Schleswig was under Danish control during theViking Age, but in the 12th century it became a duchy within Denmark. It bordered Holstein, which was a part of theHoly Roman Empire. Beginning in 1460, the King of Denmark ruled both Schleswig and Holstein as their duke. Schleswig was still part of Denmark, while Holstein remained part of the Holy Roman Empire. In the 19th century, Danes and Germans each believed they had a claim to Schleswig-Holstein, the population of which was majority ethnic German. The resulting long-term political and territorial dispute was known as theSchleswig-Holstein Question. In 1848, Denmark tried to formally annex the area. Prussia responded by invading, thus beginning theFirst Schleswig War, which ended in a victory for Denmark. But in theSecond Schleswig War (1864), Prussia and Austria won and the territory was absorbed into Prussia in 1867. After the German defeat in World War I, the Allies required that the question of sovereignty over the territory be submitted toplebiscites (the1920 Schleswig plebiscites), which resulted in the return of some of the territory to Denmark. After World War II, Schleswig-Holsteintook in over a million refugees.
Today, Schleswig-Holstein's economy is known for its agriculture, such as itsHolstein cows. Its position on the Atlantic Ocean makes it a major trade point and shipbuilding site; it is also the location of theKiel Canal. Its offshore oil wells and wind farms produce significant amounts of energy. Fishing is a major industry and the basis of its distinctive unique local cuisine. It is a popular tourist destination for Germans and visitors from across the globe.
The historic settlement areas in present-day Schleswig-Holstein
The term "Holstein" derives fromOld SaxonHolseta Land, (Holz means wood in modern Standardized German;holt is a now-archaic English word for woods.) Originally, the term referred to the central of the threeSaxon tribes north of theRiver Elbe:Tedmarsgoi (Dithmarschen),Holstein andSturmarii (Stormarn). The area inhabited by the tribe of the Holsts lay between theStör River andHamburg; afterChristianization, their main church was inSchenefeld.Saxon Holstein became a part of theHoly Roman Empire afterCharlemagne'sSaxon campaigns in the late eighth century. Beginning in 811, the northern border of Holstein (and thus of the Empire) was theRiver Eider.[citation needed]
The term "Schleswig" originally referred to the city ofSchleswig. The word Schleswig is a German transliteration of the Danish word Slesvig, which consists of two words:Schlei and vig. The Schlei refers to the river at which the city lies, and vig means "inlet" or bay. Schleswig therefore means (in Danish): "The bay at the river Schlei".The Schlei is known as Slien in Danish and is believed to have been used only for the inner Slien (the Great and Little Bay near the city of Schleswig). The word is thought to be related to Slæ, which means reeds and aquatic plants found in this area.[citation needed]
During theMigration Period, theJutland peninsula was home to several tribes. TheJutes inhabitted the most northern part of the peninsula fromGrenen toOlger's Dyke [de]. This dyke, dating back to around the first century, served as the boundary between the Jutes in the north and theAngles in the south.[6] This dyke lost its relevance in the 200s when the Angles expanded northward, leading to the establishment of a new dyke called theWendish Dyke [da]. The southern border of the Angles was marked by themarshes surrounding theEider, that combined with the denseold-growth forrest to the south of the river, formed a natural barrier.[7] South of the forest lay the region now known as Holstein, which was divided between theGermanicSaxons, who inhabited the western part, and theSlavicWagri, who lived in the eastern part. In the 8th century, the Wagri would become part of the Slavic tribal confederation known as theObotrites.[8] (Also known as theWends by the Danes and Saxons).[9]
During the 4th and early 5th centuries, a significant migration saw the Jutes, Angles, and Saxons depart from their homelands to settle in theBritish Isles.[10] This mass exodus left much of the Jutland Peninsula sparsely populated, allowing the Danes from southern Scandinavia and the islands ofZealand,Funen, and other smaller Danish isles to migrate into the peninsula. They gradually settled the region, integrating the remaining Jutes and Angles who had not left for Britain. By the mid 5th century, the Danes had established settlements from Grenen in the north to just north of the Eider River and its marshes. Their southernmost settlements being aroundSchwansen,Hedeby andHusum, mirroring the same southern border as their Angle predecessors.[11] As raiding was a frequent practice among the Danes, Saxons, and Wagrians, the borderlands was a hostile and unsafe area to inhabit. In response to these threats, the Danes began constructing theDanevirke. Originally built as a dyke, it was gradually expanded into a 30-kilometer earthwork with a palisade fortification, forming a barrier between the Danes and their southern neighbors. The Danevirke was strategically positioned at the most narrow point of the peninsula, with its eastern end beginning at theTreene River and extending to theSchlei Bay.[12] This fortification served to deter Saxon and Wagrian raids while enabling the Danes to launch their own raids into southern territories. It would remain in use until 1864, being expanded and adapted to the changing military needs of the Danes multiple times.[13]
The establishment of the Danevirke not only helped to prevent Saxon and Wagrian raids into Danish territory but also served as a toll station. Danish chieftains would collect fees from traders, merchants, and peasants traveling along theHærvejen (Heerweg/Armyway), the main trade route running through the peninsula. Saxons, Wagrians, and Danes alike used the Hærvejen to trade goods such as honey, furs, amber, glass, metalwork, and other commodities, such as livestock, with cattle and oxen being particularly important. Especially the Danes developed a thriving livestock breeding industry, driving large herds along the Hærvejen to sell on the continent. This trade gave the route its alternative names, such as "Studevejen" (Cattle Way) in Danish and "Ochsenweg" (Oxen Way) in German.[14] Therefore control of the Danevirke, through which the Hærvejen ran, was of immense financial significance. Whoever controlled the gates of Danevirke also controlled the trade along the Hærvejen, giving them access to substantial wealth.
