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'Württemberg-Baden' is a former state of West Germany. It was created in 1945 by the USA occupation forces, after the states of Baden and Württemberg had been split up between the US and French occupation zones. Its capital was Stuttgart. In 1952, Württemberg-Baden was merged with Württemberg-Hohenzollern and Baden into the new state of Baden-Württemberg.

Contents

History

Politics

Flag and Coat of Arms

References

History

Württemberg-Baden consisted of the northern halves of the former states of Württemberg and Baden. The southern border of this part of the US-administered zone was set so that the Autobahn connecting Karlsruhe and Munich (today the A8) was completely contained within the American zone. The three major subdivisions of the American zone - Greater Hesse, Bavaria and Württemberg-Baden were declared on 19 September 1945.^[1]
On 24 November 1946 a new constitution was enacted, and Württemberg-Baden's first parliament was elected. With the formation of West Germany on 23 May 1949, Württemberg-Baden joined the federal republic.
A straw poll was held on 24 September 1950 in Württemberg-Baden, Württemberg-Hohenzollern and Baden regarding a merger of the three states. A public referendum was held on 16 December 1951. On both occasions, voters in Württemberg-Baden voted with a clear majority in favour of the fusion. All three states were merged and the modern German state of Baden-Württemberg was founded on 25 April 1952.

Politics

The only minister-president of Württemberg-Baden was Reinhold Maier (DVP, then FDP; 1946-1952). Maier went on to become the first minister-president of Baden-Württemberg upon its formation in 1952.
Württemberg-Baden was subdivided into two administrative districts, known as ''Landesbezirke''. The bondaries for these two districts were taken from two former state sections that comprised Württemberg-Baden. These two districts remain largely unchanged today as the Regierungsbezirke of Stuttgart (Württemberg) and Karlsruhe (Baden) within Baden-Württemberg.

Flag and Coat of Arms

The flag of Württemberg-Baden, adopted in 1947, was the black-red-gold tricolour that was later adopted as the flag of West Germany in 1949. ^[2]
The coat of arms merges elements from the two predecessor states.

References

1. Allied Control Council Proclamation No.2
2. Württemberg-Baden 1947-1952 (Germany) Flags of the World