Söhnstetten

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Söhnstetten

Söhnstetten is a village in the westernmost part of the Heidenheim district , which has been part of the Steinheim am Albuch community since 1971 .

geography

Geographical location

The 10th degree of longitude runs exactly through the small town of Söhnstetten. Today about 1800 inhabitants live in the rural town on the Swabian Alb . Located in a valley spider, the Wental, Mauertal, Brenzenhauser Tal, Eseltal and Frontal combine to form the dry Stubental. This area is world famous in specialist circles because of its formation by a meteorite impact about 14.7 million years ago. This meteorite crashed onto the Alb plateau at a speed of about 25 kilometers per second. Shortly before the impact, it broke into two parts, the other part forming the Nördlinger Ries . The force of the explosion is compared to that of four hydrogen bombs . It therefore wiped out all plant and animal life in southern Germany . But new life soon developed.

history

Origin and development

Söhnstetten coat of arms

The first name of the place can be found in 1143 in a document from the Anhausen monastery under the name Sanstetin and later Sensteten (1243). But it can be assumed that Söhnstetten existed much earlier. In the course of the Great Migration , the Marcomanni came from Bohemia around 160 AD and the Chatti two years later . From this a tribal union of the Alemanni was formed , who later called themselves Suebi (Swabians). From the 3rd to the 6th century they founded settlements with the name endings on… ingen or… heim (like Steinheim). During the expansion of settlements, especially in the 7th century, neighboring towns with names ending in… hausen,… hofen or… stetten emerged. It can therefore be assumed that Söhnstetten was also founded at this time. Usually the place name had the name of the founder, the leader, or the local lord. The founder of Söhnstetten (then still Sanstetin) had the name Sano. Later the village nobles called themselves "Lords of Söhnstetten". The Anhausen Monastery in particular had properties in Söhnstetten. But the lords of Rechberg-Weißenstein , the city of Gmünd , the Herbrechtingen monastery and the Württemberg rule also owned several estates. In the 16th century, however, the number of property owners melted, as the Königsbronn monastery literally bought up Söhnstetten through buying and bartering. Until it was incorporated into the Heidenheim Oberamt in 1806, the largest part (7/8) belonged to the Königsbronn monastery and 1/8 to the rule of Württemberg. That is why Söhnstetten had two mayor offices up until that time . This separation is still visible today in the Söhnstetten coat of arms . The abbot's staff , on the left in the coat of arms, indicates the Königsbronn monastery. The stag bar on the right is the symbol for Württemberg.

reformation

Martinskirche (right) and Protestant rectory (center) from the south
East side of the Martinskirche
The Protestant rectory (south side)

The Königsbronn monastery made Söhnstetten a strictly Catholic place. In 1534 Ulrich conquered the country back after defeating the Austrian governor of Württemberg and the Reformation began in 1534 in the rule of Heidenheim , including Herbrechtingen and Anhausen . However, Ulrich did not succeed in reforming the Königsbronn monastery as it was under imperial protection. So Söhnstetten was still a “Catholic spot” up to that time. But this changed when a monk named Thomas Frech, who was sent to Söhnstetten as abbot, changed his faith and accepted Luther's thoughts. The Söhnstetter followed the idea that “at that time the new teaching and especially Luther's word about the freedom of a Christian was compatible with the thinking of the rural population.” Thus the village became Protestant for a short time. This changed again when Frech was transferred away from Söhnstetten due to his change of faith and a new, Catholic abbot moved into the parish of Söhnstetten. This also lasted only for a short time, as in 1553, under Duke Christoph, Ulrich's son, the Königsbronn monastery and all associated communities became Protestant. In the following eighty years the belief changed three times, until 1634 Söhnstetten burned down completely due to the Thirty Years War.

Thirty Years' War

Since Söhnstetten was on a trade route, hostile and friendly troops marched through the village again and again during the Thirty Years' War. The principle applied to this war was that war feeds war. This means that troops had to be supplied by the population of the area. After the lost battle of the Protestant troops of Nördlingen in 1634, the victors and the vanquished plundered the entire area. Söhnstetten burned down completely. Most of the few survivors fled to the neighboring town of Gussenstadt . It is reported in a number of entries in Gussenstadt's church registers: “In 1653, January 23rd, the local residents and those of the neighboring towns had to flee again. Often the whole population left the village. Gussenstadt, though afflicted by much tribulation, was a little better off. It could even be a temporary refuge for many residents of Söhnstetten, Altheim and Gerstetten. [...] The death rate rose to an unprecedented level at the time. Robbery, extortion, desecration, murder and manslaughter, plague and other unspeakable misery marked the time of the Thirty Years' War. ”Only in 1657 did the repopulation of Söhnstetten begin. People came back mainly from neighboring towns, but also from Switzerland and Austria .

