Kaliningrad is the center of the Kaliningrad region of Russia. This is a city with a long history. The flag and coat of arms of the city are officially recognized symbols that combine historical heritage, cultural value and modernity.
A bit about the city
Kaliningrad is the westernmost regional center of Russia. Its population is approximately 500 thousand inhabitants, although, according to the Kaliningrad administration, this figure is 200 thousand more due to visitors from other regions of the country. Every year, the city attracts more and more Russians. Now it is part of Russia. The city is a major automobile, railway and maritime hub. Here is the headquarters of the Baltic Fleet of Russia. In addition, Kaliningrad is considered a large industrial center.
It once belonged to Germany. How old is Kaliningrad? The date of foundation of the city is considered to be 1255, when the main castle - "Royal Mountain" was built. On behalf of the castle, he received the name Königsberg. In 1946, the city passed to the Soviet Union and became Kaliningrad. This place preserves the memory of its Prussian history. In different parts of it are the remains of defensive forts, burgher quarters and the Cathedral are also preserved, and the most famous place in Kaliningrad is, of course, Kant’s grave.
Coat of arms of Kaliningrad: description
Being Koenigsberg, the coat of arms repeatedly changed its appearance. The Kaliningrad administration approved the official symbol of the Russian city in 1996, in 1999 it was slightly transformed. Some elements copy the old coat of arms of Koenigsberg.
The coat of arms of Kaliningrad is depicted on a blue shield. In the center is a ship of white or silver color. It has a sail and a pennant located on both sides. The ship is deployed to the left (from the side of the beholder), at the top it develops a white flag with the St. Andrew’s cross in blue. At the bottom of the coat of arms is a wave of golden balls or bezants. In the center they are large, and towards the edges they are reduced in size.
Between the sail and the deck of the ship is a small shield. It is divided into two fields horizontally. In the upper white field is a red crown. The bottom field is red. It depicts an equilateral wide cross. A green ribbon surrounds the visor to form the English letter V.
Symbolism
St. Andrew's flag with a cross is a symbol of the Russian Navy. Together with his brother Peter, Saint Andrew fished in the Sea of Galilee, therefore he has long been considered the patron of the sea and maritime trade. Along with this, he is the patron and protector of Russia.
The blue color of the shield symbolizes water, harmony and tranquility. A sailboat, as a frequent heraldic symbol, denotes hope, purity, connection with the sea. Its pennant testifies to the cultural and historical connection of Prussia and Russia. The balls under the ship are amber, which is mined in the city. At the same time, bezants symbolize fishing floats.
The shield on the deck indicates that the coat of arms of Kaliningrad inherits historical heraldry. The crown in the upper part of the shield gives a reference to the founder of the city, King Przemysl. It also symbolizes power. The white cross at the bottom of the visor is a symbol of spiritual rebirth and Christianity.
The green ribbon that surrounds the visor resembles the outline of the first letter in the word “Victory”. Its black and green color repeats the colors of the pad of the medal dedicated to the capture of the German Koenigsberg.
Kaliningrad flag
The city flag of the regional center was edited several times and slightly modified. Its first appearance dates back to 1996. The composition of the flag completely repeated the emblem of Kaliningrad. The shape of the flap on the deck was Spanish. Where the ends of the black-green ribbon converged, three green leaves were depicted (now they are not on the coat of arms). In 1990, the Spanish form of the red-white shield was changed to German. The ship and the shamrock somewhat changed shape.
Further edits were made in 2002 and in 2006. Each of them was not too significant, the outlines of some details changed. The modern flag is a blue cloth, in the center of which is a white sailing ship. The ship has a mast with the St. Andrew flag on top and a pennant with two ends. On the deck of the ship is a red and white shield depicting the old coat of arms of Koenigsberg. The ribbon framing the shield with the coat of arms is completed by three green leaves at the top. Under the ship, twelve amber bezants curl in a wave.