“Kreis Stormarn a white swan on a red ground” That’s how the coat of arms describes Kreis Stormarn. It’s one of the oldest in Germany. A symbol of this historical district in Schleswig-Holstein. The swan a proud creature a symbol of strength and longevity. It reflects the history of the area. A history stretching back to Saxon times.
Centuries ago Saxons roamed these lands. Later Slavic tribes arrived. They clashed. Emperor Charles the Great built the Limes Saxoniae. It’s a wall. It marked the boundary between Saxony and Wenden. This boundary is almost the same as the district border between Stormarn and Lauenburg today.
By the 11th century the people of this region were called Stormarii or Stormere. Some believe Stormarn means “storm land”. The name is fitting. The area has a rich and sometimes turbulent past. Stormarn became part of Holstein in the 12th century.
Later in 1867 when Schleswig-Holstein became part of Prussia. The Prussian administration created the Stormarn district. Wandsbek was the first capital. In 1937 a large part of the district was added to Hamburg. The population decreased by half. Wandsbek was now part of Hamburg. The capital moved to Bad Oldesloe. In 1970 more land was lost. Norderstedt became part of Segeberg.
Today Kreis Stormarn has a population of almost 250000. Its area is around 766 square kilometers. The Trave River flows through the district. It enters the city of Lubeck. In the south you can find the eastern suburbs of Hamburg.
Around 40 mansions stand as testaments to the area’s architectural history. They are popular tourist destinations. Explore these grand homes. Discover the stories within their walls. Kreis Stormarn’s history is fascinating. It is a tale of Saxons Slavs and Prussians. It is a story of borders changes and resilience. A story reflected in its proud white swan.