After approximately 350 to 400 years of Danes being the sole inhabitants north of the Eider, theFrisians arrived in two waves, the first of which occurred in the 800s. They came fromFrisia and initially settled on the islands ofHeligoland,Sylt,Föhr andAmrum in the southwestern part of Jutland. Later, they expanded toEiderstedt and the Jutish coastline.[15] These areas eventually became known asNorth Frisia, though historically, the region was referred to asUthlande (Outland).[16] In these settlements, the Frisians established fishing and trading stations. The local Danes soon became a minority and, over time, assimilated into the Frisian population.[17] The Frisians contributed to the broader Hærvejen trade network, with sea routes extending along the Frisian and Dutch coasts, supplying high-quality salt, fish, and other maritime goods. Moreover, they were particularly active in trade withEast Anglia inEngland, where pottery was exchanged in large quantities.[citation needed]
Normalcy in the area vanished with the expansion of theFrankish Empire intoSaxony from 772 to 804, triggering a generational war on an unprecedented scale for the region. Prior to this, the Franks had spent nearly 20 years, from the late 600s to the early 700s, subjugating and converting theFrisian Kingdom. Their primary opponent was the formidable Frisian kingRedbad, who fiercely resisted the Franks until his death. Now, the Frisians' neighbors, the Saxons, faced Frankish expansion. Thecasus belli was a Saxon raid on the church inDeventer in January of 772. This conflict, fueled byCharlemagne's desire to conquer the Saxons and convert them from their belief in theGermanic pantheon toChristianity, used the Deventer raid as a pretext to wage a war that would ultimately reshape the political and cultural landscape of what would later become Holstein forever. Over the course of 18 campaigns, carried out in three phases over 32 years, Charlemagne aimed to subdue the Saxons and forcibly convert them to Christianity, in what became known as theSaxon Wars.[citation needed] In retaliation for the raid on the church in Deventer, Charlemagne ordered his troops to destroy the holy pillarIrminsul, nearPaderborn in either 772 or 773—a notorious act that sent shockwaves throughout the Germanic pagan world.[citation needed] It has been postulated that Irminsul symbolisedYggdrasil Ash - the world tree. Charlemagne then destroyed all Saxon settlements up to theWesser river. After defeating the Saxons and securinghostages, he turned his attention to northernItaly.[citation needed]
For centuries, the Danes and Saxons had regarded each other as kindred peoples, sharing the same belief in the Germanic pantheon and frequently intermarrying, especially among the elite.[citation needed] Thus, the defeated Saxon warleaderWidukind sought refuge with his father-in-law, Danish kingSigfred. TheRoyal Frankish Annals mention that Widukind received substantial aid from Sigfred, though the exact nature of this aid is not explicitly stated. However, the chronicles do note that Sigfred and Charlemagne brokered a peace agreement some years later, indicating that Sigfred, upon hearing Widukind's plea, may have mustered his army and joined the war on the side of the Saxons.[citation needed] In response to the Danes' involvement in the war, Charlemagne seems to have recruited theObotrites by promising them the Saxon portion of Holstein.[citation needed] This alliance with Charlemagne shifted the balance of power in the region. In 782, after another defeat of the Saxons, Charlemagne ordered the mass execution of 4,500 Saxons, an atrocity that became known as theMassacre of Verden. Following this brutal act, Charlemagne was nicknamed the "Butcher of Saxons" or "Saxonslaughterer."[citation needed]
In 796, despite Saxony being fully under Frankish rule, the Saxons rose up once more, supported by the Danes. The rebellion was triggered by forced conscription of Saxons for the Frankishwars against the Avars. Moreover, Charlemagne, in alliance with the Obotrites, planned to subjugate the Danes, now led by KingGudfred Sigfredson.[citation needed] However, Gudfred struck first. He expanded the Danevirke, assembled a fleet, mustered an army, and launched attacks on the Obotrites and later Frankish Frisia. But he was slain, either by one of hishuscarls or possibly his own illegitimate son, on the Frisian campaign. The new Danish king,Hemming, Gudfred's nephew, initiated peace talks, which resulted in theTreaty of Heiligen in 810. The treaty established the Danish border at the Eider River. Charlemagne retained Saxony, including Holstein, and established theLimes Saxoniae as a border with the Obotrites. This agreement established firm boundaries between the Franks, Obotrites, and Danes, securing peace in the region.[citation needed]