18th century

After half a century of peace, there was war again from 1701. The War of the Spanish Succession lasted from 1701 to 1714, with Söhnstetten in 1703 and 1704 being the worst years of suffering. Since Württemberg fought on the side of the Austrians and Bavaria on the side of the French, it was to be foreseen that the war armies would stay in the Söhnstetter area, as the place was exactly in the border area. It is reported as follows: "From 1701 to 1704 the Swabian district regiment was on foot under General Wachtmeister von Reischach in the Duchy of Württemberg Quartier, which required a lot of food". Another report from the neighboring town of Gussenstadt: "... So several hussar regiments came on the march Winter quarters partly overnight, partly only at noon to Gussenstadt; 236 hussars received from the beginning of December 1703 to the end of May […] “Only on August 13, 1704 did the combined troops of the Margrave of Baden, Prince Eugene of Savoy and the Duke of Marlborough defeat the Bavarians and the French. Coming from the Black Forest, the prince also marched through Söhnstetten on August 2, 1704. In the following peaceful years Söhnstetten began to flourish again. Yet the peasants were still in the service of their masters. Since Söhnstetten was located in a hunting area preferred by the duke, it was a matter of course at the time that the male residents of the village had to participate in a hunt without compensation. Regarding the traffic situation at the time, it is important to mention that the road through Söhnstetten was neglected for political reasons, as a connection between Heidenheim and Weisenstein would have been disadvantageous for Bavaria and Ulm . Otherwise the city ​​of Munich would no longer be on the main Paris - Vienna route . That is why it was stipulated in the State Treaty of Württemberg in 1782 that a connection could never be built. But when war broke out again between the French and Austrians from 1793, Söhnstetten had to take on troops several times despite the “bad situation”. “In August 1794 there were 840 French prisoners in the village”. It was noted in the protocol: “Nothing was paid”. On August 11th, the French plundered Söhnstetten completely on their retreat. Also in 1706 there are reports of looting by the French. To this end, the village was repeatedly ravaged by epidemics . So it is reported from Gussenstadt: "Around Bartholomä there was a cattle epidemic, the so-called Übergälle, where over 300 horned cattle fell by Christmas." It was very likely that it was not much different in Söhnstetten. In 1805 and 1806 the French also marched through the village, plundering under Napoleon's orders.

19th century

Until the beginning of the 19th century, Söhnstetten belonged to seven eighths to the Evangelical monastery office in Königsbronn and one eighth to the office of Heidenheim. After the dissolution of the monastery office in 1806, the whole of Söhnstetten came to the Oberamt Heidenheim .

At the beginning of the 19th century several bad harvests and the resulting famine are reported. After King Friedrich was crowned King of Württemberg in 1806 , a uniform tax system was set up. “For this, an exact measurement of every single parcel of the whole country was a prerequisite.” This was done in Söhnstetten in 1830, with the help of stones that exactly delimited each plot of land from the next one. This was the first time that the exact property of each resident was established and secured. In addition, the traffic connection with Weisenstein was taken from 1840-1842. In addition, the Stuttgart - Ulm railway line was originally intended to be routed via Söhnstetten. In 1906, however, the decision was made to establish the connection via the neighboring towns of Gerstetten- Amstetten. Söhnstetten was only asked to build a railway. The social structure of the village at that time is interesting: “This is how 1100 citizens lived, including 4 bakers. 1 plasterer, 3 carpenters, 4 blacksmiths, 3 butchers, 4 wagons, 1 saddler and upholsterer, 3 master carpenters, 4 bricklayers, 8 shoemakers, 3 tailors, 15 weavers, 2 cooper, 5 shops, 1 brewery, 6 taverns, 1 dairy, 3 fruit dealers, 1 board shop, 2 artificial fertilizer, flour and seed shops. ”This shows that Söhnstetten was able to provide for itself completely.

First World War

When the First World War broke out on August 1, 1914 , everyone in Germany was enthusiastic. So Söhnstetten was no exception. With the promise that all soldiers would return victorious by Christmas at the latest, many volunteers also volunteered in Söhnstetten. But at the end of the four-year war, 40 Söhnstetter did not return from the war.

Third Reich

For the Reichstag election on July 31, 1932, the constituency of Heidenheim had no fewer than 35 parties; the strongest party was formed by the Social Democrats . In the other communities, including Söhnstetten, the farmers and vineyards association got a large part of the votes. In Söhnstetten, out of 574 eligible voters, of which 374 were cast, 146 residents voted for the National Socialists. In second place came the farmers and wine gardeners' association with 120 votes. The SPD received only 38 votes. In the last free election on November 6, 1932, the NSDAP took over the majority in the district. It is astonishing that in Söhnstetten the number of votes for the National Socialists decreased. Nevertheless, the NSDAP formed the majority with 104 votes, as the farmers 'and workers' association only received 90 votes. Otherwise hardly any information can be given from Söhnstetten at this time, as a large part of the population were farmers. Normal everyday life was a struggle for survival, which contemporary witnesses report.

