Earlier coats of arms Coat of arms of Namibia

1914 proposed coat of arms of german south-west africa

in 1914, german empire government decided assign coats of arms german colonies, including south-west africa. arms designed, world war broke out before project finalised, , arms never taken use. arms proposed german south-west africa depicted afrikaner bull s head, diamond, , german imperial eagle. in 1920s, neo-colonialism, proposed arms made short public appearance, in slight modified form on postcards issued german colonial soldiers league (german deutscher kolonialkrieger-bund) decoration on calendars.

arms 1963–80

in 1958, south-west african administration decided territory should have official coat of arms. after obtaining south african government approval, administration engaged dr coenraad beyers design arms. finalised in 1961, taken use in 1963, , registered @ bureau of heraldry in 1964.

the arms discontinued when south-west africa reconstituted three-tier system of government in 1980. administration whites (1980–89) took on arms in 1981.

the official blazon of arms is :

per chevron ployé argent , gules, dexter karakul ram s face caboshed sable , sinister head , neck of afrikander bull proper, in base 2 miner s hammers in saltire or , there-under 3 triangular diamonds argent 2 , 1; on chief gules pale argent charged eagle sable langued , membered gules, dexter representation of fort namutoni , sinister portuguese padrao both argent.
crest : gemsbok statant gardant proper.
supporters: dexter springbok , sinister kudu, both proper, resting on desert-like knoll, growing welwitschia mirabilis in foreground proper.
motto : viribus unitis.