ESSEN
History
History I
Sightseeing I
Practical I Hotels in Essen
The beginning of Essen can be traced
back to the year 852. This is was the year in that bishop Altfrid von
Hildesheim founded on the grounds of his estate Asnidhi (= Essen) a
ladies' diocese. This ladies cathedral chapter became the germ cell of
Essen. The 13th of. June 1041
meant another big step for Essen to become a town because king Heinrich
III. granted Essen market rights. The city received further rights 1349 from the emperor
Karl IV. Silver is provable mined in Essen
in that year (e.g. in the Silberkuhle). Involved with that the later so
important hard coal is 1371 mentioned the first time provable in
documents of Essen. On November 24th, 1377 the city obtains the title
"Free City". Until the end of the 14th century the number of inhabitants
of Essen increases to 3,000 - 4,000 inhabitants. One of the first technological
achievements of the city of Essen is the first plumbing in 1434 that was
supplied by the spring of the Limbecke. The first documentary mentioning
of a coal mine is dated from December 8th, 1450.In the course of the Reformation Essen also
becomes protestant In 1587
the name Kruipe (= Krupp) is to be found for the first time in documents of Essen
At the end of the 18th century the foundation of the first modern mines
begins. The consequence is the clearing of the forests, because the wood
is needed for the shoring of the gallery shafts.
1806 Essen is again occupied. This time by the French. On November
20th, 1811 Friedrich Krupp founds in Essen a cast steel factory. The
influence of the Krupps also shows, when Friedrich Krupp becomes member
of the council of Essen on December 17th, 1812.
1815 Prussia is granted the custody of Essen on the Congress of Vienna.
In the year 1818 Essen still had a population of only 4,496 inhabitants.
Ab 1820 the number of mines in Essen increases rapidly. The population
really exploded (until 1900 to 119,000 inhabitants). Many people move
from Poland, Silesia, East - and West Prussia to Essen in the hope to
find a job here. 1859 Krupp receives a Prussian orders for cannons, with
which Essen turns into a "Armourer of the Reich". The company Krupp
expands continually.
After the outbreak of World War II on September 1st, 1939 and a year
with fast success of the German Reich the first air raids occurred 1940
in Essen, too. Once again the ordinary people felt the effects of the
war first. Thus e.g. in winter 1941, when the food were rationed another
time. On March 5th, 1943 the city of Essen experienced one of the
heaviest air-raid. By this attack 461 people were killed, 1,593 injured
and about 50,000 inhabitants of Essen were made homeless. Until the end
of the war 1945 the city was completely in ruins and the number of
inhabitants of Essens increased to about 285,000. (In comparison to
that: number of inhabitants 1939 about 600,000 )
It is to be mentioned that there was Resistance against Hitler's regime
in Essen, too. Two examples for that are the parish priest of Essen
Heinrich Held and Mrs. Maria Kreulich.
