Birthday party for Kiel storks: history and football merge!

Birthday party for Kiel storks: history and football merge!

On Friday afternoon, the pop-up pavilion at the Old Market in Kiel invited people to a very special event. As part of the 125th birthday of the Kiel storks and the 150th anniversary of the Society for Kiel City History, the focus was on the topic “Holstein Kiel and the Navy in the Context of Kiel City History”. Despite the summer temperatures of around 30 degrees, the event attracted around 65 interested listeners.

The event was moderated by Uwe Nieber, a local expert, and Patrick Nawe, the club historian of the Holstein Kiel football club. Rolf Fischer, the chairman of the Society for Kiel City History, was extremely positive at the end of the event - both about the strong response and the informative lecture. Fischer emphasized how important it is to closely link the history of Holstein Kiel with the history of the city of Kiel.

Historical roots of Holstein

The beginnings of Holstein are deeply rooted in history and go back to the migration period of the early Middle Ages. At that time, Holstein bordered on the territories of the Obotrites on the Baltic Sea coast and on the land of the Danes in Jutland. Charlemagne conquered Old Saxony around the year 800 and handed over the land north of the Eider River to the Danes, which significantly influenced the geographical and political direction of the region. A detailed look at the developments in Holstein shows that over the centuries there were numerous changing affiliations and ruling divisions that shaped the region.

In 1111, the first Count of Holstein was installed, marking the founding of the countdom. From then on, Holstein also belonged to the Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg and the Prince-Bishopric of Lübeck. Over the centuries, the region experienced numerous battles and political changes, including the Battle of Bornhöved in 1227, which briefly freed Holstein from Danish occupation.

A look into the future

Patrick Nawe's lecture during the event presented some impressive examples of the connection between the Holstein Kiel association and the city's history. This exchange always causes a stir and brings the connection between people and their club to life. The lecture was also the start of more than 30 events as part of the “Action Day in Football History”, which is scheduled to take place nationwide on August 24, 2025, in which Holstein Kiel is actively involved.

The event not only offered an opportunity to celebrate, but also a look back at the rich history and development of Holstein. Photos of the dynamic event, taken by the presenters and historian, capture this historic moment and are sure to be a topic of conversation in the weeks to come.

For anyone who would like to learn more about the history of Holstein, this setting offers an excellent opportunity to not only reflect on the past, but also to explore the present and future of the traditional club and its city in more detail.