Did you know that the last fishing boat built in Lübeck-Schlutup was the Schlu 2a? This small vessel plied the Trave River until 1986. Now it rests peacefully in the graveyard of St Andreas Church a poignant reminder of Lübeck-Schlutup’s maritime past.
Lübeck-Schlutup a small fishing village nestled on the Breitling a wide section of the lower Trave River is the smallest district of the Hanseatic city of Lübeck. It boasts a rich history and a unique character quite distinct from the larger city.
Lübeck-Schlutup’s story is deeply intertwined with the river. For centuries fishing was its lifeblood. Local fishermen built and sailed their boats right here on the riverbank. The industry flourished until the invention of the fish-filleting machine in 1921. This machine revolutionized the fishing industry. It replaced the labor of many women who previously worked in Lübeck-Schlutup’s many fish processing plants. Even a vinegar factory existed to support the industry a testament to the scale of fish processing in the area. This factory however closed in 2002. The town also had connections to companies producing the tins for canned fish. One company Hawesta operated in Schlutup until 2023.
Lübeck-Schlutup’s connection to the railway is another key point of its history. A railway line opened in 1902 but passenger service ended in 1916 when a tram line extended to the village. The old station building now stands as a testament to this era. It’s protected as a historical monument. Today the building is not in use by the railway but still serves as a staging area for goods wagons carrying paper rolls from the Schlutuper harbor. These are transported all the way to Italy.
The village wasn’t always as peaceful. During the Nazi era Lübeck-Schlutup housed a forced labor camp. This camp the Travelager Schlutup held 1100 prisoners in May 1945. A factory producing special ammunition was also located here. It employed forced laborers. These laborers were housed in several additional camps around the area.
The Cold War left its mark too. Until 1990 Lübeck-Schlutup lay directly on the inner-German border. Its border crossing was the northernmost for transit traffic to Scandinavia. Post-reunification this area became an industrial zone for the neighboring Mecklenburg community of Selmsdorf. Today the once-busy border crossing is mostly a memory preserved in the Border Documentation Center in a former customs house. This center reminds visitors of the division of Germany and its impact on Lübeck-Schlutup.
Lübeck-Schlutup today is a thriving community. It’s connected to the heart of Lübeck by city buses running every 15 minutes during the day. It also has a connection to Grevesmühlen via regional buses. Two fire stations the local volunteer fire department and a professional fire station safeguard the area. The professional station even maintains a fireboat on the harbor. The Willy Brandt School a comprehensive school which was partly a primary school until 2010/2011 stands as a symbol of education in the district. St. Andreas Church a fine example of brick Gothic architecture built in 1436 remains a focal point of community life. Despite past hardships Lübeck-Schlutup’s story is one of resilience and transformation a testament to the enduring spirit of its people.