“Ever wondered what this stone column commemorates?”
Welcome. We are standing before the Denkmal für den Anschluss an Hamburg 1395. It is a memorial to Billwerder joining Hamburg 500 years prior.
Billwerder sits on an Elbe island between Dove Elbe and the Bille. This area is mostly marshland. People began settling here around 1150. Dikes were built to drain the land. They then grew hops and grain. Storm surges often hit the area hard. The dikes could not always hold back the water.
In 1320, Billwerder was devastated by a flood. Back then, it was called Billwärder. Allermöhe and Moorfleet also suffered greatly. Church bells were sold. This helped fund new dikes.
In 1385, two Hamburg councilors bought rights to a small part of Billwerder. In 1395, Hamburg bought Billwerder from Count Otto I of Schauenburg. Around 1550, rich Hamburgers moved to Billwerder. Senators and merchants built huge country estates. Pastors from Hamburg’s main churches also came for the beautiful nature.
Billwerder Billdeich is the main street in this part of town. It runs parallel to the Bille. Before parts of it were renamed, it stretched for 17 kilometers. Billwerder was then the longest village street in Europe. The Denkmal für den Anschluss an Hamburg 1395 stands near St. Nikolai church. This stone column marks Billwerder joining Hamburg in 1395.
The Hamburg coat of arms is on the front. The inscription reads: “In memory of the unification of the Billwärder landscape with the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg 500 years ago.” At the base, it says “Billwärder a/d Bille.”
Walking around the Denkmal für den Anschluss an Hamburg 1395, you’ll see “Allermöhe” on the right. On the back, it says “Errichtet 1899” meaning “erected 1899”. “Moorfleth” is on the left. The right side also has a coat of arms with 1895 on oak leaves. The left has a similar coat of arms with 1395.
Look closely. Hidden under “Allermöhe” is the designer’s name: F.H.W. Witte Sen. from Hamburg-Ohlsdorf. “Billwärder an der Bille” became Billwerder in 1949. Billwerder suffered heavy damage in the 1962 storm surge.
So here stands the Denkmal für den Anschluss an Hamburg 1395, a reminder of Billwerder’s long history and its connection to Hamburg. It shows how the city grew and changed over the centuries. Take a moment to appreciate the history etched in this stone.