Dreamt of a place where railway workers shaped a community? Then you have arrived at Hochfeld. This district in Augsburg has a story etched in its streets. It is a tale of industrial growth and community spirit.
Hochfeld began as open fields. This area lay south of Augsburg’s inner city. In 1534, the Protestant Cemetery was established along Haunstetter Straße. Later in 1868, the Israelite Cemetery appeared between Alter Postweg and Haunstetter Straße. These were quiet markers on the landscape.
The narrative shifts dramatically in the 20th century. The construction of the Bahnbetriebswerk railway repair works between 1902 and 1906 spurred Hochfeld’s development. This facility was east of the Augsburg-Lindau railway line. Housing was needed for the railway staff. Soon, larger residential blocks emerged. These were often built by housing cooperatives.
After World War I, Augsburg faced a housing shortage. The city built small apartments. The “Römerhof” was one such project led by Otto Holzer. However, these buildings had poor construction quality. They were replaced by new constructions in 1964 and 1995.
The 1920s brought economic challenges. Yet, new and better-equipped residential complexes appeared. Gottfried Bösch, an architect from Augsburg, left his mark. His block buildings featured the “Augsburger Erker.” This was a small, triangular bay window. It jutted out from the west-facing facade. A slanted window captured southern light making apartments brighter.
Hochfeld gained a central point in 1934. The Catholic parish church of St. Canisius was constructed. Fritz Kempf, an architect from Augsburg, designed it. The foundation stone was laid on October 8, 1933. The church was consecrated on September 16, 1934.
In 1936 and 1937, housing was built for workers. These homes were for those employed at the nearby Bavarian aircraft factory. The construction of 474 apartments was hailed as a “social achievement”. Reliefs on doorways reflected the era’s propaganda. Today, street names honor aviation pioneers. These names include August von Parseval and Manfred von Richthofen.
After World War II ended, the American occupation began the forced evacuation. It started on May 15, 1945. About 408 apartments were cleared. “Camp Baltic Hochfeld” housed up to 2,500 displaced persons. These people came from the Baltic States until November 1951.
Between 1952 and 1957, Hochfeld grew rapidly. New buildings included apartment blocks. These were for young families by Wilhelm Wichtendahl. Also, there was the war victim settlement by Walther Schmidt. The population jumped from 6,700 to 12,200.
The Kerschensteiner School opened in 1954. The Paul Gerhardt Church and kindergarten followed between 1962 and 1964. In 1987, Pope John Paul II visited. He consecrated the St. Hieronymus Seminary. It was designed by Alexander Freiherr von Branca.
Hochfeld continues to evolve. It balances industrial history with community growth. It stands as a testament to Augsburg’s dynamic spirit. The district’s story is far from over.