Dithmarschen

Dithmarschen
District
Flag Coat of arms
Country	Germany
State	Schleswig-Holstein
Capital	Heide
Government
• District admin.	Stefan Mohrdieck
Area
• Total	1,405 km2(542 sq mi)
Population (31 December 2022)
• Total	135,252
• Density	96/km2(250/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00(CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00(CEST)
Vehicle registration	HEI, MED
Website	dithmarschen.de

Dithmarschen(German pronunciation:[ˈdɪtmaʁʃn̩],Low Saxon:[ˈdɪtmaːʃn̩];archaic English:Ditmarsh;Danish:Ditmarsken;Medieval Latin:Tedmarsgo) is a district inSchleswig-Holstein,Germany. It is bounded by (from the north and clockwise) the districts ofNordfriesland,Schleswig-Flensburg,Rendsburg-Eckernförde,andSteinburg,by the state ofLower Saxony(district ofStade,from which it is separated by theElberiver), and by theNorth Sea. From the 13th century up to 1559 Dithmarschen was an independentpeasant republicwithin theHoly Roman Empireand a member of theHanseatic League.

Geography

Marshland in northern Dithmarschen

Wadden Seaat Büsum

The district is located on theNorth Sea.It is embraced by theElbeestuary to the south and theEiderestuary to the north. Today it forms a kind ofartificial island,surrounded by the Eider river in the north and theKiel Canalin both the east and southeast. It is a rather flat countryside that was once full of fens and swamps.

To the north it borders onNordfrieslandandSchleswig-Flensburg,to the east onRendsburg-Eckernförde,and in the southeast onSteinburg.Its landward boundaries have remained basically the same since the times ofCharlemagne.Land reclamation,however, has almost doubled the size of Dithmarschen as land has been wrested from the sea.

The main roads and rail lines in Schleswig-Holstein follow a north–south direction, making Hamburg its most accessible city.

The district has a maximum north–south length of 54 kilometers and an east–west length of 41 kilometers. The highest point, near Schrum in thegeestland,is 78 metres (256 ft) meters above sea level and the lowest point, near Burg, is 0.5 metres (1 ft 8 in) below sea level.

Dithmarschen's landscape owes its character to the North Sea. From west to east Dithmarschen consists of theWadden Sea,marsh,bog,and thegeestland.The North Sea had a higher sea level 6,500 years ago than today and the coastline then ran along the geestland. About 4,500 years ago, geestland structures were connected by sand and gravel depositions that formedspits.Bogs, lakes, and swamps emerged as the area behind the spits no longer flooded. After the first plants (glasswort) took root, the land transformed first to salt marshes and finally to marshes. These marshes rank among the most fertile of Germany's soils. Vegetable farming in Dithmarschen produces the highest yields in Schleswig-Holstein.

Since about the 8th century, the people of Dithmarschen have been living onwarftsfor protection from the sea. In the 12th century, they began buildingdikesto protect their pastures and fields. Since about the 15th century, they have been reclaiming land from the sea.

Flora and fauna

Wind influences tree growth

While the Geest has some woods, trees are found in marshlands only in form of wind protection around houses or villages. Traditional are theKnicks,tree rows with strong undergrowth to protect agricultural land from the wind.

In Dithmarschen lay several bogs. A special position is taken with the "Weißes Moor" (White bog), the only bog still existing in quite natural shape in the Schleswig-Holstein marsh land.

Common sealon a sand bank

Barnacle goose in flight

Part of theSchleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Parkis in Dithmarschen. It is the most important habitat in the district. Many molluscs can be found here, includingbivalvesandgastropods,wormsandcrustaceans,which provide food to larger animals. Fish use the Wadden Sea as a "Kindergarten" where they can raise their offspring in a protected environment. Although many species of birds settle permanently in the Wadden Sea, many others use it as a winter habitat or as a resting place. Typical birds in Dithmarschen aredunlin,red knot,bar-tailed godwit,northern lapwings,ringed plover,Eurasian oystercatcher,many species ofduckandgull,sandwich tern,pied avocet,brent gooseandbarnacle goose.200,000common shelducksalone come in August, The shelducks lose their feathers in the Wadden Sea and therefore are for around three weeks unable to fly. The majority of common shelducks in North Western Europe travel to the area at this time. Bigsalt marshesare at the Friedrichskoog coast and in the Neufeld Bay.

