Around 1200 farmers from the Lower Rhine founded Waltersdorf. They built the church in the 13th century. Waltersdorf’s first documented mention was in 1352 as “in villa Woterstorp”. In 1375 it appeared in Charles IV’s land register as Wolterstorff Walterstorff and Walterstorf teutunica. The village then consisted of 78 farms. Two were tax-free for the pastor. The village also had a mayor 13 cotters an inn and a mill.
Before 1375 the von der Liepe family owned Waltersdorf. They held half the upper and lower jurisdiction and half the church patronage. Their income came from 40 farms. They also received a share of the tithe cotter rent inn rent and mill rent. The other half of the jurisdiction belonged to the von Groeben family before 1374 and after 1521. They received income from seven farms a share of the inn rent and a farm with four acres. Their property also included the heath with half the heath farms two cotter farms a farm with two acres and a free smithy with three acres. The rent and interest from four more farms went around 1375 to the Bertkow family in Altglienicke then to the Musflow family. The Nikolaikirche in Berlin also owned four farms in Waltersdorf.
In 1450 Waltersdorf had 73 farms. Two were for the pastor and one for the church. Four farms belonging to the Krewitz family were abandoned. A year later six farms were abandoned. The von Liepe family increased their property by four free farms. The von Groeben family received income from the mill in 1472. This was pledged as an annuity to the von Reiche family in 1519 1520 and 1521. It probably then went to the von Liepe or von Thumen families. In 1472 there was a free smithy with three farms. The heath and the heath farms belonged to the Honow family from Berlin. Four more farms belonged to the von Britz family before 1473. In 1480 the von Liepe family held 14 farms and in 1535 a residential farm. Waltersdorf consisted of 73 farms (two for the pastor and one for the church) 14 more farms were abandoned and the other 42 paid rent. There was a mill but the inn was no longer mentioned. The Groeben share went to the Honow family after 1521.
In 1553 the von Liepe share went to the von Thumen family. They received the upper and lower jurisdiction the patronage the residential farms the farmsteads the smithies and two windmills. In 1571 the von Thumen family’s residential farms farmsteads and smithies with two windmills are mentioned. The Musflow share went to the Elector in the 16th century. He gave it from 1539 to after 1620 to the Flans family in Altglienicke and Grossmachnow. It probably went with the Grossmachnow estate to the Königs Wusterhausen lordship.
Before the Thirty Years’ War there were 18 farmers five cotters a smithy a tenant shepherd a blacksmith and 66 farms and six manorial farms. Three farms with nine acres were redeemed. In 1652 the vice-mayor with a son seven farmers with six sons and a servant and six cotters with two sons and a servant survived the war. In 1676 the von Thumen share was in the resalable possession of the von Berne family who only held it until 1697. It fell like the Britzke share to the Elector and was given to Count Kolbe von Wartenberg in 1700.
Waltersdorf has a rich history. Its church its location and its people have shaped it. Waltersdorf offers a glimpse into Brandenburg’s past. A visit is an experience you won’t forget.