Surheide

“A sour field?” you might wonder, scratching your head. Well, that’s one possible meaning behind the name “Surheide,” our destination today. We’re standing at the edge of Bremerhaven’s youngest and smallest district, Surheide. Some say “Sur” simply means “south” in Low German, referring to a southern heath. Others believe it translates to “sour heath,” a nod to the supposedly acidic soil that challenged Schiffdorf farmers long ago. Surheide’s story truly begins in the late 1930s. Picture this: December 1937, workers laying the foundation stones for 175 homes along Vieländer Weg. This marked the birth of the “Otto-Telschow-Stadt,” named after a prominent Nazi Gauleiter. The land itself was acquired, sometimes under duress, from local Schiffdorf farmers. The first families to move in were often large families living in makeshift homes near the Drahtseilwerke, the area where the school now stands. These families, seeking better lives, formed tight-knit communities. Their new homes in Surheide became part of a larger housing program intended to replace barracks. Surheide’s streets initially bore names reflecting Nazi ideology, commemorating rivers in Bavaria and regions like the Sudetenland and Austria. After the war, these names were replaced. Streets like Illerstrasse, originally named after an SA-man, were given new identities. The war had stalled Surheide’s development, but the post-war era saw renewed growth. The resilient community, known for its collaborative spirit, earned recognition throughout Bremen and Germany. They even played a significant role in the development of the German Youth Red Cross. The 1950s and 60s were Surheide’s heyday. New streets like Altmühlstrasse and Allgäuer Strasse appeared. Local businesses thrived, from butchers and bakers to a fish smokehouse and even a coal merchant. The local sports club, Tuspo Surheide, was founded in 1952, and a sporting ground was built on Dullmannsweg, later renamed Wulsbergen. In 1968, the distinctive Auferstehungskirche, with its sharply pointed steeple, graced Surheide’s landscape. Surheide officially became a district of Bremerhaven in 1971. Today, as you look around, you can still sense the strong community spirit that shaped Surheide. From its humble beginnings as a settlement, Surheide has blossomed into a vibrant part of Bremerhaven.