Between 500 and 1200, Schleswig was an integral part of Denmark, but during the 12th century,Duke Abel of Schlewig came into conflict with his brotherKing Eric IV. Abel managed to gain autonomy from his brother, making Schleswig an autonomous duchy. Later, Abel had Eric assassinated and seized the throne. Despite this, Schleswig remained an autonomous duchy within the Kingdom, setting the stage for future conflicts.[citation needed]Beginning in 1460, both theDuchy of Schleswig andDuchy of Holstein, were ruled together by the Danish king, who acted as the duke of both regions. Holstein being a duchy within theHoly Roman Empire created a situation where the Danish king was sovereign of Denmark but also a duke within the Holy Roman Empire. Both were ruled for several centuries by the kings of Denmark. In 1721, all of Schleswig was united into a single duchy under the king of Denmark, and the great powers of Europe confirmed in an international treaty that all future kings of Denmark should automatically become dukes of Schleswig: consequently, Schleswig would always follow the order of succession that applied in the Kingdom of Denmark.[citation needed]
Following the Protestant Reformation, German was established as the language of commerce, administration, education, and clergy in Schleswig despite the population being ethnically Danish. This was because Schleswig were managed by the German Chancellery, in Kiel, which was later renamed the Schleswig-Holstein Chancellery in 1806. Therefore, Danes were sent to Kiel for their education instead of Copenhagen, where they received their education in German rather than their native Danish. As a result, Danish students, future administrators, clergy, and educators were taught in German and continued to use the language throughout their professional lives.[citation needed]
In 1814, mandatory schooling was instituted, and was taught in German. This created generations of Danish children who learned German from an early age. Their schooling was conducted in German, they heard sermons in German, and when they grew up, their interactions with the administration and business were conducted in German. Additionally, if Danes didn't learn German, they couldn't communicate with the administration, which often cared little if the citizens were able to understand them. Therefore, if the Danes weren't able to speak German, they were effectively frozen out of any official matters. As a result, a language shift slowly began forming in South Schleswig and gradually spread north, which alarmed Copenhagen. The Danish authorities started taking countermeasures to halt the language shift by banning German in all official matters in Schleswig, which only served to create tensions between Danes and Germans. This language strife significantly contributed to shaping the inhabitants' national sentiments during a time of national unrest in Europe. It is also during this period that we see surname changes, such as from Jørgensen to Jürgensen or Nielsen to Nilsen, in South Schleswig.By the time of the First Schleswig War, one-third of Schleswig and half of South Schleswig spoke German as their first language. By the time of the Second Schleswig War in 1864, half of Schleswig and the vast majority of South Schleswig spoke German as their first language.[citation needed]
In the 19th century, fueled bynationalism both Danes and Germans claimed Schleswig-Holstein. The Germans wanted both Schleswig and Holstein to separate from Denmark and join theGerman Confederation, invoking theTreaty of Ribe stating that the two duchies should stay "Forever Undivided". The Danes on the other hand, furthered the Eider Policy (da:Ejderpolitikken), stating that the natural Danish border was theEider (river) as first recognised in theTreaty of Heiligen. Therefore, the Danes sought to reintegrate Schleswig into theKingdom of Denmark, reversing the separation created by King Abel, while also granting Holstein independence to join the German Confederation as a sovereign entity. The resulting long-term political and territorial dispute was known as theSchleswig-Holstein Question. Holstein was entirely German-speaking, while Schleswig was predominantly Danish-speaking until the late 1700 and early 1800s. During this period, a linguistic shift began in southern Schleswig, transitioning from Danish to German. This meant that Schleswig was linguistically divided with a Danish-speaking north and a German-speaking south.[citation needed]
In 1848, KingFrederick VII of Denmark declared that he would grant Denmark a liberal constitution and the immediate goal of the Danish national movement was to ensure that this constitution would give rights to all Danes, i.e. not only to those in the Kingdom of Denmark, but also to Danes (and Germans) living in Schleswig. Furthermore, they demanded protection for the Danish language in Schleswig (the dominant language in almost a quarter of Schleswig had changed from Danish to German since the beginning of the 19th century).[citation needed] A liberal constitution for Holstein was not seriously considered inCopenhagen, since it was well known that the political élite of Holstein were more conservative than Copenhagen's. Representatives of German-minded Schleswig-Holsteiners demanded that Schleswig and Holstein be unified and allowed its own constitution and that Schleswig join Holstein as a member of theGerman Confederation.[citation needed] These demands were rejected by the Danish government in 1848, and the Germans of Holstein and Southern Schleswig rebelled.
