History Schleswig-Holstein

1 history

1.1 duchies in danish realm
1.2 schleswig-holstein question
1.3 province of prussia
1.4 plebiscite in 1920
1.5 state of federal germany

history


the historic settlement areas in present-day schleswig-holstein



the limes saxoniae border between saxons , obotrites, established 810 in present-day schleswig-holstein



kiel state s capital , largest city.



the city of lübeck centre of hanse, , city centre world heritage site today. lübeck birthplace of author thomas mann.



world heritage site german wadden sea



a rapeseed field in schleswig-holstein — agriculture continues play important role in parts of state.



schleswig-holstein s islands, beaches, , cities popular tourist attractions (here: isle of sylt).

the term holstein derives old saxon holseta land, (holz , holt mean wood in modern standardised german , in literary english, respectively). originally, referred central of 3 saxon tribes north of river elbe: tedmarsgoi (dithmarschen), holstein , sturmarii (stormarn). area of tribe of holsts between stör river , hamburg, , after christianization, main church in schenefeld. saxon holstein became part of holy roman empire after charlemagne s saxon campaigns in late eighth century. since 811, northern frontier of holstein (and empire) marked river eider.

the term schleswig comes city of schleswig. name derives schlei inlet in east , vik meaning inlet in old norse or settlement in old saxon, , linguistically identical (cognate) -wick or -wich element in place-names in britain.

the duchy of schleswig or southern jutland integral part of denmark, in medieval times established fief under kingdom of denmark, same relation danish crown example brandenburg or bavaria vis-à-vis holy roman emperor. around 1100, duke of saxony gave holstein, own country, count adolf of schauenburg.

duchies in danish realm

schleswig , holstein have @ different times belonged in part or either denmark or germany, or have been virtually independent of both nations. exception schleswig had never been part of germany until second schleswig war in 1864. many centuries, king of denmark both danish duke of schleswig , german duke of holstein. essentially, schleswig either integrated denmark or danish fief, , holstein german fief , once sovereign state long ago. both several centuries ruled kings of denmark. in 1721, of schleswig united single duchy under king of denmark, , great powers of europe confirmed in international treaty future kings of denmark should automatically become dukes of schleswig, , consequently schleswig follow same order of succession 1 chosen in kingdom of denmark. in church, following reformation, german used in southern part of schleswig , danish in northern part. later prove decisive shaping national sentiments in population, after 1814 when compulsory school education introduced. administration of both duchies conducted in german, despite fact governed copenhagen (from 1523 german chancellary in 1806 renamed schleswig-holstein chancellary).

schleswig-holstein question

the german national awakening followed napoleonic wars gave rise strong popular movement in holstein , southern schleswig unification new prussian-dominated germany. development paralleled equally strong danish national awakening in denmark , northern schleswig. movement called complete reintegration of schleswig kingdom of denmark , demanded end discrimination against danes in schleswig. ensuing conflict called schleswig-holstein question. in 1848, king frederick vii of denmark declared grant denmark liberal constitution , immediate goal danish national movement ensure constitution not give rights danes, i.e., not in kingdom of denmark, danes (and germans) living in schleswig. furthermore, demanded protection danish language in schleswig (the dominant language in quarter of schleswig had changed danish german since beginning of 19th century).

a liberal constitution holstein not considered in copenhagen, since known political élite of holstein more conservative copenhagen s. representatives of german-minded schleswig-holsteiners demanded schleswig , holstein unified , allowed own constitution , schleswig join holstein member of german confederation. these demands rejected danish government in 1848, , germans of holstein , southern schleswig rebelled. began first schleswig war (1848–51), ended in danish victory @ idstedt.

in 1863, conflict broke out again when king frederick vii of denmark died without legitimate issue. according order of succession of denmark , schleswig, crowns of both denmark , schleswig pass duke christian of glücksburg, became christian ix. transmission of duchy of holstein head of (german-oriented) branch of danish royal family, house of augustenborg, more controversial. separation of 2 duchies challenged augustenborg heir, claimed, in 1848, rightful heir of both schleswig , holstein. promulgation of common constitution denmark , schleswig in november 1863 prompted otto von bismarck intervene , prussia , austria declared war on denmark. second war of schleswig, ended in danish defeat. british attempts mediate in london conference of 1864 failed, , denmark lost schleswig (northern , southern schleswig), holstein, , lauenburg prussia , austria.

province of prussia

contrary hopes of german schleswig-holsteiners, area did not gain independence, annexed province of prussia in 1867. following austro-prussian war in 1866, section 5 of peace of prague stipulated people of northern schleswig consulted in referendum on whether remain under prussian rule or return danish rule. condition, however, never fulfilled prussia. during decades of prussian rule within german empire, authorities attempted germanization policy in northern part of schleswig, remained predominantly danish. period meant increased industrialisation of schleswig-holstein , use of kiel , flensburg important imperial german navy locations. northernmost part , west coast of province saw wave of emigration america, while danes of north schleswig emigrated denmark.

plebiscite in 1920

following defeat of germany in world war i, allied powers arranged plebiscite in northern , central schleswig. plebiscite conducted under auspices of international commission designated 2 voting zones cover northern , south-central parts of schleswig. steps taken create third zone covering southern area, zone iii cancelled again , never voted, danish government asked commission not expand plebiscite area.

in zone covering northern schleswig (10 february 1920), 75% voted reunification denmark , 25% voted germany. in zone ii covering central schleswig (14 march 1920), results reversed; 80% voted germany , 20% denmark. minor areas on island of föhr showed danish majority, , rest of danish vote in town of flensburg.

results of 1920 plebiscites in north , central schleswig (slesvig)

on 15 june 1920, northern schleswig officially returned danish rule. danish/german border 1 of borders imposed on germany treaty of versailles after world war never challenged adolf hitler.

in 1937, nazis passed so-called greater hamburg act (groß-hamburg-gesetz), nearby free , hanseatic city of hamburg expanded, encompass towns had formally belonged prussian province of schleswig-holstein. compensate prussia these losses (and partly because hitler had personal dislike lübeck), 711-year-long independence of hansestadt lübeck came end, , territory incorporated schleswig-holstein.

state of federal germany

after world war ii, prussian province schleswig-holstein came under british occupation. on 23 august 1946, military government abolished province , reconstituted separate land.

because of forced migrations of germans in 1944 1950, population of schleswig-holstein increased 33% (860,000 people). pro-danish political movement arose in schleswig, transfer of area denmark ultimate goal. neither supported british occupation administration nor danish government. in 1955, german , danish governments issued bonn-copenhagen declarations confirming rights of ethnic minorities on both sides of border. conditions between nationalities have since been stable , respectful.