Editing Heraldry (section)

===Socialist emblems===
{{Main|Socialist state emblems}}
[[File:State_Emblem_of_the_Soviet_Union.svg|thumb|[[State Emblem of the Soviet Union]] (1956–1991 version)]]
[[Communist state]]s often followed a unique style characterized by [[communist symbolism]]. Although commonly called ''[[coat of arms|coats of arms]]'', most such devices are not actually coats of arms in the traditional heraldic sense and should therefore, in a strict sense, not be called arms at all.<ref name="von Volborth">{{harvp|von Volborth|1981|page= 11}}</ref> Many communist governments purposely diverged from the traditional forms of [[European heraldry]] in order to distance themselves from the [[monarchy|monarchies]] that they usually replaced, with actual coats of arms being seen as symbols of the monarchs.

The [[Soviet Union]] was the first state to use this type of emblem, beginning at its creation in 1922. The style became more widespread after [[World War II]], when many other communist states were established. Even a few non-socialist states have adopted the style, for various reasons—usually because [[Wars of national liberation|communists had helped them to gain independence]]—but also when no apparent connection to a Communist nation exists, such as the [[emblem of Italy]].<ref name="von Volborth"/><ref name="von Volborth 1972">{{cite book |last= von Volborth|first= Carl-Alexander|author-link1= Carl-Alexander von Volborth| date= 1972 | title= Alverdens heraldik i farver | language=da | others=Editor and translator from English to Danish: [[Sven Tito Achen]] | location= Copenhagen | publisher=Politikens Forlag |page= 158|isbn= 87-567-1685-0}}</ref> After the [[Dissolution of the Soviet Union|fall of the Soviet Union]] and [[Revolutions of 1989|the other communist states in Eastern Europe]] in 1989–1991, this style of heraldry was often abandoned for the old heraldic practices, with many new governments reinstating the traditional heraldry that was previously cast aside.