Kemnitz

What secrets does a simple name like Kemnitz hold? Here in this quaint municipality, nestled between Greifswald and Wolgast, just east of the Dänische Wiek, lies a story waiting to be unearthed. Kemnitz, a name echoing through time, first appeared in a document from 1207 as “Kaminicez.” This document, from Prince Jaromar I of Rügen, marks the beginning of Kemnitz’s recorded history. But the story truly begins earlier. The name “Kaminitz” itself whispers of Slavic origins, meaning “stone,” a testament to a heritage predating written records. Kemnitz sits near the Greifswalder Bodden, a lagoon shaped by time and tides. In 1209, Kemnitz, along with other settlements, was given to the Hilda Monastery, also known as Eldena. The power of the Rügen prince extended to the Peene River due to his role as a vassal of the Danish king. This connection added another layer to the intricate tapestry of Kemnitz’s history. Imagine the scene in 1248, the first recorded mention of a watermill on the Hanshäger Bach. This waterway flows through Kemnitz, known locally as “Steinbach,” again referencing the stony landscape. By 1280, four watermills harnessed the power of the flowing water. Kemnitz, a parish and church village, remained under the monastery’s ownership until the Reformation. Following secularization, the village became a ducal domain before being granted to the University of Greifswald in 1634. This academic connection lasted until 1865. The land was divided into three leasehold farms. There was also a mill site, an inn, and a blacksmith’s forge. The rhythm of life was punctuated by the turning of mill wheels and the clang of the blacksmith’s hammer. In 1865, Kemnitz housed 245 residents in 55 families. The village consisted of a church, a school, 23 residential buildings, 42 farm buildings, and four factories, three of which were mills. A fire in 1894 claimed the watermill. A millstone, a silent reminder of this lost industry, now sits on the village street. Here in Kemnitz, the past whispers through the stones, the river, and the very name itself. The Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche, with its 14th-century origins and 19th-century neo-Gothic tower, stands as a witness to the passage of time and faith. Kemnitz is more than just a name on a map. It is a living story.