Schwiederstorf (Low German: Swiersdörp) is a village in the municipality Neu Wulmstorf in the district Harburg in the north of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is part of the Hamburg Metropolitan Region.

Schwiederstorf
Coat of arms of Schwiederstorf
Location of Schwiederstorf
Map
Schwiederstorf is located in Germany
Schwiederstorf
Schwiederstorf
Schwiederstorf is located in Lower Saxony
Schwiederstorf
Schwiederstorf
Coordinates: 53°25′19″N 9°47′51″E / 53.42194°N 9.79750°E / 53.42194; 9.79750
CountryGermany
StateLower Saxony
DistrictHarburg
MunicipalityNeu Wulmstorf
Highest elevation
67 m (220 ft)
Lowest elevation
46 m (151 ft)
Population
 (2016)[1]
 • Total922
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
21629
Dialling codes04168
Aerial photograph of Elstorf, Schwiederstorf and Ardestorf with Neu Wulmstorf and Hamburg in the background
RübkeNeu WulmstorfRade, Neu WulmstorfSchwiederstorfElstorf

Geography edit

Schwiederstorf — although a separate 'Ort' — forms almost a joint village with Elstorf to the west. Daerstorf lies in the north, the Harburg Hills in the east and Bachheide and Eversen-Heide further to the south.

History edit

 
Painting of the Elstorf Tumulus by Jakob Gensler, 1839

Signs of the Neolithic Funnelbeaker culture like the nearby tumuli of Elstorf[2] and Daerstorf[3] show early settlements from the Bronze Age in this area.[4]

The first official record of Schwiederstorf dates back to 1355.

During the First French Empire it belonged to the département Bouches-de-l'Elbe.

Just shortly before the end of World War II Elstorf and Schwiederstorf were captured on April 20, 1945 by the A-Companie of the 1st Rifle Brigade and the 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars of the English troops.[5] [6]

Schwiederstorf was incorporated into the municipality of Neu Wulmstorf on July 1, 1972.

Culture edit

 
Karlstein

Schwiederstorf's coat of arms shows the glacial erratic Karlstein and the Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire to reference a myth of Charlemagne's interrupted nap during the Saxon Wars. By this legend, Charlemagne took rest at the Karlstein and threatened to kill anyone who dared to wake him up. So his dog was thrown at him to wake him up as the Saxons closed in. As he noticed the danger, he yelled ″So sure as I will split this stone with my sword, so certain we will defeat the Saxons″ swung onto his horse, jumped over the Karlstein and cut it with his sword. His horse and dog also left their marks in the stone. The Saxons where defeated and the 'Ortstein' near Grauen is said to have its reddish color from the bloodstained soil.[7]

The E1 European long distance path passes by the Karlstein.

Each year Faslam is celebrated for three days in February since the 17th century, but it originates from the farmhand's celebrations. It ends on a Sunday with the traditional Eierschnorren.

Footnotes and references edit

  1. ^ "Wissenswertes über die Gemeinde Neu Wulmstorf". Gemeinde Neu Wulmstorf. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  2. ^ Sprockhoff number 670
  3. ^ Sprockhoff number 669
  4. ^ "1200 Jahre altes Gräberfeld aus der Sachsenzeit bei Elstorf entdeckt". Archived from the original on 2013-08-28. Retrieved 2015-02-19.
  5. ^ Paterson, Ian A. (30 July 2012), Engagements - 1945: Hamburg The Final Push to Hamburg, archived from the original on 11 October 2022, retrieved February 19, 2015
  6. ^ Ein Bericht zusammengestellt aus deutschen Quellen und Zeitzeugenberichten (fett gedruckt) und militärischen Aufzeichnungen der Engländer. Archived 2013-10-07 at the Wayback Machine (PDF; 1,7 MB)
  7. ^ Johann Georg Theodor Grässe: Sagenbuch des Preußischen Staates 1–2 Archived 2022-10-11 at the Wayback Machine, Band 2, Glogau 1868/71, S. 998-999.