Coat of Arms of East Germany
The Coat of Arms of East Germany featured a hammer, a pair of compasses, surrounded by a ring of rye.
East Germany's coat of arms featured typical communist symbolism. The hammer represented the workers in the factories. The compasses represented the intelligentsia, and the ring of rye the farmers.
Adopted on October 1, 1959, it was placed on the flag of East Germany to prevent confusion with the flag of West Germany.
The coat of arms was officially abolished on October 3, 1990, along with the flag on which it was featured.
Surrounded by a wreath, the state coat of arms also acted as the coat of arms for the East German National People's Army, and when surrounded by a twelve pointed white star, for the People's Police.