Three sand banks,Trischen,Tertius andBlauortare in the sea. They are some of only a few still natural habitats at the German coast and of importance to sea birds and seals. After futile attempts in the 1930s to make them habitable to humans, they are now part of the national park, forbidden to humans. Many birds preferring wet grasslands live in theEider-Treene Valley.

History

High Middle Ages

Landscape with ewes and lambs

Inmedieval timesthemarshlandvillages of Dithmarschen enjoyed remarkable autonomy. Neighbouring princes often tried to bring Dithmarschen under their control.

After 1180 Prince-ArchbishopSiegfriedceded Dithmarschen, which was supposed to belong to hisPrince-Archbishopric of Bremen,to his brotherBernhard III,Duke of theyounger Duchy of Saxony.In his new position of Duke of Saxony he held theLand of Hadeln,opposite of Dithmarschen on the southern bank of the riverElbe.Adolf III of Schauenburg,Count of Holstein,at enmity with theAscanians,had de facto taken a loose possession of Dithmarschen. It fell to Bernhard to regain the territory, but he failed, only forcing Adolf to accept his overlordship of Dithmarschen.

Prince-ArchbishopHartwig IIprepared a campaign into Dithmarschen, which, while religiously belonging to theArchdiocese of Bremen,and represented by its subsidiarychapteratHamburg Concathedral,rejected secular overlordship from Bremen. He persuaded Adolf III to waive his claim to Dithmarschen, in return for being paid regular dues to be levied from the Ditmarsians after subjugation. In 1187 and 1188 Hartwig and his allyMaurice I, Count of Oldenburg,heading their troops, invaded Dithmarschen. The free peasants promised to pay him dues, only to ridicule and renounce Hartwig, once he and his soldiers had left. The Ditmarsians gained support fromValdemar,steward of theDuchy of SchleswigandBishop of Schleswig.Hartwig, owing dues to Adolf III and the soldiers' pay to Maurice I, was trapped and could not afford to wage a second war.

In 1192 the Bremian Chapter elected Valdemar as its new Prince-Archbishop. Valdemar welcomed his election, hoping his new position could be helpful in his dispute withDuke ValdemarofSchleswigand his elder brotherCanute VI of Denmark.Before entering the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen he won the support of Dithmarschen.

Late Middle Ages

In the 15th century the Ditmarsians confederated in apeasant republic.Though several times neighbouring princely rulers, accompanied by theirknightsandmercenaries,attempted to subjugate the independent peasants to feudalism, they were unsuccessful. In 1319Gerhard IIIwas repelled in theBattle of Wöhrden.AfterEric IV, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburghad raided Dithmarschen, the Ditmarsians blamed his son-in-law,Albert II, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg,for complicity, who then used this as a pretext for his own unsuccessful conquest attempt in 1403, dying during the campaign from inflicted injuries. In 1468 Dithmarschen allied withLübeckto protect their common interest as to commerce and containing the spreading feudalism in the region.Based on the Hanseatic obligations and privileges from the pact signed with Lübeck, Ditmarsians had established trade withLivoniaand neighbouringBalticdestinations in the 15th century.Both parties renewed their alliance several times and it thus lasted until Dithmarschen's final defeat and Dano-Holsatian annexation in 1559.

In 1484Magnus of Saxe-Lauenburg,then vicegerent of the Land of Hadeln, failed to subjugate the freeFrisianpeasants in theLand of Wursten,a de facto autonomous region in a North Sea marsh at theWeserestuary, which was under the loose overlordship of the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen.This foreshadowed a series of feudal attempts to subdue regions of free peasants, an alarming signal for the Ditmarsians and the free peasants in other marshes in the area.

