Mengede

In 880, a quiet village known as “Megnithi” nestled in the Emscher Valley. This village, my friends, would eventually blossom into the vibrant Mengede district of Dortmund that we stand in today. Mengede’s story echoes through time, whispering tales of ancient settlements and powerful knights. Archaeological discoveries reveal that Mengede was inhabited as far back as the Celtic period, from 500 to 200 BC. This makes it one of the oldest settled areas in the Emscher region. The name “Mengede” itself means “large heath,” derived from the Old Saxon word “Mengithi.” The arrival of the Cologne-Minden Railway in 1848 ushered in the industrial age for Mengede. This was followed by the sinking of the Adolf von Hansemann colliery in 1873. Mengede expanded, merging with the Oestrich farming community in the west and Nette in the south. The heart of Mengede as we see it now took shape in 1913. The community council decided to relocate the marketplace, fire station, and community hall southwest of the old village center. Mengede also played a role in the turbulent years of the Weimar Republic. Many miners and returning soldiers organized themselves into anarcho-syndicalist groups. In 1919, the “Free Workers’ Union Mengede,” a local chapter of the FAUD, was founded. In 1922, divisions within this group led to the formation of the “Economic Unity Organization of the Adolf von Hansemann Colliery.” This group, initially a company association, switched political sides. They joined forces with miner Wilhelm Moog, a member of the Deutsch-Völkischer Schutz- und Trutzbund, to establish a local branch of the NSDAP. In 1928, Mengede became a district of Dortmund. Even then, Mengede faced turbulent times, with strikes and political clashes marking the era. Mengede also bore witness to the horrors of World War II, including the desecration of Salomon Heimberg’s house during the Kristallnacht pogrom. Today, remnants of Mengede’s industrial past, such as the buildings of the Adolf von Hansemann colliery, are preserved as part of the Industrial Heritage Trail. Mengede offers a blend of history and modernity. It reminds us of the enduring spirit of a community shaped by its past, yet always looking towards the future.