February 17, 1500:The northern German peasant republic of Dithmarschen seems defeated. But when the Danish King John I. was about to withdraw with his army, the people of Dithmarschen struck. In the Battle of Hemmingstedt, the king's troops, numbering around 12,000, perished without a word. The battle became a legend, and the event shaped the self-image of the people of Dithmarschen from then on.
Pawns govern themselves
These weapons probably come from the Battle of Hemmingstedt. They can be seen in the Dithmarscher State Museum.King vs Peasant Land - how does it happen? The Dithmarschen region has some special features in its historical development. First of all, the protected geographical location at the extreme south-western tip of today's Schleswig-Holstein contributes to this. Large-scale farming characterizes the fertile area, in which there are only a few cities.
After the Danes were defeated in the Battle of Bornhöved in 1227, Dithmarschen fell to the Archdiocese of Bremen. But since the archbishop exerts little influence, the coastal residents govern themselves. together. This unusual organ represents the actual leadership of Dithmarschen, which becomes an unofficial peasant republic.
Journey to the Pope secures independence
The large peasantry acquires and nourishes its prosperity mainly with the grain trade. Trading partners and allies are large Hanseatic cities such as Lübeck. The rich country and access to the North Sea arouse covetousness. This is also the case with the Danish King Christian I, who has ruled over the Danish-Holstein state since 1460 and was defeated by Emperor Friedrich III in 1473. had a letter of feud issued, which assured him sovereign rights over Dithmarschen. But the people of Dithmarschen defend themselves with a clever move:They send a delegation to the Pope in Rome. Sixtus IV confirms that Dithmarschen belongs to the archdiocese of Bremen and threatens those who violate this right with excommunion.
The "Black Guard" is raging in Meldorf
The Battle of Hemmingstedt is recreated with tin soldiers in the Dithmarscher State Museum.In 1499, Christian's successor, Johann I, tried to assert his claims to Dithmarschen. He demands recognition of his rule, plus 15,000 marks a year and the construction of fortifications in Meldorf, Brunsbüttel and on the Eider. When the Dithmar people reject this, the king gathers an army around him and takes to the field against the indomitable peasant republic.
On February 11, 1500, the troops crossed the border to Dithmarschen. On February 13th they stormed Meldorf. The Dithmars have hired mercenaries to defend their city. But the fighters flee from the advancing "Black Guard". The 4,000 mercenary Landsknechts regiment from the Dutch-Frisian area is led by Junker Thomas Slentz and specializes in the brutal suppression of peasant uprisings. "Wahr Di, Buer, de Gaar de kummt (Attention farmer, the guard is coming)" is their motto. The guards are followed by the Landwehr with around 5,000 citizens and farmers, the noble armored cavalry, the artillery and the baggage train. The Dithmarschers, who can provide at most 6,500 fighters, withdraw and initially offer no further resistance.
Outwitted the opponent with jumping sticks and water
The people of Dithmarschen take advantage of the special features of the terrain and defeat the Danish king's army.Johann I already thinks he is the winner when, on February 17, 1500, he gives the order to continue marching north. He brushes aside concerns that the path is too difficult and unsafe for horse and rider and for transporting the cannons because of the onset of thaw. A mistake with serious consequences:Under the direction of Wulf Isebrand, the Dithmarschers built a ski jump south of Hemmingstedt last night. From this roadblock they received the "Black Guard" with cannon fire. At this point in time, part of the seven-kilometre-long army train is still in Meldorf.
A find from the Battle of Hemmingstedt, exhibited in the Dithmarscher State Museum.In addition, the men around Isebrand open the sluices of the sea dyke so that the water flows in with the midday tide. Now the locals have a clear advantage. They take off their helmets and breastplates and use their lances as jumping sticks with which they traditionally jump over the many moats. This makes them more mobile than the royal troops. Disabled by the heavy armor, most of the enemy soldiers drown. The victors show no mercy to the rest. Junker Slentz also falls in the Battle of Hemmingstedt. In addition, the people of Dithmar conquer the war chest and the Danebrog, the Danish national flag.
Victory ensures independence until the "Final Feud"
But Dithmarschen's independence only lasted another 59 years. General Johann Rantzau wins the decisive victory for Denmark in the "Last Feud" on June 13, 1559 near Heide. Dithmarschen is divided into three, later into two, but can retain many of the freedoms and structures of the Republic era.
Battle inspires songs and nationalistic transfiguration
On February 17, 1900, the monument was opened at the supposed location of the Dusenddüwelswarf.Numerous poems and songs deal with the battle in the following centuries. The poet Theodor Fontane also dedicated a ballad to her in 1847. In times of growing German nationalism, special attention is paid to the event. In 1900, for example, a memorial was erected on the Dusenddüwelswarf (Low German for thousand devils warf), where the battle supposedly took place. Later, however, it turns out that the decisive ski jump was probably about a kilometer further north. In the 1930s, the National Socialists exploited the Dithmarschers' struggle for freedom for their propaganda purposes. Today, an information pavilion at the memorial explains the historical context.
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