In April 1499 CountJohn XIVofOldenburginvaded the Weser and North Sea marshes ofStadlandandButjadingen,both of which the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen claimed overlordship over, in order to subject their free peasants.Bremen's prince-archbishopJohann Rodetried to form a military alliance to repel these invasions, and prevent further ones, first rallying the cities ofBremen,Hamburg andStade,as they considered the areas downstream of the riversElbeand Weser their own front yard: essential for their free maritime trade connections. Rode won the Ditmarsians too, for a defensive alliance to protect Wursten, concluded on 1 May 1499.On 1 August the alliance, now also includingBuxtehude,committed themselves to supply 1,300 warriors and equipment to defend Wursten and/or invade Hadeln.

Conversely,John Vand his son Magnus of Saxe-Lauenburg had already allied withHenry IV the Elder of Brunswick and Lunenburg,Prince of Wolfenbüttel,on 24 November 1498, to conquer Wursten.Henry IV obliged to send 3,000landsknechts,who should gain their payment by ravaging and plundering the free peasants of Wursten, once successfully subjugated.

Rode then wagedfeudagainst John V of Saxe-Lauenburg on 9 September 1499.The allied forces, with the Ditmarsians invading by crossing the Elbe, easily conquered the Land of Hadeln, and defeated Magnus.

While the cities desired a peaceful front yard without another's powerful influence, the Ditmarsians instead favoured the favour of autonomy of the free peasants. Hamburg and the Ditmarsians fell out with each other. On 16 September 1499, a landsknecht hired by Hamburg slew Cordt von der Lieth, a member of the Bremianministerialis,causing theOtterndorf Strife(Otterndorfer Streit).The landsknecht created rumours that it had instead been a Ditmarsian who had slain von der Lieth, and fled after. Hamburg's landsknechts then attacked the uninvolved Ditmarsians and slew 76 men in their military camp nearOtterndorf.Consequently, Dithmarschen cancelled its alliance with Rode, Bremen and Hamburg, and the Ditmarsians returned home.Hamburg aimed at reestablishing its rule in Hadeln, as it had wielded between 1407 and 1481 when Saxe-Lauenburg had given Hadeln to Hamburg as security for a credit. The relationship between Dithmarschen and Hamburg then turned icy, and Ditmarsians captured, according to the traditionalwrecking custom,wrecked Hamburgian ships and their freight, if they foundered around the shores of Dithmarschen. (Earlier, Hamburg and Dithmarschen had agreed to replace this practice with a reward for rescuing ships, freight and crew.) The parties only reconciled in 1512.

By 20 November 1499 Magnus hired the so-calledBlack Guardof 6,000 ruthless and violent mostly Dutch and East Frisian mercenaries, commanded byThomas Slentz,prior operating in theCounty of Oldenburg.The Black Guard invaded the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, passing through and ravaging areas in thePrince-Bishopric of Verdenand the Brunswick-LunenburgianPrincipality of Lunenburg-Celle,leaving behind a wake of devastation in the countryside and especially in the looted monasteries.

Finally, on Christmas Eve, arriving down the Weser inLehe,the Black Guard tried to invade Wursten. However, the free peasants there repelled their attack nearWeddewardenon 26 December.So the Guard turned northeastwards, lootingNeuenwalde Nunneryunderways, into Hadeln, repressing the joint forces of Rode and the cities – lacking support by Bremian knights and the Ditmarsians –, recapturing it for Magnus in early 1500.

Rode then converted Henry IV the Elder to his column, with Henry the Elder and his troops then hunting the Black Guard.Magnus, unable to pay the mercenaries so that they turned even the more oppressive for the local population, was likethe Sorcerer's Apprentice,who could not get rid of "the spirits that he called". By mid-January 1500 KingJohn of Denmarkhired the Guard and guaranteed for its safe conduct first southeastwards via Lunenburg-CelleanWinsen upon Luheand Hoopte, crossing the Elbe byZollenspieker Ferryto the Hamburg-Lübeckian bi-urban condominium (Beiderstädtischer Besitz) ofBergedorfandVierlande.

