Isn’t it amazing how a place can transform over centuries? That place is Devin.
Devin, a district in southern Stralsund, boasts a history as rich as its landscape. Today, we’re standing in a part of Stralsund but Devin was once its own village. It existed independently until 1928.
Let’s journey back to Devin’s early days. Long before Stralsund’s expansion, Slavic people settled here. They named the nearby lake “Tiva” meaning “water”. Tiva became Devin.
Fast forward to 1273. Devin appears in historical records. By 1317, Gerwin von Semlow, the Mayor of Stralsund, owned the entire village. Prince Wizlaw III of Rügen, who had maintained a court in Devin since 1314, granted Devin the special status of a Stralsund town village.
In March 1314, Prince Wizlaw III made peace with Stralsund. He granted the city rights equal to those held by Rostock. This included complete ownership within its borders. Wizlaw III confirmed Stralsund’s privileges and possessions in several villages in May 1321. Devin was among them.
The 17th century brought changes in ownership. The Heilgeisthospital acquired parts of Devin for 3000 Gulden. Another portion belonged to Colonel Christoffer Johann Stephan von Brunell. After his death in 1657, Martin von Klinckowström bought it. However, he sold it to the Heilgeisthospital in 1696.
At the end of the 17th century, the children of Johann Steffen von Brunell filed a complaint. They were the owners of the Engelswacht estate. They claimed against the Heilgeist Monastery for unpaid rents and services from Devin.
The early 18th century saw conflict among fishermen. Strömer fishermen accused Viermänner and Maters of illegal herring fishing near Devin. Devin’s proximity to the Strelasund meant that fishing strongly influenced life here.
During the 19th century, Devin witnessed both conflict and progress. In 1807, French troops clashed with Swedish soldiers in the village. Three French soldiers died. The French controlled the area until 1810. A brick factory established in 1803 closed after World War I. Roads were improved between 1817 and 1829, including the Barther and Grimmer highways. In 1825, a farmer named Hans Christian Hagemann sold a cottage in Devin to his stepson. A leasehold fishery was established in 1828.
Between 1839 and 1843, the Devin estate was reorganized. Surplus buildings were sold. A new farm was constructed between 1840 and 1850. This period was the most active building phase in the 19th century for Devin. A new schoolhouse was built in 1846. A soak pit was also added on the property. Part of the Devin estate was drained between 1856 and 1870.
The Kurhaus or spa, opened on July 21, 1887. It became a local attraction. It needed repairs by 1900. The park and bathing facilities were also renovated.
The 20th century brought Devin closer to Stralsund. People from Stralsund increasingly enjoyed Devin’s seaside amenities. These included a bathing area, park, and the Kurhaus. In 1928, Devin was incorporated into Stralsund.
Between 1930 and 1932, Devin’s school was connected to the electric grid. From 1938 to 1943, the Kurhaus was remodeled. Also, a public air raid shelter was built on the school grounds.
Until 1945, the monastery zum Heiligen Geist managed the farms and lands. After 1945, land reforms led to expropriations. Later, the land was assigned to agricultural production cooperatives. The building fabric deteriorated during the GDR era. In 1956, the Kurhaus Devin was transferred to the HO-Gaststätten. It returned to private hands after reunification.
In the winter of 1978/79, heavy snow cut Devin off for five days. A new residential complex with views of the Strelasund was built in 1995. The beach area was renovated in 2007. In 2011, the pier was inaugurated.
Today, Devin offers several attractions. These include the Deviner Park with its war memorial. Also, the historic Kurhaus. Since 2011, a 115-meter-long pier stands below the Kurhaus. A resident built a ten-meter-high replica of the Berlin TV tower in his front yard in 1973. Devin’s story is a testament to time’s relentless march. It also demonstrates the enduring spirit of community.