bicolore, probably for the state flag (official flag) too.

Another incident for the flag was the seizure of power by the National Socialists in the German Empire in 1933. All official non-swastika flags, that refered to federalism, regional references or the old German Empire were abolished between 1933 and 1935. For the National Socialists, the federal structure of the German Empire, its historically grown countries, was considered as outdated, as relics of a past to be overcome. In this sense, several laws were enacted, on 31st of March in 1933 the 'Provisional Law for the phasing of the countries with the Empire', on 7th of April 1933 the 'Second Law for the phasing of the countries with the Empire' and finally, on 30th January in 1934 the 'Law on the rebuilding of the empire'. Thus, the federal structure of the German Empire was replaced by the gau-structure of the NSDAP, the countries became meaningless. From now on, offices and authorities had to use the swastika flag as official flag, until September 15th in 1935, when by the flag-law was legislated a new created official flag for all the offices and authorities of the empire. The prime ministers of the countries, which latest in 1933 all came from the NSDAP – now mostly called Reichsstatthalter (maybe translated as 'governor') – however remained in office until 1945. The corresponding country colours continued, with restrictions, but definitly not in the form of flags. They were used, for example, occasionally on uniforms of the SA or in some ranks of the Hitler Youth in the breast cord.

After the war, the administration within the German Empire was rebuilt, but locally, following the structure of the countries. These have been partly old countries, and some new countries were created. Sometimes they bethought the old country colours and reactivated them – or they created new ones – for limited sovereign duties, which were under the control of the Allies. With the founding of the FRG and the GDR, an internal country-structure was finalised for both entities and corresponding official flags were introduced for these countries.

In 1945 the Prussian Province of Hesse-Nassau, and the Country of Hesse (Hessen-Darmstadt) were combined by the allies, with exception of Rhine Hesse, to "Greater Hesse". Coat of arms and flag maintained (although on arms the shape and crown was changed a little bit), and in 1949, when the state of Hesse became a federal country of the FRG, they were taken over.

Source: Reservistenverband Kreisgruppe Südhessen, Wikipedia (D), Flags of the World, Snamjena Germanii, Jürgen Kaltschmitt, Uniform-Fibel

Coat of Arms

1806–1808,
lesser coat of arms of Grand Duchy of Hesse,
Source, by: Heraldique Europeenne

Wappen Großherzogtum Hessen Hessen-Darmstadt coat of arms Grand Duchy Hesse-Darmstadt

1808–1918,
lesser coat of arms of Grand Duchy of Hesse,
Source, by: Heraldique Europeenne

Wappen Großherzogtum Hessen Hessen-Darmstadt coat of arms Grand Duchy Hesse-Darmstadt

to 1918,
middle coat of arms of Grand Duchy of Hesse,
Source, by: Wikipedia (D)

Wappen Volksstaat Hessen Hessen-Darmstadt coat of arms People's State of Hesse

Wappen Volksstaat Hessen Hessen-Darmstadt coat of arms People's State of Hesse

1923–1945,
Coat of arms of People's State of Hesse,
Source, by: Wikipedia (D)

Meaning/Origin of the Coat of Arms

The coats of arms of the Hessian Landgraviates showed a blue shield with a white and red striped lion. This golden armed, golden crowned, lion rampante is the Lion of the Ludowingers, an originally Thuringian symbol, which goes back to the end of the 12th century, to the Landgrave Hermann I. of the dynasty of the Ludowingers.

The middle coat of arms of the Electorate of Hesse shows nine fields: 1. Landgraviate of Hesse, 2. Principality of Mainz, Principality of Worms, 3. Principality of Hersfeld, 4. County of Ziegenhain, 5. the heart shield, Grand Duchy of Hesse, 6. County of Katzenelnbogen, 7. County of Büdingen, 8. County of Hanau, 9. County of Nidda. The shield is crowned with the crown of a king. The monarch was only an Grand Duke, but those used mostly king's crowns.

Originally, the lion was depicted with eight white and red striped bars, in the 15th Century, there arised nine stripes. There exist depictions of the lion with one or two tails. This is without heraldic significance.

Source: Historischer Verein Ingelheim

After the extinction of the male line of Landgraves – the House of Ludowinger – in 1247, there was a succession war between the Margraves of Meissen (House Wettin) and the Duchy of Brabant (Sophie, Duchess of Brabant, House of Ludowinger). The war ended in 1264 and much parts in the east of the Landgraviate of Thuringia came to the House of Wettin. Those became later the Wettin-Ernestine duchies. The West came as Landgraviate of Hesse to the son of Sophie of Brabant. The Thuringian coat of arms (white-red striped lion on blue) was adopted by both dynasties. The as a result of the Hessian division of 1567 (and even later) arising lines of the Landgraves of Hesse, all continued the blue shield with the white-red striped with lion. Only the lion in the coat of arms of Hesse-Darmstadt became in 1808 pushed a drawn sword in the paw. It stands for the in the same year awarded title of the Grand Duke of Hesse: "Champion between Rhine and Weser rivers". After revolution and overthrow of the monarchy in the year 1918, was removed the crown on the shield and on the head of the lion in 1923, it became taken off the sword, and it was determined that the lion should consistently have one single tail, the shape of the shield was changed and a "people's crown" was placed on the shield.

