A Short History of Bielefeld



Middle Ages - 1830
Era of Industrialization - World War II
Modern Times
References
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Middle Ages - 1830
860
For the first time a place named "Bylanuelde" is mentioned in a document of the monastery Corvey. Only 150 years later you can again find the name "Bylanuelde" or also "Biliuelde" in the biography of Bishop Mainwerk of Paderborn.
1214
Count Hermann IV of Ravensberg gives Bielefeld ("Biliuelde") a town charter to boost its economic and financial potential.
1240-1250
Within a period of ten years Sparrenburg Castle is built on Sparrenberg Hill. The castle serves not only as a military protection for the town but also as the Count´s residence. Now Bielefeld is a provincial capital. This gives a boost to the town's development and trade increases.
1293
St. Mary's Church is built in the new town. It serves as the family church for Count Otto III of Ravensberg. The new town is mentioned for the first time now. Old town and new town remain separate towns until the 16th century.
1346
After the death of the last count of the House of Ravensberg, Bielefeld now belongs to the House of Jülich-Berg. As the ruler's residence is now far away from Bielefeld the town can freely develop.
1473
Bielefeld joins the Hanseatic League. The town is not a very important member of this league but nevertheless trade relations reach as far as Nowgorod.
1502
Franciscan Friars build a friary in the forests on Jostberg Hill. As the friary is too far away from town they have soon to abandon it. In 1511 they move to new buildings nearer to town.
1520
At long last new town and old town unite.
1541-1553
The parishes in the old town and the new town join the Lutheran reformation. Bielefeld can stay out of the other conflicts of the late middle ages and even during the Thirty Years' War Bielefeld manages to remain unscathed by making payments.
1609
The Elector of Brandenburg inherits the dukedom of Kleve and Bielefeld becomes part of Brandenburg. Bielefeld remains a part of Brandenburg-Prussia until 1918.
1615
Bielefeld leaves the Hanseatic League. At this time it can already be predicted that the league will soon dissolve.
1640
Friederich Wilhelm ascends the Brandenburgian throne. The elector encourages the further development of Bielefeld. Now a real economic boom begins for this town .The textile trade is extended and the boom lasts until the era of industrialization.
1830
The linen workers' trade is hit by a severe crisis. The handmade yarns and fabrics cannot compete with the machine made products from England. The poverty of the people who work in the spinning and weaving trade gets worse and worse and in 1844 there is a famine in the whole region.
Era of Industrialization - World War II
1847
Bielefeld is connected to the Köln-Minden railway line. This step is the basis for the development of Bielefeld as an industrial centre.
1851
The first mechanical spinning mill in Bielefeld starts production. After six years the next spinning mill follows and in 1862 factories in Bielefeld have already the first power looms that work with steam engines. By 1870 about 11% of all spinning-machines and power looms in Germany are located in Bielefeld.
1867
The sewing-machine factory "Dürkopp & Schmidt" is put into operation. The setting up of such metal processing factories makes Bielefeld an important location for mechanical engineering.
1891
August Oetker acquires Aschoff's chemist's shop. Some years later he invents his backing powder and sets up the food company Dr. Oetker Nahrungsmittelfabrik GmbH. Now food production becomes important in Bielefeld as well.
1900
Bielefeld gets its first tram. The tram is a very convenient means of transport for the working classes.
1930
The neighbouring communities are incorporated into Bielefeld. Thus the number of inhabitants increases to129 963 and Bielefeld can proudly call itself "Großstadt", city.
1933
The National Socialists seize power in Bielefeld and dissolve all other parties. The resistance of Communists and Social Democrats is crushed and swastikas and brown uniforms dominate the public life.
10.11.1938
IIn the nation wide pogrom euphemistically called "Reichskristallnacht" by the Nazis the synagogue at Turnerstraße is burnt down. In the years that follow many Jewish citizens from Bielefeld are sent to death camps.
1940
The first allied bombs are dropped on Bielefeld. The most devastating air raid occurs on 30 September 1944, many buildings are destroyed and 600 people die in the bomb inferno. Altogether during world war II 1300 people in Bielefeld die in air raids and almost all of the historical old town centre is destroyed.
4.4.1945
American troops take Bielefeld without any resistance from the German side .Later on Bielefeld becomes part of the British Zone of Occupation. Soon the war damage is cleared away and modern buildings replace the old historical houses.
Modern Times
1969
Bielefeld gets a university with an exceptional architecture. The large building complex of Bielefeld University houses all the faculties under one roof.
1973
The administrative district "Landkreis Bielefeld" is dissolved.
1991
The suburban railway is opened. The centre piece is a tunnel of about five kilometre length in the inner city area. All extension work is completed by the year 2000 so far.
References
http://www.bielefeld.de/de/si/geschichte/
http://www.altstadtbielefeld.de/sites/historie.shtml
http://www.medien-verlag.de
http://www.owl-infoliner.de/owl-bi/history.html
http://www.deutsche-heimat.com/bielefeld/geschichte.html
http://www.teutotreff.de/bielefeld/rathaus/chronik/index.htm
http://www.owl-infoliner.de/owl-bi/history.html
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