Christmas flood 1717

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Depiction of the Christmas flood of 1717

As Christmas tide will flood on the continental North Sea coast called from December 24 to December 25 1717th It was caused by a sudden north-west storm. There were numerous dike breaches and devastating floods between the Netherlands and Denmark . From Tondern in the northern Duchy of Schleswig to Emden in East Frisia , around 9,000 people drowned; 2500 people died in the Netherlands as well. Another storm surge occurred on the night of February 25th to February 26th, 1718.

The weather situation

Depiction of a dike breach during the Christmas flood of 1717, excerpt from the copper engraved map by Homann , Nuremberg (around 1718)

Sources

Although there were no systematic weather records at the beginning of the 18th century, eyewitness reports, such as in the publication The Weynachts-Freude Jeverlandes linked with tears, appeared in 1718 . Or a detailed message of the high water flood / by which the rulership of Jever flooded in the Christ night 1717. / and what damage was caused by it. In bound speech entworffen / and weitläufftigen Anmerckungen explained by Conrad Joachim Ummen a fairly accurate reconstruction of the conditions to. Both the reports on the course of the storm and the course of the storm surge show numerous parallels to the Dutch storm surge in 1953 , the Capella storm in 1976 and the Adolph Bermpohl storm in 1967 .

Course of the storm surge weather situation based on historical sources

After a prolonged south-west weather situation, the foothills of a North Atlantic hurricane low encroached on the area of ​​the German Bight on December 24, 1717. After strong to stormy winds from the southwest initially prevailed during the day, the wind turned to northwest in the evening after the cold front had passed through and initially increased further. After a temporary decrease in wind, the main storm field of the hurricane low first reached the Dutch North Sea coast in the late evening hours, and from around midnight the German North Sea coast. Since there was no weather forecast at all, the population believed they were safe due to the temporary decrease in wind characteristic of the passage of a low pressure trough and were thus surprised in their sleep by the sudden hurricane. Immediately after the hurricane had passed through, high pressure prevailed due to the polar air flowing into it, which led to a period of frost.

Development of the storm surge

Due to the strong to stormy winds from the south-westerly direction that prevailed into the afternoon hours - the wind did not change to the north-westerly direction until around 4 p.m. - the evening flood on the entire German North Sea coast was only slightly increased. The north-westerly storm that occurred in the evening prevented the water from falling at low tide, so that the low tide, which occurred around midnight, corresponded to a normal flood, according to eyewitness reports.

The main storm field of the hurricane hit the German, Dutch and Danish coasts as soon as the tide started. Immediately after the tidal center point, a very sharp rise in the water level was observed along the entire coast. Although the astronomical high tide was expected on the morning of December 25, 1717 on the coast and in the streams between 6 and 8 a.m., the first dikes were flooded on the East Frisian and Oldenburg coasts as early as 2 a.m. Between 3 and 4 o'clock the dikes in the Wilstermarsch broke , between 4 and 5 o'clock the water penetrated into Norderdithmarschen ; Hamburg was flooded at 5 a.m.

Since the dyke breaches occurred shortly after the main tide began, i.e. at the time of the strongest rise in the water level, and the population, surprised by the hurricane and flood, was unable to take countermeasures, the resulting dyke breaches could expand rapidly, so that they spread very quickly very large amounts of water poured into the hinterland. In the affected areas, the floodplains extended to the Geestrand . It was only possible for the population where the maximum water level occurred in daylight on the morning of December 25, 1717, such as on the Weser above Vegesack , on Lesum , Wümme , Hamme and Ochtum , as well as on Leda and Jümme or the upper reaches of the Oste to tackle the onset of dike breaches. The damage was also limited in these areas.

The storm surge peak occurred on the entire coast about two hours before the astronomical tidal high water.

Storm surge water levels

Since there were no continuous level recordings in 1717, the maximum water levels reached during the storm surge can only be reconstructed on the basis of historically transmitted tide marks. To this day, it is considered to be one of the heaviest storm surges on the Dutch, German and Danish North Sea coasts, even in the area of ​​the water levels reached at that time. In its course, based on contemporary reports, there are great parallels to the storm surge of January 3, 1976 , during which the highest water levels were reached in the Elbe area to date and which also lacked the strongly increased vortide characteristic of many storm surges.

In relation to the mean tidal high water at that time, the Christmas flood in 1717 partially reached water levels that were well above those of the February storm surge in 1962 and the Capella hurricane in 1976. In Emden, for example, a maximum water level of +4.03 m above the then high tide was recorded, at Wangerooge +3.37 m and in today's Wilhelmshaven a water level +3.80 m above the then high tide.

For comparison, the storm surges from 16./17. February 1962 and January 3, 1976 in Emden with 3.45 m and 3.22 m above mean tidal high water 58 and 81 cm, on Wangerooge with 2.87 (1962) and 2.68 (1976) 50 cm and 69 cm and in Wilhelmshaven with 3.55 (1962) and 3.07 (1976) above the mean high tide, 25 cm and 73 cm below the value of the Christmas flood in 1717.