The Battle of Hemmingstedt in ahistory paintingof 1910 byMax Friedrich Koch,assembly hall of the former District Building in Meldorf.

From there the Black Guard headed northwestwards again throughHolsteinin order to join more of King John's forces recruited in Holstein and by theKalmar Union.These forces then invaded Dithmarschen in order to subject the free Ditmarsians. The Ditmarsians took a vow to donate a monastery in honour of the then nationalpatron saintMary of Nazarethif they could repel the invasion. On 17 February 1500, in theBattle of Hemmingstedt,the outnumbered Ditmarsians, led byWulf Isebrand,defeated the invading armies and thus destroyed King John's dream of subjecting Dithmarschen.

In 1513 the Ditmarsians founded aFranciscanFriaryinLundenfulfilling their vow, however, theHamburg concathedral chapter,holding the ecclesiastical jurisdiction, demanded its say in appointing theprebendaries.After years of dispute, the Council of the 48, the elected governing body of the farmers' republic of Ditmarsh, decided to found aGallicanistkind of independent Catholic Church of Dithmarschen in August 1523, denying Hamburg's capitular jurisdiction in all of Dithmarschen.The chapter could not regain the jurisdiction, including its share in ecclesiastical fees and fines levied in Dithmarschen. After violently repelling the first preaching of proponents of theReformation,slayingHenry of Zutphenin December 1524,Lutheranismnevertheless started to win over Ditmarsians.In 1533 the Council of the 48 turned the Ditmarsian Catholic Church into a Lutheranstate church.

Post-Medieval History

After the victory of Hemmingstedt Dithmarschen regularly sent its delegates to theHanseaticDiets(Hansetage).In 1554 the Hanseatic Diet confirmed, that free Ditmarsian peasants doing business cannot be considered equal to merchants beingburghersof free or autonomous cities, but are, nevertheless, accepted as enjoying all Hanseatic advantages.Thus Ditmarsian merchants, along with those fromTeutonic Prussia,were the only beneficiaries of a quasi membership within the Hanse, although lacking the background of citizenship in an autonomous orfree city.

It was not until 1559 and theLast Feudbetween the King of Denmark and the Ditmarsians that the free peasants were forced to give up their political and religious autonomy by the successful invasion commanded by CountJohan RantzaufromSteinburg,one of the best strategists of the time.Since then the coat of arms of Dithmarschen has shown a warrior on horseback, representing a knight of Rantzau. This knight has later been identified withSaint George,then considered to be the patron of Dithmarschen.

The conquerors – KingFrederick II,DukeAdolf,and DukeJohn II the Elder– divided Dithmarschen into two parts: the south became a part of Holstein inpersonal unionwith Denmark while the north came into the possession of the other Duke of Holstein. From 1773 all of Holstein was united in personal union with Denmark and remained so until 1864, when, following theSecond Schleswig War,the Duchies of Holstein and ofSchleswigbecame an occupied territory of theGerman Confederation.Two years later, following theAustro-Prussian War,Dithmarschen became part of theKingdom of Prussia,which annexed Holstein and Schleswig making them subsequently theProvince of Schleswig-Holstein.

The Middle Ages in Dithmarschen are held to have continued into the 19th century, when theKiel Canalwas completed, fens began to be drained, and agricultural reforms took place. Within theBundeslandSchleswig-Holstein, the area remained divided into the districts ofNorderdithmarschen(Northern Ditmarsh) andSüderdithmarschen(Southern Ditmarsh) before they were united in 1970 as the district of Dithmarschen.

Culture

Traditions

"Cabbage Days"

The people of Dithmarschen have displayed great pride in their history. In recent decades many traditions have been revitalized and new events in a traditional fashion have been created.

Common shrimp

Language

High German is by now the dominant language butLow Germanin itsHolsteinischversion still has a place in informal conversation. Until the 1960s Low German was the prevailing language of everyday communication. Most Ditmarsians born before 1960 still consider Low German their mother tongue. Low German is more common in rural regions than in urban regions and more likely to be spoken by older Ditmarsians.