In 1863, conflict broke out again when Frederick VII died without legitimate issue. According to theorder of succession of Denmark and Schleswig, the crowns of both Denmark and Schleswig would pass to Duke Christian ofGlücksburg, who becameChristian IX. The transmission of the duchy of Holstein to the head of the (German-oriented) branch of the Danish royal family, theHouse of Augustenborg, was more controversial. The separation of the two duchies was challenged by the Augustenborg heir, who claimed, as in 1848, to be rightful heir of both Schleswig and Holstein. A common constitution for Denmark and Schleswig was promulgated in November 1863, which was a breach of the 1852 London Protocol. This left Denmark politically isolated and led to theSecond Schleswig War, with Prussia and Austria invading once again. This was theSecond War of Schleswig. Denmark achieved some initial victories at theBattles of Mysunde, andSankelmark, but these successes were short-lived. The Austrians defeated the Danes at theKönigshügel andVejle. However, it was the Prussians who decided the war by decisively winning the pivotalBattles of Dybbøl andAls.[citation needed]
British attempts to mediate in theLondon Conference of 1864 failed. With the peaceTreaty of Vienna (1864), Denmark was forced to cede Schleswig, Holstein andLauenburg to Prussia and Austria. Prussia wished to annex the conquered territories but Austria insisted they be held ascondominiums. This disagreement led to the 1865Gastein Convention, which, despite theircasus belli being the defence of the German-speaking Schleswig-Holsteiners' wish to remain unified, granted Schleswig and Lauenburg to Prussia and Holstein to Austria. However, this situation did not last long.
In 1866 theAustro-Prussian War broke out, in which Prussia quickly defeated Austria and its allies. In the 1866Peace of Prague Prussia gained Holstein in addition to Schleswig and Lauenburg. Contrary to the hopes of German Schleswig-Holsteiners, the area did not gain its independence, but was annexed to Prussia, becoming theProvince of Schleswig-Holstein in 1868; Lauenburg remained a separate entity until it was incorporated asKreis Herzogtum Lauenburg in 1876.
The Peace of Prague also led to the dissolution of the loose (confederal) Austrian-ledGerman Confederation and the establishment of the far more integrated (federal) Prussian-ledNorth German Confederation, of which Schleswig-Holstein was now part as a Prussian Province; the North German Confederation became theGerman Empire in 1871.
Section five of the Peace of Prague had also stipulated that the people of Northern Schleswig would be consulted in areferendum on whether to remain under Prussian rule or return to Danish rule. This condition, however, was never fulfilled by Prussia. During the decades of Prussian rule within theGerman Empire, authorities attempted aGermanisation policy in the northern part of Schleswig, which remained predominantly Danish. The period also meant increased industrialisation of Schleswig-Holstein and the use of Kiel and Flensburg as importantImperial German Navy locations. The northernmost part and west coast of the province saw a wave of emigration to America, while some Danes of North Schleswig emigrated to Denmark.[citation needed]
Following the defeat of Germany inWorld War I, the Allied powers arrangeda plebiscite in northern and central Schleswig. The plebiscite was conducted under the auspices of an international commission which designated two voting zones to cover the northern and south-central parts of Schleswig. Steps were taken to also create a third zone covering a southern area, but zone III was cancelled again and never voted, as the Danish government asked the commission not to expand the plebiscite to this area.[citation needed]
In zone I covering Northern Schleswig (10 February 1920), 75% voted forreunification with Denmark and 25% voted for Germany. In zone II covering central Schleswig (14 March 1920), the results were reversed; 80% voted for Germany and just 20% for Denmark. Only minor areas on the island ofFöhr showed a Danish majority, and the rest of the Danish vote was primarily in the town of Flensburg.[18] On 15 June 1920, Northern Schleswig officially returned to Danish rule. The Danish/German border was the only one of the borders imposed on Germany by theTreaty of Versailles after World War I that was never challenged byAdolf Hitler.
In 1937, the Nazis passed the so-calledGreater Hamburg Act (Groß-Hamburg-Gesetz), where the nearby Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg was expanded, to encompass towns that had formerly belonged to the Prussianprovince of Schleswig-Holstein. To compensate Prussia for these losses (and partly because Hitler had a personal dislike forLübeck[19]), the 711-year-long independence of the Hansestadt Lübeck came to an end, and almost all its territory was incorporated into Schleswig-Holstein, along with theOldenburg exclave centred onEutin (for historical reasons known asLandesteil Lübeck).
