Potato Germans

Memorial stone for German immigrants at Frederiks churchyard SW of Viborg, Denmark

The Potato Germans (Kartoffeltyskere) is a name referring to a group of German families who settled in the heathlands of central Jutland in Denmark during the mid-1700s. [1] [2]

History

The German immigrants moved to central Jutland when King Frederick V of Denmark promised 20 years of tax freedom, soil, livestock, money, and freedom from military service, for anyone who would cultivate the Jutlandic heaths. The settlers were mostly from Hesse and the Palatinate in modern-day Germany. Men, women, and children included, 965 individuals spread across 265 families first arrived between 1759-63. After the heath and heather was burnt, the area became better suited for the cultivation of potatoes. [3]

The majority settled in Alheden in the southernmost part of Fjends and the northernmost part of Lysgård in central Jutland. This comprises the site of the cities of Frederiks, Grønhøj, Havredal, and Karup. [4]

Surnames

The situation was difficult for the families. Many of settlers were craftsmen with little knowledge of farming. Most of the settlers subsequently left, many moving back to Germany. However, a total of 59 families stayed on the Alheden for more than a year. [5]

The Potato German settlers introduced a number of new surnames to Denmark. Though still rare in the country as a whole, many people living near the Alheden still carry these surnames. [6]

  • Agricola,
  • Betzer, Bitsch, Bräuner, Bärthel,
  • Cramer,
  • Dickes, Dürr,
  • Frank,
  • Gantzhorn,
  • Harritz, Herbel-Schmidt, Hermann, Herold,
  • Jung,
  • Krath, Kriegbaum,
  • Lajer, Lauth,
  • Marcher, Marquard, Maul, Morratz,
  • Philbert,
  • Rost,
  • Schönheider (also spelled Schønheider),
  • Wacher, Wendel, Winkler, "Woller", Würtz

References

  1. ↑ "kartoffeltyskere". Den Store Danske. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Kartoffeltyskernes historie". henrikfrank.dk. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  3. ↑ Gullestrup, Hans (2006). Cultural Analysis: Towards Cross Cultural Understan. Copenhagen, Denmark: Copenhagen Business School Press. ISBN 978-8763001816.
  4. ↑ "Alheden". Salmonsens Konversationsleksikon , 2. udgave, bind I (1915). Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Frederiks kirke, Lysgård herred , Viborg amt". Church and Manor in Denmark. August 7, 2009. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Kartoffeltyskerne på Alheden". Udarbejdet af ThiseWeb.dk. 23 April 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2018.

Other sources

  • Valdemar Andersen (1970) Den jyske hedekolonisation (Aarhus: Universitetsforlaget. Skrifter udgivet af Jysk Selskab for Historie, Number 24) ISBN 9788750402213

Coordinates: 56°22′30″N 9°04′33″E / 56.375137°N 9.075851°E / 56.375137; 9.075851


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