Doesn’t the name Erlöserkirche sound grand? Erlöserkirche translates to Church of the Redeemer. Many churches, especially Protestant and Orthodox ones, bear this name. They are named in honor of Jesus Christ as the Redeemer.
Since this central Christian belief lacks a specific feast day, there is no designated patron saint day. Catholic churches often use the name Salvatorkirche. A more specific name is the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior. You might also hear the name Heilandskirche.
The German Emigrants Database notes Bremerhaven’s significant role in emigration. After the first harbor basin opened in 1830, Bremerhaven became continental Europe’s largest emigration port. Over 7.2 million people sailed from here. They were starting new lives overseas.
The Bremerhaven Historical Museum is reappraising the city’s history as an emigration port. The German Emigrant Database emerged from this. Since 2000, it has been a research project. It involves Temple University Philadelphia and the Bremerhaven Historical Museum. They are studying European emigration to the United States. The sources are historical passenger lists from emigrant ships. The originals are stored in the National Archives in New York.
From 1820 to 1833, 1840 to 1848, 1850 to 1891, and in 1904 and part of 1907, passenger lists were recorded. The DAD primarily considers the German emigration ports. These include Bremen, Bremerhaven, Hamburg, Brake, Emden, and Cuxhaven. Other ports like Boulogne, Cherbourg, Le Havre, and Southampton are also partly included. Ships often stopped at several European ports before crossing the Atlantic. Passengers included business travelers, tourists, and those just passing through. The DAD specifically identifies these individuals.
These handwritten passenger lists vary in quality. They contain different information depending on the period. They are based on voluntary oral information from the emigrants. This means there are incorrect spellings of names.
Initially, recorded information included first and last name. Also age, gender, profession, origin and ship name. The dates of crossing and the ports of departure and arrival were noted. Since 1904, marital status and nationality were added. As well as the ability to read and write, health, financial assets, and US addresses. In 1907, height, hair and eye color, and place of birth were also asked. About five million emigrants’ information is recorded. The DAD allows searches on family and economic matters.
Bremerhaven itself was founded in 1827. Bremen sought to retain its share of Germany’s overseas trade. The Weser River was silting up around Bremen’s old inland port. Bremerhaven became a haven for Bremen’s merchant marine. It was the second harbor for Bremen. This was despite being 50 km downstream. Trade with North America caused the port and town to grow rapidly.
In 1848, Bremerhaven became home to the German Confederation’s Navy. Karl Rudolf Brommy was in command. The Kingdom of Hanover founded a rival town. This was next to Bremerhaven.
The city of Bremerhaven is located on the east side of the Weser estuary. It sits on both banks of the Geeste River. This is at its junction with the Weser. Bremerhaven became a municipality. This was by merging three separate towns. Bremerhaven was founded in 1827 as a port for Bremen. Johann Smidt was the mayor. The territory was ceded by Hanover. Geestemünde was founded by Hanover in 1845. It was a rival port. Lehe was a borough dating from medieval times. It became a town in 1920. Lehe and Geestemünde united in 1924. They formed the town of Wesermünde. This in turn absorbed Bremerhaven in 1939. After the war, the unified city was restored to Bremen. It was known as Bremerhaven.