Local historian Kraft explores the history of Dobele in Latvia

Local historian Kraft explores the history of Dobele in Latvia

Local historian Bernhard Kraft from Dobel has embarked on an exciting journey to Latvia, more precisely to the charming town of Dobele, which is located around 70 kilometers southwest of Riga. This historic city was mentioned in documents as early as 1254 and has a name that is probably derived from the Semigallian word “duobe”, which refers to its location in a valley. Kraft explored the region with a particular focus on Baltic German history, which dates back to the Middle Ages. How Black Forest messenger reports, his journey began in Klaipeda, Lithuania, the place once known as Memel, which is rich in historical significance.

In Klaipeda, Kraft visited not only sights such as the monument to Ännchen von Tharau, but also the Curonian Spit National Park, known for its impressive nature. When he arrived in Dobele, he proudly wore a Dobel T-shirt and exchanged information with the staff at the local tourism office. His explorations led him to the ruins of an order's castle, built in 1335, which was destroyed by Sweden during the Northern War in 1710. This order castle was important for the resistance of the Semigallians against forced Christianization, a milestone in the history of the region.

The importance of the Baltic Germans

The history of the Baltic Germans is rich and complex. Until the end of the 18th century, the Germans in Courland, Semigallia, Livonia and Estonia identified themselves primarily with their respective regions. The geopolitical upheavals, particularly the annexation of the territories by the Russian Empire in 1795, led to a stronger feeling of togetherness among the Baltic Germans. This development found expression in the 19th century, when the educated middle class emerged as a political force and the term “Baltic Germans” became popular. How on Wikipedia can be read, the first Germans came to the Baltic States from the late 12th century as part of the German Eastern Settlement.

The majority of German speakers were limited to the middle class and upper classes, while they never made up more than 10% of the total population. Despite this small number, they were the largest group in many cities. Historically, the connection to the Lutheran Church was strong among the Baltic Germans, which was strengthened by the Reformation. However, after the Great Northern War in 1721, Russification occurred, which put German identity under pressure. These topics are also dealt with in the Carl Schirren Archive, which preserves important archive material on the history of the Baltic Germans and thus offers insights into the social differentiation of Baltic German society. This will be on DB Kulturwerk clearly.

Kraft and Woldemar von Harff's villa

A central point of Kraft's research is the villa of the spa doctor Woldemar von Harff, which was completed in Dobel in 1907. Von Harff, who was born in Blagoveshchensk in 1869, had close connections to Latvia. His family moved to Kazan in 1880, where his brother Georg had a government commission from the Tsar. Woldemar von Harff studied medicine in Germany and came to Dobel in 1905. Despite his commitment and efforts, he struggled with financial difficulties, which ultimately led to him moving to Chemnitz in 1911 to open a new medical practice there.

The examination of this historic region and its history remains of great relevance in order to understand the influence of the Baltic Germans on the cultural landscape in Latvia and beyond. Bernhard Kraft's commitment shows that it is never too late to research your own history and keep it alive.