Curious about where the Alster River meets the Diekbek stream? That marks the edge of Duvenwischen.
Welcome to Duvenwischen. This area lies in Hamburg’s Wandsbek borough. It is part of the Walddörfer or forest villages.
Duvenwischen borders Lemsahl-Mellingstedt and Wohldorf-Ohlstedt. The Alster river and the Diekbek stream both flow through this area. Duvenstedter Brook is nearby. It shares a name with the former village. However, it is actually located in Wohldorf-Ohlstedt.
Duvenstedt itself has a long history. The first record of it dates back to 1261. Back then, it was a Saxon Rundling. The name comes from a founder named Duvo. The suffix -stedt means safe settlement or residence.
The history of Hamburg is closely intertwined. In 808 AD, Emperor Charlemagne ordered a castle built to defend against Slavic and Viking intrusions. His son Louis finished the castle in 810. It stood on the trade route from Hedeby to Magdeburg and Bardowick. Ansgar was consecrated archbishop for the Hammaburg in 831. He later became the Apostle of the North.
Vikings raided Hamburg in 845. The town had about 500 residents. Two years later, Hamburg joined with Bremen. They formed the Bishopric of Hamburg-Bremen. Slavic and Danish soldiers destroyed Hamburg again in 880.
Hamburg adopted Lübeck law in 1188. This code of rights was later replaced in some areas by Germany’s civil code in 1900.
Emperor Frederick I granted Hamburg free imperial city status in 1189. This gave them tax-free access up the Lower Elbe. They also gained fishing and tree-cutting rights. Plus, they were freed from military service.
Two contracts with Lübeck in 1241 marked the start of the Hanseatic League. These cities agreed to defend their freedoms. They also pledged to secure the road between them from bandits. A great fire destroyed nearly all of Hamburg in 1284.
The Black Death killed over 6000 Hamburg residents in 1350. That was half the population.
Hamburg’s first constitution came in 1410. It followed a civil commotion. A council of citizens demanded rights. These included fair hearings before arrests. The senate could not start wars without citizen input.
The city embraced Lutheranism in 1529. Johannes Bugenhagen created a new church order. Parishes elected their own pastors.
In 1842, a third of Hamburg burned. The Great Fire destroyed churches, the town hall and many buildings.
Hamburg was briefly annexed by Napoleon I from 1810 to 1814. It then became a sovereign state within the German Confederation.
Hamburg experienced rapid growth in the late 1800s. Its population quadrupled. Atlantic trade boomed. The city became Europe’s third-largest port.
Hamburg’s history is not just grand events. Consider the swans of Hamburg. In 1664, the senate made a law. It protected these birds. Legend says Hamburg stays free as long as swans live on the Alster.
The “Greater Hamburg Act” of 1937 incorporated Duvenstedt into Hamburg.
During World War II, air raids devastated Hamburg. 42000 civilians died.
After the war, Hamburg became part of West Germany. Today, Hamburg aims to regain its position as a top port and trade center.
Duvenwischen and Duvenstedt are part of Hamburg. They share in this rich history. They reflect resilience and growth. They demonstrate Hamburg’s enduring spirit.