The best known author of "high literature" in Low German wasKlaus Grothfrom Heide. The best known Low German speaker in Germany today is probablyWilhelm Wieben,former anchorman of the popular German newsTagesschau,who now produces Low Germanaudiobooks.Only two episodes of the popular crime television showTatortcarried subtitles for its German audience. One of these episodes centered its plot in Dithmarschen: the Low German in the dialogue was thought to be too difficult for a generic German audience to follow.

Architecture

Marne church and city hall

The Dithmarschen landscape was long dominated by churches. Palaces were never built in the farmers' republic. The few castles that were constructed played only minor roles and have long since been reduced to groundworks. In contrast, churches were symbols of not only spiritual but also worldly power. The medieval republic organised itself into Parishes ( "Kirchspiele" ) centered on churches. A Dithmarschen church was not just a sacral building; it was also the primary place for political meetings. Administration of spiritual and political matters was done by the same people in the same place, so little need for representative secular buildings arose. Political and religious life in Dithmarschen remained undivided until Schleswig-Holstein's integration into Prussia in 1867.

In the flat marshland of Dithmarschen, church towers can often be seen from more than 10 kilometers away. Churches are built on the highest point of the Terpen in the center of villages such asWesselburen,Marne,andWöhrden.Village streets run toward the central church, giving these villages a distinct medieval character. It is likely that older houses were removed to make room for these churches. In the Geest, the village church stands on the medieval rim of the village or with other houses within it; the settlements of the Geest existed before their churches were built and there was no special need to protect these churches from flooding.

St. Secundus inHennstedt

The most important church of Dithmarschen was the so-calledSankt-Johannis-Kirche (St. John's the Baptist Church)in Meldorf, due to its size also called Meldorf Cathedral. Between the 9th and 11th century it was the only church in Dithmarschen and one of the few north of theElbeRiver. In the Middle Ages the church was the venue of the representatives of the political parishes of Dithmarschen. The place around this church was the most important meeting place in Dithmarschen andMeldorfitself was the only settlement to develop a distinct urban structure. Even after the political center moved to Heide, the St. John's in Meldorf remained the most important religious site in Dithmarschen. TheReformationin Dithmarschen began there in 1524 with Dithmarschen converting toLutheranism.

Today's church was built in the 14th century. While the outside was mainly rebuilt in the 19th century, inside one can still see Gothic architecture from the years 1250 to 1300. The paintings are among the most magnificent in Schleswig-Holstein, giving an impression of the former wealth of the farmers' republic.

St. Jürgen church in Heide began as a chapel built in the 15th century. Due to conflicts in Dithmarschen, Meldorf lost its role as central meeting point. The people of northern Dithmarschen began to meet in 1447 "auf der Heide" ( "on the heath" ); later, the Council of the 48—representatives of the most important families and the central decision body of Dithmarschen—met at St. Jürgen. The core of the long, single-nave church is still the 15th-century building. Its outer appearance is dominated by a late-renaissance three-story tower added by Johann Georg Schott in 1724.

St. Bartholomäus in Wesselburen was also built in 1737/1738 by Johann Georg Schott. He constructed the baroque building from the remains of older churches after Wesselburen burned down in 1736. Its onion dome is highly unusual for Northern Germany. Also notable are the 12th-century church inTellingstedtand the churches in Hemme andBüsum,which display the traditional coat of arms of the "Geschlechter" inside.

Education

In 1993 Schleswig-Holstein's latestFachhochschule(comparable to aPolytechnics) was established in Heide. There are 800 students studying economics, electrical engineering, information technology, international tourism management, and law at theFachhochschule Westküste(Fachhochschule West Coast). TheChristian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kielhas an outpost in the Büsum-based Forschungs- und Technologiezentrum Westküste (Research and Technology Center West Coast), which researches coastal geology, coastal geography, and coastal protection.

In 2004, 17,900 students were studying in Dithmarschen schools. In the district there are sixGymnasia,threeFachgymnasia,two vocational schools, and 44 schools for primary education.