Consequences of the flood

Political framework in the time before the flood

The Christmas flood of 1717 hit the German and Danish North Sea coastal areas in a time of economic and political crisis. Large parts of northern Germany had belonged to Sweden and Denmark since the end of the Thirty Years' War. In 1668 the county of Oldenburg fell to Denmark after the dynasty of the counts there died out. In the Great Northern War , from 1710, the Danish and Swedish possessions in what is now Schleswig-Holstein and the Weser-Elbe region became a theater of war. Stade and Tönning were besieged, the then city of Altona , but also countless villages had been systematically burned down in the years before.

The population suffered from billeting. As a result of the war and the economic crises that resulted from it, but also the occurrence of rinderpest , which led to a dramatic reduction in cattle numbers and plunged agriculture into a severe economic crisis, the maintenance of the dykes and drainage systems in many regions was in the background kicked. Dikes and sluices were sometimes considered outdated, inadequately constructed and unsafe even before the Christmas flood. In addition, there was very little interest in, but also awareness of, the particular dangers in the distant regions among the rulers and their administrators based in Copenhagen and Stockholm.

Direct consequences of the flood

The flood disaster had serious consequences for the affected marshes on the North Sea coast. Population losses, economic decline and poverty shaped the North Sea communities after this catastrophe . No coastal region between the Netherlands and Denmark was spared from this storm surge; everywhere there were numerous dike breaches and devastating floods. Only in the Bökingharde did most of the dikes hold, both the Christian-Albrechts-Köge and the Köge of the diked Dagebüller Bay.

To the areas affected by the storm surge hardest areas belonging county Oldenburg that the Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst related rule Jever (1,700 deaths), the country Kehdingen and County of East Frisia . In Butjadingen in Oldenburg there was a population loss of almost 30%.

losses

Christmas flood of 1717, colored copper engraved map by Homann, Nuremberg, around 1718

All coastal countries suffered great losses of horses , cattle , pigs and sheep from the Christmas flood of 1717 . In East Frisia, 2300 horses, 9500 cattle, 2800 sheep and 1800 pigs perished. In addition, thousands of houses were torn away from the water or badly damaged. In East Frisia alone, 900 houses were washed away and 1,800 damaged. The damage to the dykes and sluices was very severe.

During this time, surviving dependents found it difficult to be certain of the whereabouts of their family members who had been driven away by the floods. Of the 284 drowned people from Werdum in East Friesland, for example, only 32 had been found by February 5, 1718. From the Ritzebüttel office it is recorded that proper burials were often not possible.

The drama of this storm surge in the cold winter time (a few days after the storm surge there was heavy frost and snowfall) was intensified by renewed storm surges on January 25th and in the night of February 25th to 26th, 1718, which hit land that was still largely exposed met.

Longer term consequences

Kolk as a result of the Christmas flood in Horumersiel

The direct consequence of the catastrophe was a famine that dragged on for several years, despite state and private aid, as both stocks and seeds had been destroyed and the saline soil had reduced yields for years and was hardly usable as pasture. Diseases like marsh fever spread. Since the decimated and impoverished population was unable to repair the destroyed dykes quickly, the agricultural areas were flooded over and over again for years, and the salt water did not even run off, so that even the rescued cattle could no longer feed could be. Nevertheless, the population was asked to pay increased taxes for the restoration of the dikes. Many farmers got into debt. The loans that were taken out at that time were repaid well into the 19th century. Many people left the marshland despite the ban on emigration. Since the price of land fell significantly, the farmers who had survived the flood lightly were able to concentrate larger land holdings in their hands.

Reception in modern times

  • In 2019 the band Versengold released the song Winterflut 1717 about the Christmas flood on the album Nordlicht .

See also

literature

  • Philomon Adelsheim: New and Improved War (,) Murder and Death (,) Sorrow and Noth Calendar / To the year after the gracious holy birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ M DCC XIX. In which side of the description of the thunderstorm / recommendations / the planets Lauff and Gang / including the same natural affections / is also to be found A detailed description of the terrible storms / and therefore caused almost naturally high floods of water / with which God's hand on H. (Urgent) Christian day 1717, and the 25th Hornung (= February) 1718 visited the countries on the North (,) South and East Seas, along with a copper / which clearly represents this punishment from God. Verlag Johann Andrea Endters Sel. Son and Heirs, Nuremberg 1719 ( illustration ).
  • Johann Friderich Jansen: Historical-theological Meal of the Wonderful Ways of God in the great waters which in the year 1717, on December 25th, poured so terribly into ruin in many countries. New end 1722.
  • Friedrich Wilhelm Riemann: The Christmas flood of the year 1717. In: History of the Jeverland. Volume 3, Book Five, Chapter 10, Jever 1931, pp. 228–249, urn : nbn: de: gbv: 45: 1-6840 .
  • Manfred Jakubowski-Tiessen : Storm surge 1717. Coping with a natural disaster in the early modern period. Munich 1992. ( books.google.de , limited preview).
  • Dirk Meier : The damage caused by the Christmas flood of 1717 on the North Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein. In: The Coast Issue 78, 2011, pp. 259–292 ( kuestenarchaeologie.de PDF, accessed on November 22, 2014, map of the flooded areas, p. 263).