In 1945 the Prussian Province of Hesse-Nassau, and the Country of Hesse (Hessen-Darmstadt) were combined by the allies, with exception of Rhine Hesse, to "Greater Hesse". Coat of arms and flag maintained (although on arms the shape and crown was changed a little bit), and in 1949, when the state of Hesse became a federal country of the FRG, they were taken over.

Source: Wikipedia (D), Flags of the World

Cockade

to 1807,
Cockade of Hesse-Darmstadt

Kokarde Großherzogtum Hessen Hessen-Darmstadt cockade Grand Duchy Hesse-Darmstadt

1807–1812,
Cockade for officers in scarlet red in colour ratio 9:1

Kokarde Großherzogtum Hessen Hessen-Darmstadt cockade Grand Duchy Hesse-Darmstadt

1807–1812,
Cockade for men in crimson red in colour ratio 7:3

Kokarde Großherzogtum Hessen Hessen-Darmstadt cockade Grand Duchy Hesse-Darmstadt

1812–1813,
Cockade of Hesse-Darmstadt

Kokarde Großherzogtum Hessen Hessen-Darmstadt cockade Grand Duchy Hesse-Darmstadt

1813–1814,
Cockade of Hesse-Darmstadt

Kokarde Großherzogtum Hessen Hessen-Darmstadt cockade Grand Duchy Hesse-Darmstadt

1814,
Cockade for officers

Kokarde Großherzogtum Hessen Hessen-Darmstadt cockade Grand Duchy Hesse-Darmstadt

to 1919,
Cockade of Hesse-Darmstadt

The colors of many cockades of ribbon usually showed only one color. For example, Black = United Kingdom, United States, Prussia and many other German states, White = (royal) France, Red = Spain, etc. In the Napoleonic era, the new shaped round cockade of ribbon was mainly colored in the national colors. In the case of the Grand Duchy of Hesse (-Darmstadt) they changed in 1807 from black to red-white.

Officers wore a cocked hat to 1815, and on it - until 1812 - a round cockade of ribbon in scarlet-red and white in the color-ratio of 9:1. Men wore until 1812 a round cockade of ribbon in carmine-red and white in the color-ratio of 7:3. From 1812 there were no longer the color and design differences. However, from 1813 a new cockade came up, with a much smaller red field in the middle. This variant of cockade was seen from 1813 in the Hessian-Darmstadt troops in Spain, in 1813 whilst the new drawing up of forces, and in 1814 whilst onother new drawing up of forces and from 1814 in lines of the the volunteer rifleman units.

On the hesse-darmstadt shako was fixed above the cockade an additional pom-pom, sometimes also in the form of a disc, which could be dyed in different colors. Thus it showed to the military superiors which company the soldier belonged to or which rank he was held.

In view of these variants and changes, it must be remembered that the manufacture of military equipment at that time was done frequently in several, often small factories. In addition, the Hesse-Darmstadt troops were destroyed in Spain in 1812. Similarly, in Russia in 1812 the whole there sent Grand Ducal Hessian army was annihilated, reorganized at the beginning of 1813, and destroyed again in the spring campaigns and at Leizig in October 1813 (still on Napoleon's side). In the spring of 1814 (now on the Allied side) the army was reorganized again. Because of that it was nearly impossible to keep always all the uniform rules. It had to be – at least partially – saved on material and some things had to be improvised. Officers and volunteer riflemen of all German states were self-clothing men (means: self-payers in matters of clothing) and in many cases "not so exactly" obedient to the uniform rules.

The author knows nothing more about the coloration and design of the blanket between the end of the Napoleonic era and the end of the monarchy in the year 1918.

