Dithmarschen is a district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is bounded by (from the north and clockwise) the districts of Nordfriesland, Schleswig-Flensburg, Rendsburg-Eckernförde and Steinburg, by the state of Lower Saxony (district of Stade, of which it is separated by the Elbe river), and by the North Sea.

History

In medieval times the fenland villages of Dithmarschen enjoyed a remarkable autonomy. In the 15th century they confederated in a peasants' republic. Several times nobles and their mercenaries tried to subdue the independent mini state, but without any success. In 1500 the greatest of these battles took place at Hemmingstedt, where the outnumbered peasants defeated the army of Holstein and the Kalmar Union. It was not until 1559 that the peasants had to give up their autonomy.

The conquerors divided Dithmarschen in two parts: The south became a part of Holstein in personal union with Denmark, the north came in the possession of the other Duke of Holstein. From 1773 all of Holstein was united in personal union with Denmark and remained so until 1864, when Schleswig-Holstein was annexed by Prussia.

The Middle Ages in Dithmarschen are held not to have ended until the 19th century, when the Kiel Canal was completed, fens began to be drained and agricultural reforms took place. Within the Bundesland Schleswig-Holstein the area was divided into the districts of Norderdithmarschen (North Dithmarschen) and Süderdithmarschen (South Dithmarschen), before it was united in 1970 in the district of Dithmarschen.

Geography

The district is located on the coast of the North Sea, where it is situated between the Elbe mouth in the south and the Eider mouth in the north. It is today an artificial island, bordered by the Eider river in the north and the Kiel Canal in the east and southeast. It is a very plain countryside, which was once full of fens and swamps.

Coat of arms

The district displays a knight of Holstein. This coat of arms was for a long time unpopular in Dithmarschen, because it was the sign of the conquerors. The arms were used by the governors, but not accepted by the population. In 1930, when these ancient hostilities had become irrelevant, it was introduced in slightly different forms by South Dithmarschen and North Dithmarschen. When both districts were united in 1970, the arms of South Dithmarschen became the symbol of the newly merged district.

Towns and municipalities

External links

• Official website (German)
• The Dithmarschen Wars (English)
• Battle of Hemmingstedt, image