Economy

The Dithmarschen economy consists mainly of tourism, agriculture, and energy. Tourism is concentrated in the north inBüsumand in the south inFriedrichskoog.Most tourists come as families to enjoy the North Sea beaches. A significant number of tourists also come for bicycle trekking. Almost all of the approximately two million tourists each year come from Germany.

Bayer,the most important employer in the district.

The unemployment rate was 11.6% in September 2004. After theHartz conceptwas implemented and new statistical methods were adopted, the unemployment rate rose to 17.4% in January 2005. The unemployment rate was far above the average for Schleswig-Holstein (12.7%) and the rest of Germany. The most important employers in the district areBayerin Brunsbüttel (1,000 employees), theSparkasseWestholstein (600), theRoyal Dutch Shellrefinery in Hemmingstedt (570), theSasolchemistry works in Brunsbüttel (570), the printing company Evers in Meldorf (560), and the Beyschlag manufacturing plant in Heide. TheBundeswehrhas a school for non-commissioned officers in Heide.

In recent years the number of people who live in Dithmarschen but work inHamburgand its surroundings has steadily risen. In 2002 9,200 people drove to work outside the district, including 1,700 who commuted to Hamburg.

Energy

Wind turbines close to Poppenwurth

Old nodding donkey, Hemmingstedt

Hemmingstedt refinery

Commercial wind farming in Germany began in Dithmarschen. Germany's firstwind parkwas opened 1987 inKaiser-Wilhelm-Koog,the experimentalGROWIAN( "Große Windkraftanlage" – big wind turbine) stood there from 1983 to 1987. As of 2008 the tallest wind turbine in the world is the experimentalEnercon E-126nearEmden.

In Dithmarschen stand around 800wind turbines,almost all of them in marshland. That means that 5% of all German wind turbines stand on 0.15% of its area. Except for Büsum, where a small airport prevents their erection, and the nature reserve at Speicherkoog, the whole coastline is lined by wind turbines. In 2003 they produced aroundKWHof energy, which is about half the energy demand of Dithmarschen. According toE.on-Hanse, the local energy company, in the same time it paid 59 million Euro for the energy, 3 to 5 million Euro were paid to farmers on whose land the turbines stand. The income through taxes for the district is around 4 million Euro each year. Because commercial wind farming in Germany began in Dithmarschen, many wind turbines are relative old and produce only a small amount of electricity. For people interested in wind turbines this makes an interesting contrast, though, since it is possible to see many working varieties of wind turbines standing close to each other.

The offshore oil fieldMittelplateclose to the coast produces 2 million tons of petroleum, around 54% of German production. The refinery in Hemmingstedt processes around 4 million tons of oil each year, partly from Mittelplate and partly from oil delivered through the Brunsbüttel port. Another oil field between Heide and Hemmingstedt was active until 1991. The nuclear power plant in Brunsbuttel is one of the oldest in Germany. It delivers cheap energy for the important aluminium industry in Schleswig-Holstein. It is supposed to close down in 2009.

Tourism

Büsum beach

The main tourist attractions in Dithmarschen are the North Sea and theWadden Sea National Park.The district owns about 10 kilometers of green beaches;Büsumalso provides an artificial sandy beach. In 2003, 205,382 tourists spent 1,173,205 nights in Dithmarschen, most of them in Büsum (756,630 nights), which is ranked beforeFriedrichskoog(75,654) andBüsumer Deichhausen(33,811). Tourism has declined slightly over the last few years but not as much as tourism on the Schleswig-Holstein Baltic coast. Recent competition with the former Warsaw Pact states and their Baltic coasts has had less impact on Dithmarschen because their coastal formations are quite different.

Entrance fees for beaches raise heated controversy in the district. Büsum (around 1,000,000 beach visits each year) and Friedrichskoog (300,000) impose a fee. However, most smaller villages nearby do not.