During the district reform during the Nazi era in Württemberg , Söhnstetten was added to the extended district of Heidenheim in 1938 .

Second World War

In World War II Söhnstetten was once attacked from the air. Two houses were destroyed by bombs and eight others were damaged. Nevertheless, the Söhnstetter population suffered a lot in this war, too, as they had 66 men killed and 14 missing. The names of these soldiers are carved on a stone tablet on St. Martin's Church. "Every year is their thought with the desire that these tragedies do not like to repeat." On April 24, 1945 Söhnstetten was without a fight parts of the 63rd US Infantry Division [s] taken.

Post-war until today

In 1945 the place, like the entire district of Heidenheim, became part of the American zone of occupation and thus belonged to the newly founded state of Württemberg-Baden , which was incorporated into the current state of Baden-Württemberg in 1952.

In the years after 1945, many expellees came to Söhnstetten. This is how the rural village became a popular residential area. This upswing is particularly evident in the number of inhabitants. In the 1939 census, only 1009 people lived in the village. In comparison, there are now (2004) around 800 more people. Another reason for the strong increase in the population is certainly that Söhnstetten is on the B 466 , a federal road that runs through cities like Heidenheim an der Brenz or Göppingen , which is why Söhnstetten has become a popular place for commuters . But companies were also based in the place. One example is the Wager quarry, which has been leased to Gustav Wager since 1952 and supplies raw materials for the construction industry. Another important company is the Hirsch brewery, which has been owned by the family since 1896.

On January 1, 1971 Söhnstetten was incorporated into Steinheim am Albuch.

Personalities

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Landesarchivdirektion Baden-Württemberg: Das Land Baden-Württemberg; Volume IV - Stuttgart district, Franconia and East Wuerttemberg regional associations .
  2. ↑ Elmar PJ Heizmann, Winfried Reiff: The Steinheimer Meteorkrater. Munich 2002; Ed .: Community of Steinheim am Albuch.
  3. ↑ Erhard Lehmann: Get to know your homeland (Volume II) - Heidenheim district. Heidenheim 1982, p. 70 f.
  4. ↑ Bruno Tausend (Ed.): Steinheim am Albuch . In: license plate HDH. Stuttgart 1987, p. 47.
  5. ^ Landesarchivdirektion Baden-Württemberg: The state of Baden-Württemberg - official description by districts and communities. Stuttgart 1980, Volume IV, p. 630 f.
  6. ↑ Dieter Eisele, Stabenow Eberhard: Söhnstetten - In the course of time . Horb am Neckar 1993, p. 13.
  7. ^ Thierer Georg: local history of Gussenstadt . Stuttgart 1916, p. 204.
  8. ↑ a b c d Dieter Eisele, Eberhard Stabenow: Söhnstetten - In the course of time . Horb am Neckar 1993, p. 16.
  9. ^ Georg Thierer: local history of Gussenstadt . Stuttgart 1916, p. 204.
  10. ^ A b Dieter Eisele, Eberhard Stabenow: Söhnstetten - In the course of time . Horb am Neckar 1993, pp. 40-45.
  11. ^ A b Georg Thierer: local history of Gussenstadt . Stuttgart 1916, p. 216.
  12. ↑ Dieter Eisele, Eberhard Stabenow: Söhnstetten - In the course of time . Horb am Neckar 1993, p. 18.
  13. ↑ Dieter Eisele, Eberhard Stabenow: Söhnstetten - In the course of time . Horb am Neckar 1993, p. 38.
  14. ↑ Karl Burr and Gerhard Schreiner: Living past in the Heidenheim district . Heidenheim 1983.
  15. ↑ Heiner Kleinschmidt and Jürgen Bohnert: Heidenheim between the swastika and Heidenkopf . Heidenheim 1983.
  16. ↑ Dieter Eisele, Eberhard Stabenow: Söhnstetten - In the course of time . Horb am Neckar 1993, p. 68.
  17. ↑ http://www.literad.de/regional/heidenheim.html
  18. ^ Federal Statistical Office (ed.): Historical municipality directory for the Federal Republic of Germany. Name, border and key number changes in municipalities, counties and administrative districts from May 27, 1970 to December 31, 1982 . W. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart / Mainz 1983, ISBN 3-17-003263-1 , p. 449 .

Web links

Commons : Söhnstetten  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 48 ° 40 ′  N , 9 ° 59 ′  E