Source: Jürgen Kaltschmitt, by
1) P. Bunde - Brigade-Uniformtafeln Nr. 57, 66, 67 und 134, Herzogenrath 2000/2001/2004/2016
2) L. u. F. Funcken "Historische Uniformen", Band 4, Napoleonische Zeit, Deutsche Ausgfrome, Uniform-Tafeln sinceen 77 und 79, München 1979
3) H. Knötel/Dr. M. Lezius "Deutsche Uniformen, Album: Zeitalter der Freiheitskriege", Bilder auf sincee 28, Wolfenbüttel 2014 (Reprint von 1932)
4) O. v. Pivka/B. Fosten "Napoleon's German Alliies" (5) Hesse (Band 122 der Men-At-Arms Reihe, Osprey), Uniformtafel C, D und E in Buchmitte, London 1982
5) K. Schäfer, M. Gärtner, A. Umhey, P. Wacker, E. Wagner "Die Achenbach-Bilderhandschrift 1813/14" : "frombildung des Großherzoglich hessischen Militair", Uniform-Tafeln 1, 2 ,4, 5, 12, 13 und 21, Darmstadt 1994
6) P. Schuchhardt: "Die Elberfelder Bilderhandschrift-Bilder und Dokumente aus napoleonischer Zeit", Bild 17 A, Herne 2004
7) "Weilander Manuscript - Uniformen der französischen Armee und deren Alliierter 1806-1813", sincee 63, Paris 2004 (Reprint)

Read here:
Informations, history and facts about the theme "Cockades".

Cockade

Map

The federal Countries of the German Empire from 1871 to 1920 (all designations in German), clickable map:
interaktive Landkarte

Source: Volker Preuß

The clickable map shows the Grand Duchy of Hesse and the other states of the German Empire.

Source: Hand-Atlas für die Geschichte des Mittelalters und die neueren Zeit, 1880

The historical map shows the Grand Duchy of Hesse between the years 1815 and 1866, within a pale green border.

Numbers and Facts

Area: 2.970 square miles

Inhabitants: 1.350.000 (1925)

Density of Population: 454 inh./sq.mi. (1925)

Capital: Darmstadt

Currency to 1868: 1 Gulden = 60 Kreuzer = 240 Pfennige

Currency 1868–1875: 1 Taler = 30 Silbergroschen = 300 Pfg.

Currency 1875–1924: 1 Mark = 100 Pfennig

Currency 1924–1946: 1 Reichsmark (RM) = 100 Reichspfennig (Rpf.)

Source: Der Michel, Volker Preuß

History

1145–1254 · Landgraviate of Thuringia

1254–1264 · heritage succession war, separation of Hesse from Thuringia

1264 · Landgraviate of Hesse

1567 · division of the ruling family in four different lines (1. Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel, 2. Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt, 3. Landgraviate of Hesse-Marburg [to 1604], 4. Landgraviate of Hesse-Rheinfels [to 1583])

1806 · end of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation under the pressure of Napoléon, the emperor resigns, the Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt becomes levied to the Grand Duchy of Hesse and joins the Rhine Confederation

1808 · the Grand Duke gets the title "Champion of the Rhine and the Weser"

1816 · the Grand Duke is officially called "Grand Duke of Hesse and the Rhine"

1866 · Fratricidal War of Prussia against Austria, Hesse-Darmstadt and Hesse-Kassel are on the side of Austria and defeat, Hesse-Kassel and the former Hesse-Homburg become occupied by Prussian troops in August 1866, abolished in October 1866 and annexed to the Prussian Province of Hesse-Nassau. Hesse-Darmstadt has to cede to Prussia the cities of Mainz and Worms and the District of Biedenkopf

1918 · Revolution in Hesse-Darmstadt, overthrow of the monarchy

1923 · proclaiming the "People's State of Hesse"

to 1945 · state of the German Empire

1945 · Hesse-Darmstadt becomes occupied by US-American troops

19th of September in 1945 · the Allies establish the Country of Greater Hesse (the present State of Hesse), by unification of Hesse-Darmstadt and Hesse-Nassau under loss of Rhine-Hesse

Source: Atlas zur Geschichte, World Statesmen, HGIS - Historisches Deutschland

The states of Hesse between 1567 and 1866 in overviev

1.) from 1567 Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel, since 1803 Electorate of Hesse, since 1866 to the Prussian Province of Hesse-Nassau

2.) from 1567 Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt, 1803–1918 Grand Duchy of Hesse, 1918–1945 Federal Country of Hesse

3.) from 1596 Landgraviate of Hesse-Homburg, since 1866 to the Prussian Province of Hesse-Nassau

4.) 1567–1604 Landgraviate of Hesse-Marburg

5.) 1567–1583 Landgraviate of Hesse-Rheinfels

6.) 1648–1681 Landgraviate of Hesse-Bingenheim

Source, by: Wikipedia (D)

Origin of the Country's Name

The name "Hesse" is based on a Germanic tribe with the same name who lived here during the time of the Romans. This tribes was called by the Romans "Chatti". The name "Darmstadt" comes from a creek called "Darm", which floats here. "Darm" means translated "quagmire" or "swamp". Darmstadt was the residence of the Counts of Katzenelnbogen, who had to cede their possessions in the year 1479 to Hesse.

Source: Handbuch der geographischen Namen