The tourism industry in Dithmarschen is trying to diversify tourist attractions. Fitness and health play an increasing role in German life, so tracks and roads for bicycles and inline skates are being built. Part of theNorth Sea Cycle Routecrosses through Dithmarschen. In the east of Dithmarschen, ecological travel by canoe or kayak along the Eider is promoted. Policy makers and tourism agencies also emphasize the cultural and historical roots of the district.

Coat of arms

The district coat of arms displays a knight ofHolstein.This coat of arms was unpopular for many years in Dithmarschen because it was the sign of conquerors. These arms were used by governors but were not accepted by the people. In 1930, when these ancient hostilities had become irrelevant, this coat of arms was re-introduced in slightly different forms by both South Dithmarschen and North Dithmarschen. When both districts were united in 1970, the arms of South Dithmarschen became the symbol of the newly merged district.

Towns and municipalities

Wesselburen Skyline

Towns and municipalities in Dithmarschen developed from the old parishes that were independent political divisions in the medieval farmers' republic. These parishes existed as primary political divisions until the 19th century. Only Meldorf was able to develop an urban structure during the Middle Ages.

In more recent times Heide became a rival to Meldorf. Wesselburen and Wöhrden had some importance as central villages of the rich northern marshland.

After Schleswig-Holstein was annexed by Prussia in 1867, some villages became towns and therefore administratively left their old parishes: Meldorf in 1869, Heide in 1878, Marne in 1891, and Wesselburen in 1899. The old village of Brunsbüttel and the newly founded Brunsbüttelkoog united in 1970 to become the town of Brunsbüttel.

Parishes were finally dissolved and single villages became independent during the Nazi period. For efficient administration, municipalities are united inÄmtern,which for historical reasons are named Amt Kirchspielslandgemeinden (Amt Parish's Country Municipalities).

The largest town by population is Heide. Büsum has a special role as tourist resort. Although a member of an Amt, its summertime population swells to become the largest in the district.

In socio-geographics the difference between marshland and the higher, dryer uplands has played an important role. The fertile marshland was historically rich while the uplands were poor but less prone to flooding. The two most important towns, Heide and Meldorf, were built on the safe geest but directly adjacent to marshland where people could have their fields.

(Population on 30 September 2005)

Independent towns
Brunsbüttel(13,789) Heide(20,716)

Ämter Kirchspielslandgemeinden
1.Burg-Sankt Michaelisdonn Averlak(640) Brickeln(212) Buchholz(1,115) Burg Dith.1(4,364) Dingen(714) Eddelak(1,462) Eggstedt(836) Frestedt(401) Großenrade(529) Hochdonn(1,249) Kuden(664) Quickborn(199) Sankt Michaelisdonn(3,728) Süderhastedt(874) 2.Büsum-Wesselburen Büsum1(4,880) Büsumer Deichhausen(345) Friedrichsgabekoog(71) Hedwigenkoog(271) Hellschen-Heringsand-Unterschaar(169) Hillgroven(86) Norddeich(430) Oesterdeichstrich(273) Oesterwurth(274) Reinsbüttel(427) Schülp(489) Strübbel(96) Süderdeich(536) Warwerort(284) Wesselburen2(3,112) Wesselburener Deichhausen(142) Wesselburenerkoog(151) Westerdeichstrich(908)	3.Eider Barkenholm(189) Bergewöhrden(36) Dellstedt(801) Delve(737) Dörpling(611) Fedderingen(277) Gaushorn(213) Glüsing(119) Groven(128) Hemme(514) Hennstedt1(1,880) Hollingstedt(338) Hövede(64) Karolinenkoog(132) Kleve(452) Krempel(663) Lehe(1,160) Linden(876) Lunden(1,655) Norderheistedt(144) Pahlen(1,168) Rehm-Flehde-Bargen(609) Sankt Annen(355) Schalkholz(595) Schlichting(239) Süderdorf(396) Süderheistedt(542) Tellingstedt(2,493) Tielenhemme(178) Wallen(37) Welmbüttel(465) Westerborstel(98) Wiemerstedt(165) Wrohm(732) 4.Heider Umland [seat: Heide] Hemmingstedt(2,989) Lieth(396) Lohe-Rickelshof(1,942) Neuenkirchen(1,044) Norderwöhrden(287) Nordhastedt(2,753) Ostrohe(963) Stelle-Wittenwurth(486) Weddingstedt(2,321) Wesseln(1,352) Wöhrden(1,334)	5.Marne-Nordsee Diekhusen-Fahrstedt(734) Friedrichskoog(2,522) Helse(964) Kaiser-Wilhelm-Koog(364) Kronprinzenkoog(965) Marne1, 2(6,018) Marnerdeich(341) Neufeld(646) Neufelderkoog(144) Ramhusen(163) Schmedeswurth(215) Trennewurth(269) Volsemenhusen(368) 6.Mitteldithmarschen Albersdorf(3,588) Arkebek(250) Bargenstedt(925) Barlt(844) Bunsoh(871) Busenwurth(331) Elpersbüttel(915) Epenwöhrden(808) Gudendorf(425) Immenstedt(97) Krumstedt(556) Meldorf1, 2(7,655) Nindorf(1.165) Nordermeldorf(649) Odderade(325) Offenbüttel(283) Osterrade(462) Sarzbüttel(735) Schafstedt(1,343) Schrum(77) Tensbüttel-Röst(692) Wennbüttel(77) Windbergen(841) Wolmersdorf(345)
1seat of the Amt Kirchspielslandgemeinde;2town

