Dallgow-Döberitz

Hidden beneath the soil of Dallgow-Döberitz lie whispers of ancient settlements. These whispers stretch back to prehistory. The Havel River terrace, at the northern edge of the Döberitzer Hochfläche, drew early inhabitants. Archaeological discoveries throughout Dallgow-Döberitz confirm this. They mark the area as a significant settlement hub across various eras. Dallgow-Döberitz itself traces its documented history back to 1271. That year marks the first official mention of Dallgow. The name “Dallgow” has Slavic origins. It reflects a Slavic settlement. This settlement gradually expanded. It evolved from a small community on a sandy island in the Havelländisches Luch. It grew into the village we know today. The name, however, changed over the centuries. Until the end of the Thirty Years’ War, it was spelled “Dalge”. It later evolved to “Dalgo”, then “Dalgow”, and finally, around 1870, “Dallgow”. A tale suggests the second “l” was a mistake. A seal maker in Nauen apparently made an error when crafting a stamp. One intriguing story from Dallgow-Döberitz concerns Kasper Gans von Putlitz. During the era of robber barons, he was a key ally of the Quitzows. He also fiercely opposed Kurfürst Friedrich I von Hohenzollern. In 1413, he was captured in Dallgow by Hans von Röder. Von Röder was the captain of the Bishop of Brandenburg’s cathedral chapter. Fires have scarred Dallgow-Döberitz throughout its history. In 1845, lightning ignited seven farms. In 1869, fire claimed three buildings and severely damaged the church tower. Again, in 1903, four farms were ravaged, with only the residential houses spared. These events shaped the present-day appearance of Dallgow-Döberitz. Before 1909, residents had a duty to fight fires. That year marked the establishment of the Dallgow volunteer fire department. Dallgow-Döberitz’s ownership history has been traced back to 1412. That year, Heinrich von Hake acquired control of the upper and lower courts. He also controlled taxes from 23 hides of land in Dalge. The von Hakes, Benedictus Hoppenrade, and the Brandenburg Cathedral Chapter all held land. Around 1541, the von Hake and von Bernewitz families shared the estate. In 1572, Jürgen von Ribbeck, heir to Groß Glienicke, bought the village. His descendants later sold it to Christian Ludwig von Winning in 1789. The reforms of 1807 marked a significant turning point for the farmers. Their serfdom ended. The farmers bought their freedom. They paid 2,000 talers each for their farms. This buyout of feudal obligations was completed between 1811 and 1834. They replaced their tithes with a yearly payment to the patron. This payment was set to last for 460 years. The Winning heirs, however, faced bankruptcy in 1835. Johann Heinrich Landefeld then purchased Groß Glienicke. Due to missing records, Dallgow farmers had to pay twice for the redemption of tithes. The land separation in Dallgow happened in 1845. Communally owned land, meadows, and forests were divided among the farmers. They became private property. Subsequent owners were Johann Heinrich Berger-Landefeld from 1845 to 1890, and lastly, Lieutenant Otto von Wollank.