Once a humble collection of fields Karlshof now stands as a testament to Lübeck’s evolving story. The tale of Karlshof begins in 1781. It was then that the Israelsdorfer Feldmark was divided into parcels. These parcels were then leased. Parcels 9 to 15 formed Karlshof.
But who is Karl? Karl von Schlözer was the namesake of this area. He was a Russian Consul and merchant in Lübeck. Between 1845 and 1850 Karl von Schlözer leased four parcels of land. He wanted to build a farm and got permission to call it Karlshof. The original farm was located at Travemünder Allee and Am Schellbruch. Today the community center stands near the same spot. The street name Hofweg serves as a reminder of the farm’s existence. Interestingly Schlözer lived in his summer house in Israelsdorf. His sister Dorothea von Schlözer was the first woman in Germany to earn a doctoral degree.
Let’s jump ahead a few years. By 1898 the farm was sold to the city of Lübeck. From 1900 it served as the office for the municipal forester. Karlshof began to transform after World War I. Around 1920 the area was developed into a residential district. The Gemeinnützige Siedlungsgenossenschaft Lübeck built over 100 houses in Karlshof between 1920 and 1928.
Karlshof continued to expand after that. During the 1950s it became a suburban settlement with many single-family homes. Several apartment blocks were built by Neue Heimat. These were located in Forstmeisterweg Torneiweg and Hertzweg. Some of the houses in Hertzweg and Luisenstraße were replaced by new buildings starting in 2017. Today Karlshof sits in the northeast of Lübeck. It borders Israelsdorf near Travemünder Allee.
A church was built here too. The St Stephanus Church was consecrated in 1956. It is located at Holzvogtweg and Dornierstraße. There is also a kindergarten next to the church.
Speaking of education the Lauerholz elementary school opened in 1966. It is at the end of Holzvogtweg and Dornierstraße. From 1950 to 1966 the original school was located in an old industrial building. This building belonged to Norddeutsche Dornier-Werke. Later the state calibration office was housed here.
Before World War I Karlshof was home to Lübeck’s first airport. It was established in 1912. The airport was on the grounds of today’s sports fields on Travemünder Allee. Zeppelins landed here. The LZ 11 Viktoria Luise and LZ 13 Hansa landed in 1912. By 1914 the airfield became a military airfield. The Karlshof airport operated from 1912 to 1919. In 1917 the Lübeck-Blankensee Airport was completed. Gradually the flight operations moved there. Several street names remind us of this time.
Another notable landmark stood here. From 1941 to 1989 a large gas tank dominated the skyline. It held 70000 m³ and was 52 m high. It supplied gas to the arms industry. The industry was located in Glashüttenweg.
Another building has an interesting story. The Karlshof community center was built between 1963 and 1966. It was built largely by volunteers and with donations. This community center stands on Hofweg.
Several nurseries have called Karlshof home. Wilhelm Rose established the Wilhelmshöfer Baumschulen in 1869. He bought a large parcel of land between Travemünder Allee and Torneiweg. After his death the business was divided. Gärtnerei Richard Rose and Gärtnerei Macheit emerged. Gärtnerei Macheit is still in business today.
Today Karlshof is a vibrant part of Lübeck with a rich history. It blends residential areas industry and green spaces. Street names reflect its diverse past. Names like Schlözerstraße and Hofweg remind us of its founding. Forstmeisterweg and Holzvogtweg point to its forest history. Names like Albert-Einstein-Straße honor scientists. Dornierstraße commemorates aviation pioneers. Karlshof offers a glimpse into Lübeck’s past and present.