AfterWorld War II, the Prussian province Schleswig-Holstein came underBritish occupation. On 23 August 1946, the military government abolished the province and reconstituted it as a separateLand.[20]
On 9 September 1946, the British and Soviets offered Denmark South Schleswig, in theSeptembernote [de]. In this note, they gave Denmark carte blanche on how to deal with the German-speaking South Schleswigers, whether to integrate them into the Danish state or to forcibly expel them from South Schleswig, as wasbeing done to Germans in Eastern Europe. Denmark's then Prime Minister,the Liberal Party'sKnud Kristensen, enthusiastically accepted the offer of South Schleswig reunification with Denmark. A survey showed that 75% of the Danish population supported the incorporation, 500,000 signatures had been collected in support of it and the Danish South Schleswig Association had sent the government a formal request for incorporation. However, the dominatingSocial Liberal Party feared that Denmark might again face destructive wars like the two Schleswig Wars once Germany recovered from World War II. Given that the Germans had conquered Denmark in six hours during theGerman invasion of Denmark, they believed Denmark would not stand a chance in such a scenario. Therefore, they pressured the Prime Minister to call fornew elections, where theLiberal Party did not secure enough votes to form a government. TheSocial Democrats won the election with a minority government and could not gather a strong enough mandate for the incorporation of South Schleswig. This outcome created outrage within the Danish population and was considered a scandal.[citation needed]
A German postage stamp conmemorating the Bonn-Copenhagen Declarations
A pro-Danish political movement arose in Schleswig, with transfer of the area to Denmark as an ultimate goal. This was supported neither by the British occupation administration nor the Danish government.[citation needed] In 1955, the German and Danish governments issued theBonn-Copenhagen Declarations confirming the rights of the ethnic minorities on both sides of the border.[22] Conditions between the nationalities have since been stable and generally respectful.[citation needed]
Schleswig-Holstein lies on the base ofJutland Peninsula between theNorth Sea and theBaltic Sea. Strictly speaking, "Schleswig" refers to the German Southern Schleswig (German:Südschleswig orLandesteil Schleswig,Danish:Sydslesvig), whereas Northern Schleswig is in Denmark (South Jutland County,Region of Southern Denmark). The state of Schleswig-Holstein further consists of Holstein, as well asLauenburg and the formerly independent city of Lübeck.
Schleswig-Holstein borders Denmark (Southern Denmark) to the north, the North Sea to the west, the Baltic Sea to the east, and the German states ofLower Saxony, Hamburg, andMecklenburg-Vorpommern to the south.
In the western part of the state, the lowlands have virtually no hills. TheNorth Frisian Islands, as well as almost all of Schleswig-Holstein's North Sea coast, form theSchleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park (Nationalpark Schleswig-Holsteinisches Wattenmeer) which is the largest national park in Central Europe.
The Baltic Sea coast in the east of Schleswig-Holstein is marked by bays,fjords, and cliff lines. Rolling hills (the highest elevation is the Bungsberg at 168 metres or 551 feet) and many lakes are found, especially in the eastern part of Holstein called theHolstein Switzerland and the former Duchy of Lauenburg (Herzogtum Lauenburg). The longest river besides theElbe is theEider.
Schleswig-Holstein has the lowest quota of forest covered area, it is only11.0% (national average 32.0%), which is even lower than in the city-states ofHamburg andBremen.[23]
The German Islands ofSylt,Föhr,Pellworm,Amrum,Heligoland andFehmarn are part of Schleswig-Holstein, with the latter being the largest and the only Island of Schleswig-Holstein located on the east coast.[24]Heligoland is Germany's only high-sea island.[24]
Schleswig-Holstein has an aging population. Since 1972 there has been a decrease in the natural rate of population change. In 2016 thetotal fertility rate reached 1.61, highest value in 40 years (the average value being 1.4). In 2016 there were 25,420 births and 33,879 deaths, resulting in a natural decrease of −8,459.
Schleswig-Holstein combines Danish, Frisian and German aspects of culture. The castles and manors in the countryside are the best example for this tradition; some dishes likeRødgrød (German:Rote Grütze, literal English "redgrits" or "redgroats") are also shared, as well as surnames such asHansen.
The most important festivals are the Kiel Week,Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, an annual classic music festival all over the state, and theLübeck Nordic Film Days, an annual film festival for movies from Scandinavian countries, held in Lübeck. TheKiel Week is an annual event, except for 2020 and 2021 due to theCOVID19-Pandemic.[33] It took place again in June 2022.[33]
The annualWacken Open Air festival is considered to be the largest heavy metal rock festival in the world.
Thecoat of arms shows the symbols of the two duchies united in Schleswig-Holstein, i.e., the two lions for Schleswig and the leaf of nettle for Holstein. Supposedly,Otto von Bismarck decreed that the two lions were to face the nettle because of the discomfort to their bottoms which would have resulted if the lions faced away from it.