Publications in the Niederdeutschen Heimatblatt

  • E. Drägert: Christmas flood 1717 in Ritzebüttel . In: Men from Morgenstern , Heimatbund an Elbe and Weser estuary e. V. (Ed.): Niederdeutsches Heimatblatt . No. 216 . Nordsee-Zeitung GmbH, Bremerhaven December 1967, p. 1 ( digital version [PDF; 3.9 MB ; accessed on June 23, 2019]).
  • Kurt Eisermann: Flood disaster 300 years ago. The Christmas flood of 1717 on Neuwerk and the Thode family . In: Men from Morgenstern, Heimatbund an Elbe and Weser estuary e. V. (Ed.): Niederdeutsches Heimatblatt . No. 815 . Nordsee-Zeitung GmbH, Bremerhaven November 2017, p. 3–4 ( digitized version [PDF; 6.6 MB ; accessed on July 6, 2019]).
  • Heiko Völker: The Christmas flood of 1717 and its consequences in the land of Hadeln. "My heart, swimming in tears, won't let me write any more" . In: Men from Morgenstern, Heimatbund an Elbe and Weser estuary e. V. (Ed.): Niederdeutsches Heimatblatt . No. 816 . Nordsee-Zeitung GmbH, Bremerhaven December 2017, p. 2–3 ( digital version [PDF; 10.4 MB ; accessed on July 5, 2019]).
  • Peter Bussler: A consequence of the Christmas flood in 1717. The establishment of the "Old Love" in Cuxhaven . In: Men from Morgenstern, Heimatbund an Elbe and Weser estuary e. V. (Ed.): Niederdeutsches Heimatblatt . No. 819 . Nordsee-Zeitung GmbH, Bremerhaven March 2018, p. 2–3 ( digitized version [PDF; 11.2 MB ; accessed on June 23, 2019]).

Web links

Commons : Christmas Flood 1717  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Conrad Joachim Ummen: The Weynachts -joy Jeverlandes linked with tears. Or a detailed message of the high water flood / by which the rulership of Jever flooded in the Christ night 1717. / and what damage was caused by it. Drafted in a bound speech / and explained with extensive comments . Bremen 1718.
  2. ↑ Dirk Meier: The damage caused by the Christmas flood of 1717 on the North Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein. In: The coast. Issue 78. Heide, 2011.
  3. ^ Oskar Tenge: The Butjadinger Deichband. History and description of the dikes, embankments and sluices in the second Oldenburg dike gang and in the Royal Prussian eastern jade area. Oldenburg, 1912.
  4. ↑ a b H. Rohde: Storm surge heights and secular water level rise on the German North Sea coast . In: The coast . Issue 30. Boyens & Co publishing house, Heide 1970.
  5. ^ Engineering commission of the Lower Saxony Minister for Food, Agriculture and Forests: Experiences and conclusions from the January storm surges 1976 for coastal protection in Lower Saxony. In: The coast. Issue 33, Heide 1979.
  6. ↑ Ferdinand Dannmeyer, Erich von Lehe, Heinrich Rüther (ed.): A tower and his island. Monograph of the North Sea island of Neuwerk . Verlag der Buchhandlung Rauschenplat, Cuxhaven 1982, p. 167 (first edition: 1952): “The Christmas flood flooded the island ( Neuwerk ) and caused severe damage and dike breaches on the west and north dikes. Twelve residents perish in the floods. All cattle drown. Claus Tiedemann's Mittelhof and Claus Höpcke's fisherman's house are washed away. "
  7. ↑ Storm surges. (No longer available online.) In: www.deichverband-cuxhaven.de. Archived from the original on April 3, 2016 ; accessed on April 30, 2016 : "Losses in the district of Land Hadeln with Ritzebüttel office: 813 people, 145 houses, 172 barns"
  8. ↑ Ferdinand Dannmeyer, Erich von Lehe, Heinrich Rüther (ed.): A tower and his island. Monograph of the North Sea island of Neuwerk . Verlag der Buchhandlung Rauschenplat, Cuxhaven 1982, p. 167 (first edition: 1952): “Renewed storm surges; An emergency dike will be built around the high point to protect it. Restoration of the dikes with the help of the Hamburg treasury, the Ritzebüttel office and church collections. "
  9. ↑ Note: Jakubowski-Tiessen also gives a very extensive list of contemporary manuscripts and prints in his list of sources and references from p. 285.