Twinning

Dithmarschen is currently twinned withRestormel,a borough in the British county of Cornwall. The main link is between St Austell and Newquay and Heide.

Notable residents

• Klaus Groth(1819–1899), a Low German poet
• Hans Bothmann(1911–1946), Nazi SS concentration camp commandant

References

• Elke Freifrau von Boeselager, "Das Land Hadeln bis zum Beginn der frühen Neuzeit", in:Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser:3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.), Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehem. Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I "Vor- und Frühgeschichte" (1995;ISBN3-9801919-7-4), vol. II "Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)" (1995;ISBN3-9801919-8-2), vol. III "Neuzeit" (2008;ISBN3-9801919-9-0), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehem. Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. II: pp. 321–388.
• Philippe Dollinger,Die Hanse[La Hanse (XII^e-XVII^esiècles), Paris: Aubier, 1964; German] (¹1966), ext. ed., Hans Krabusch and Marga Krabusch (trls.), Stuttgart: Kröner,⁵1998, (Kröners Taschenbuchausgabe; vol. 371).ISBN3-520-37105-7.
• Karl Ernst Hermann Krause (1881), "Johann III. (Erzbischof von Bremen)",Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie(in German), vol. 14, Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot, pp. 183–185
• Heinz-Joachim Schulze (1974),"Johann III. Rode",Neue Deutsche Biographie(in German), vol. 10, Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, pp. 480–481
• Michael Schütz, "Die Konsolidierung des Erzstiftes unter Johann Rode", in:Geschichte des Landes zwischen Elbe und Weser:3 vols., Hans-Eckhard Dannenberg and Heinz-Joachim Schulze (eds.), Stade: Landschaftsverband der ehem. Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden, 1995 and 2008, vol. I "Vor- und Frühgeschichte" (1995;ISBN3-9801919-7-4), vol. II "Mittelalter (einschl. Kunstgeschichte)" (1995;ISBN3-9801919-8-2), vol. III 'Neuzeit' (2008;ISBN3-9801919-9-0), (=Schriftenreihe des Landschaftsverbandes der ehem. Herzogtümer Bremen und Verden; vols. 7–9), vol. II: pp. 263–278.

External links

• Official Restormel Dithmarschen Twinning Homepage(English)
• Official website(German)
• dithmarschen-wiki.deEncyclopaedia of Dithmarschen (German)
• museum-albersdorf.deMuseum Website, thorough information about the history of Dithmarschen, author: Dr. Volker Arnold (German with English abstracts)
• The Dithmarschen Wars(English)
• Battle of Hemmingstedt, image