Government agencies of Schleswig-Holsteins are using a logo showing a stylized version of the Schleswig Lions and the Holstein nettle combined with the abbreviation of Schleswig-Holstein "SH". Written either below or to the right of the lion and the nettle is "Schleswig-Holstein" below which either the Name of the agency using the logo is shown or the motto "Der echte Norden" (Germany's true North).[34]
Schleswig-Holstein logo
The motto of Schleswig-Holstein is"Up ewich ungedeelt" (Middle Low German: "Forever undivided", modern High German:"Auf ewig ungeteilt"). It goes back to theTreaty of Ribe (Danish: Ribe Håndfæstning German: Handfeste von Ripen) in 1460. Ripen (Ribe) is a historical small town inNorthern Schleswig, nowadays Denmark.[22]
The anthem from 1844 is called "Wanke nicht, mein Vaterland" ("Don't falter, my fatherland"), but it is usually referred to with its first line"Schleswig-Holstein meerumschlungen" (i.e., "Schleswig-Holstein embraced by the seas") or "Schleswig-Holstein-Lied" (Schleswig-Holstein song).
Distinctive point of the cuisine is combination of sweetness with a taste contrast like sour or salty. These combinations are also described as "broken sweetness" is especially present in dishes which are sweet-sour.
Grünkohl. In the Schleswig-Holstein there is a real cult around this vegetable. In the autumn and winter months groups of friends or colleagues go on a cabbage ride and choose their cabbage king, often combined with the typical regional sports of Boßeln and Klootschießen. The most popular dish isGrünkohl with Mettenden, but also possible other combination like Grünkohl withKassler and 'Schweinebacke'. TheDithmarsch marshland is particularly suitable for growing cabbage. The soils are fertile, so that a good yield can still be achieved even in bad years. Due to the constant sea wind, there are far fewer pests in the area
Lübecker Marzipan is a sweet made from ground almonds, sugar and added flavorings
Lakritz confection flavored with extract of the roots of the liquorice plant (sweet, salt, salmiak and choco)
Lübecker Rotspon,Bordeaux wine, which is delivered in oak barrels to Lübeck to be aged
Flensburger Rum-Verschnitt, brown mix of imported rum, water and neutral alcohol (typically 40–42%)
Historically, Low German (in Holstein andSouthern Schleswig), Danish (in Schleswig), and North Frisian (in Western Schleswig) were widely spoken in Schleswig-Holstein. During the language change in the 19th century some Danish and North Frisian dialects in Southern Schleswig were replaced byStandard German.[37][38][39]
Low German is still used in many parts of the state.Missingsch, a Low German dialect with heavyHigh German (Standard German) influence, is commonly spoken informally throughout the state, while amixed languagePetuh (mixture of High German andDanish) is used in and aroundFlensburg. Danish is used by theDanish minority in Southern Schleswig, and North Frisian is spoken by theNorth Frisians of theNorth Sea Coast and the Northern Frisian Islands in Southern Schleswig. The North Frisian dialect calledHeligolandic (Halunder) is spoken on the island ofHeligoland.
As is the case throughout Germany, High German, introduced in the 16th century, has come to steadily replace local dialects for official purposes, and is today the predominant language of media, law and legislature. It is spoken by virtually all inhabitants in formal situations. Since the end of World War II and widespread adoption of TV, radio and other mass media, it has gradually come to supplant local dialects in urban areas as well.
Schleswig-Holstein's islands, beaches, and cities are popular tourist attractions. Shown here is the Isle ofSylt.
The Gross domestic product (GDP) of the state was 62.7 billion euros in 2018, accounting for 1.9% of German economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was 30,400 euros or 101% of the EU27 average in the same year. The GDP per employee was 95% of the EU average. The GDP per capita was the lowest of all states in West Germany.[40] In 2017, Schleswig-Holstein had an export surplus for the first time since 1989: export 22.6 billion euros/ import 20.8 billion euros.
Schleswig-Holstein is a leader in thecountry's growingrenewable energy industry.[41] In 2014, Schleswig-Holstein became the firstGerman state to cover 100% of its electric power demand with renewable energy sources (chieflywind 70%,solar 3.8%, and biomass 8.3%).[42] By 2023, according to Schleswig-Holstein Netz, renewable energy sources were providing 204% of Schleswig-Holstein's electricity demand (the 104% surplus are exports).[43]
The largest German oil fieldMittelplate is located in the North Sea off theDithmarsch coast and connected with refinery inHemmingstedt and chemical plants inBrunsbüttel via pipeline. It produce ca. 1.4 million tonnes of oil annually.
There were three nuclear power plants in Schleswig-Holstein:Krümmel,Brunsbüttel, andBrokdorf. The last operating plant in Schleswig-Holstein, theBrokdorf-plant was shut down on new-years eve 2021.[44]
There is also a nuclear research center known "Helmholtz-ZentrumGeesthacht" (rebranded as Hereon) with 2 research reactors, located right next to the Krümmel plant.[45]
During the 1990s, ten more cases of leukemia among children than was expected were identified inElbmarsch, near the Krümmel plant. Anti-nuclear activists believed it was due to the nuclear plant, which led to several investigations. The reported discovery of small spherical beads of nuclear material in the area led to further concern, as well as the presence of minute amounts of plutonium in theElbe. The origins of the nuclear material were disputed, with one report determining them to not be that of the Krümmel plant. Another report claimed that they may have come from an undisclosed fire in 1986, however this theory has been questioned as it would have required a substantial government coverup. The Chernobyl disaster has also been suggested as a source, though is considered unlikely. The probable source of the material, especially in the Elbe, is nuclear reprocessing plants in France. A 2010 report exonerated the nuclear power plants on the Elbe as the cause of contamination. Further doubt was cast on the nature of the supposed beads of nuclear material, with a Federal commission chastising the original commission that claimed to have discovered the beads. The exact cause of the increased leukemia cases remains unknown, and could be due to other environmental factors, or even by chance.[46][47][48][49][50]
The nuclear plants have further been questioned as a source of the cases due to comparison to theSavannah River Site in the United States. Despite release of radiation at the Savannah River Site, there is no increase in cases of leukemia around it. Alternative hypotheses for the cause of the cases have includedelectromagnetic fields, parentalradiation exposure prior to conception, othercarcinogens, andbenzene exposure; however, none have been supported by the existing evidence. Intriguingly, a larger case-control study inLower Saxony found a correlation between the "untrained immune system" (as judged as contact with other children, vaccinations, etc.) and leukemia risk, suggested that an immature immune system that has not been challenged is at greater risk for developing malignancy, possibly secondary to an undetermined environment factor.[51][52]
NPP Krümmel
View form Elbe: left is NPP Krümmel, right is the Research Center.
Located between theNorth Sea and theBaltic Sea, Schleswig-Holstein is also a populartourist destination in Germany. Its islands, beaches and cities attract millions of tourists every year. It has the second highest tourism intensity per local among the German states, afterMecklenburg-Vorpommern, but in absolute value it is rank 6th and only 1/3 of top destinationBavaria.[53] According to a ruling by theFederal Administrative Court, everyone has the right to free access to the beach. Nevertheless, most of the seaside resorts kept cashing in (2-€3 /day/person).[54]
Pinneberg for treenurseries and flower garden (especially,roses ofRosen Tantau andW. Kordes' Söhne), 2 931 ha. These 2 companies have over 50% of the world cut roses market. There is a German Nurseries Museum ("Deutsches Baumschulmuseum").[56]
Rosa Iceberg ("World-favorite Rose", 1983) from W. Kordes' Söhne
Tree nursery in Pinneberg
Rapeseed
Greenhouse of Rosen Tantau
Rosa Apricola ("Goldenen Rose", 2005) from W. Kordes' Söhne
The dairy and cattle farming in connection with fodder cultivation is mainly concentrated on the marshland and the bordering Geest areas. In 2020, around 1 million cattle including 360,000 dairy cows were counted in Schleswig-Holstein, rank 4th of German states. Livestock is continuously declining.[57]
Schleswig-Holstein is home of the most productive dairy cattle:Holsteins, which produce an average of 8,125 L (2,146 US gal) per year of milk. It is now the main dairy cow around the world.
Pig breeding is mainly found in theSchleswig-Holstein Uplands. In principle, Schleswig-Holstein is one of the regions with relatively few pigs (a total of around 1.6 million; in comparisonLower Saxony: over 8 million). Poultry and sheep are also of little importance in animal husbandry.[56]
Schleswig-Holstein had Europe's largest snake farm inUetersen with over 600 venomous reptiles, but it closed in 2019.[58]
Locomotive. Vossloh Locomotives (owned by ChineseCRRC) manufactures three models of diesel-hydraulic (G6, G12, G18) and two models of diesel-electric (DE12, DE18) locomotives. Other manufacturer was Voith Turbo Lokomotivtechnik, but closed in 2014 year.[65] Both firms are inKiel.
Industrial equipment. Fish and poultry processing machinery from Baader,Lübeck, bottle washers and pasteurizers from Krones,Flensburg, grinding machine tools from Peter Wolters,Rendsburg, machinery to manufacture human-made fibers, and non-woven textile from Oerlikon Neumag and Oerlikon Nonwoven,Neumünster.
Medical and labor equipment.Drägerwerk,Lübeck manufacture breathing equipment, medical ventilators and monitors, anesthetic machines, neonatal incubators, gas detectors, drug testing equipment, diving equipment, rebreathers, and breathalyzer. The company delivery breathing devices for reanimationCOVID-19 patients. Euroimmun,Lübeck, produces test systems with which antibodies can be determined in the serum of patients and thus autoimmune and infectious diseases (including COVID-19) as well as allergies.
The most important transport way in Schleswig-Holstein is Kiel Canal, which connectBrunsbüttel onNorth Sea withKiel onBaltic Sea. Total cargo of ships reach peaks in 2007 and 2012, after that it continuous decline with 73.8 million tonnes in 2020.[66]
The state has a total of 46 public ports and landing stages, four of which fulfill international transit functions:Kiel, Lübeck /Travemünde andPuttgarden on theBaltic Sea, Brunsbüttel on theNorth Sea. Kiel and Lübeck are also important for freight traffic to Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. Lübeck-Travemünde and Kiel are also important ferry and cruise ports. Puttgarden is the German port of the Vogelfluglinie to Denmark. Brunsbüttel is an important port for bulk goods and also serves as the basis for the offshore wind energy industry.
In Schleswig-Holstein, theschool education system begins with a four-year primary school, calledGrundschule.[68]Compulsory education applies to all children who turn six years old by June 30th of the current calendar year.[68] In addition to the four-year primary school, the secondary level (grades 5 to 10), equivalent to middle school, consists of a two-tier school system comprisingGemeinschaftsschulen andGymnasium.[69][70] At allGemeinschaftsschulen,Mittlere Reife can be obtained. Currently, 44 comprehensive schools also offer three additional years ofhighschool-education, where students can complete theAbitur (higher education entrance qualification) after a total of 13 school years.[69]
MostGymnasium in Schleswig-Holstein offer a nine-year educational track, with only oneGymnasium leading to theAbitur in eight years. Three of theGymnasien offer both three-year and two-year pathways for theAbitur.[70]
There are three universities inKiel (classical, budget 167.1 M€),Lübeck (medicine, budget 80.8 M€) andFlensburg (pedagogical, 37.4 M€).[72] Six public Universities of Applied Sciences exist inWedel,Altenholz,Flensburg,Heide,Kiel, andLübeck.[73] There is the Conservatory in Lübeck and the Muthesius Academy of Fine Arts in Kiel. There are also three private institutions of higher learning.[72]
^Nelleke IJssennagger and John Hines (eds.), Frisians and Their North Sea Neighbours: From the Fifth Century to the Viking Age. Boydell Press, Woodbridge, 2017.
^John Hines and Nelleke IJssennagger-van der Pluijm (eds.), Frisians of the Early Middle Ages: Studies in Historical Archaeoethnology. Boydell Press, Woodbridge, 2020.
^Bock, Karl N. (1948).Mittelniederdeutsch und heutiges Plattdeutsch im ehemaligen Dänischen Herzogtum Schleswig. Studien zur Beleuchtung des Sprachwechsels in Angeln und Mittelschleswig. Det Kgl. Danske Videnskabernes Selskab.
^Hinrichsen, Manfred (1984).Die Entwicklung der Sprachverhältnisse im Landesteil Schleswig. Wachholtz.
^Urban, Martin."Atomperlen aus Geesthacht. Die "Atombombe in der Aktentasche": Forscher glauben, Ursache der Kinder-Tumore in der Gemeinde Geesthacht entdeckt zu haben. In: Süddeutsche Zeitung. 2. November 2004." (in German).
^Grosche, B; Lackland, D; Mohr, L; Dunbar, J; Nicholas, J; Burkart, W; Hoel, D (1999). "Leukaemia in the vicinity of two tritium-releasing nuclear facilities: A comparison of the Kruemmel site, Germany, and the Savannah River site, South Carolina, USA".Journal of Radiological Protection.19 (3):243–252.Bibcode:1999JRP....19..243G.doi:10.1088/0952-4746/19/3/302.PMID10503702.S2CID250912929.
^ab"Mueller-Stahl wird Ehrenbürger Schleswig-Holsteins".sh:z (in German). 9 March 2010. Retrieved2 August 2023.Mueller-Stahl ist der fünfte Ehrenbürger des Landes nach den Politikern Helmut Schmidt, Uwe Ronneburger, Gerhard Stoltenberg und dem Schriftsteller Siegfried Lenz.
^abcdLubowski, Karin (12 March 2004)."Schleswig-Holstein dankt Siegfried Lenz".Hamburger Abendlatt (in German). Luebeck. Retrieved2 August 2023.Lenz ist nach Altkanzler Helmut Schmidt (SPD), dem FDP-Ehrenvorsitzenden Uwe Ronneburger und dem verstorbenen früheren Ministerpräsidenten Gerhard Stoltenberg (CDU) der erste Ehrenbürger Schleswig-Holsteins, der kein Politiker ist.
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