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Brandenburg: A Province Forged in History

An exploration of the historical Prussian province, its governance, and its enduring legacy.

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Overview

Historical Context

The Province of Brandenburg (Provinz Brandenburg) was a significant administrative division of Prussia from 1815 to 1947. It encompassed the core territory of the historic Margraviate of Brandenburg, augmented by the Lower Lusatia region. Initially part of the Kingdom of Prussia, it later became a province within the German Empire and subsequently the Free State of Prussia.

Timeline

Established following the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the province underwent administrative changes, notably the expansion of Berlin and its eventual separation in 1920. It served as a crucial territory during the Weimar Republic and the Nazi era before its dissolution after World War II, leading to the formation of the State of Brandenburg within East Germany.

Geographical Significance

Situated in the North German Plain, Brandenburg stretched from the Elbe to beyond the Oder rivers. It bordered several other Prussian provinces and neighboring states, playing a central role in the Prussian state's geography and strategic positioning.

Geography

Territorial Extent

The province comprised substantial portions of the North German Plain. Its western boundary was defined by the Elbe River, while its eastern extent reached beyond the Oder River, including the Neumark region. This strategic location placed it adjacent to other key Prussian territories and neighboring states.

River Basins and Cities

Brandenburg encompassed significant parts of the Spree and Havel river basins. Major urban centers included the burgeoning capital, Berlin, along with its expanding suburbs like Spandau and Charlottenburg. Other important cities were Potsdam, the former royal residence, and Frankfurt (Oder), the regional capital. Historically significant towns such as Brandenburg an der Havel and Cottbus were also key administrative and cultural hubs within the province.

History

Early Origins and Margraviate

The region was initially inhabited by Germanic Suebi tribes, succeeded by Polabian Slavs during the Migration Period. German expansion under Henry the Fowler and Otto I led to the establishment of the *marca Geronis*. The Margraviate of Brandenburg was formally established in 1157 by Albert the Bear of the House of Ascania. The margraves eventually secured electoral dignity within the Holy Roman Empire.

Hohenzollern Rule and Prussian Consolidation

In 1415, the Margraviate was acquired by Frederick of Nuremberg, marking the beginning of the House of Hohenzollern's long rule. Over centuries, Brandenburg became the core territory of the Brandenburg-Prussian state. The "Great Elector" Frederick William I consolidated power, leading to his son Frederick I assuming the title of King in Prussia in 1701.

Establishment of the Province (1815)

Following the Napoleonic Wars and the Congress of Vienna, Prussia was reorganized. The Province of Brandenburg was created in 1815, incorporating most of the historical Margraviate and the Lower Lusatia region. It also included territories annexed from Saxony. The province was administered through two governorates: Potsdam and Frankfurt (Oder).

Urbanization and Rural Life

While Berlin rapidly industrialized and grew into a metropolis, the rural areas of Brandenburg retained a more traditional structure, dominated by large landholdings of the Junker nobility. Despite the abolition of serfdom in the early 19th century, conditions in the countryside remained largely unchanged for decades, a reality captured in the literature of the time, such as Theodor Fontane's works.

World Wars and Transformation

After World War I, Brandenburg found itself on Germany's eastern edge. The Greater Berlin Act of 1920 significantly expanded the capital, incorporating surrounding Brandenburg territories. During the Nazi era, Brandenburg was a center of state power and repression, hosting concentration camps like Sachsenhausen. The province was a battleground in the final days of World War II, with major engagements near Berlin.

Post-War Dissolution and Legacy

Following World War II, the eastern territories of Brandenburg (Neumark) were ceded to Poland. The remaining territory became part of the Soviet occupation zone, eventually forming the State of Brandenburg. This state was dissolved in 1952 but re-established in 1990 as a federal state of reunified Germany, carrying forward the historical legacy of the province.

Administration

Provincial Governance

The Province of Brandenburg was overseen by an appointed Oberprรคsident (Upper President), who represented central government authority and supervised policy implementation. From 1875 onwards, provincial self-rule was strengthened, with elected representatives forming provincial diets (Landtage) that legislated within defined competencies.

Key Officials

The provincial diet elected an executive body, the provincial committee (Provinzialausschuss), and a head of province, the Landesdirektor (Land Director). The list of Upper Presidents and Land Directors reflects the changing political landscape from the Prussian monarchy through the Weimar Republic and into the Nazi era.

Upper Presidents of Brandenburg:

  • 1815โ€“1824: Georg Friedrich Christian von Heydebreck
  • 1825โ€“1840: Friedrich Magnus von Bassewitz
  • 1840โ€“1842: Vacancy
  • 1842โ€“1848: August Werner von Meding
  • 1848โ€“1849: Robert von Patow (per pro)
  • 1849โ€“1850: Vacancy
  • 1849โ€“1850: August Hermann Klemens Freiherr Wolff von Metternich (per pro)
  • 1850โ€“1858: Eduard Heinrich von Flottwell
  • 1859โ€“1862: Eduard Heinrich von Flottwell
  • 1862: Werner Ludolph Erdmann von Selchow
  • 1862โ€“1879: Gustav Wilhelm von Jagow
  • 1879โ€“1899: Heinrich von Achenbach
  • 1899โ€“1905: Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg
  • 1905โ€“1909: August von Trott zu Solz
  • 1909โ€“1910: Friedrich Wilhelm von Loebell
  • 1910โ€“1914: Alfred von Conrad
  • 1914โ€“1917: Rudolf von der Schulenburg
  • 1917โ€“1919: Friedrich Wilhelm von Loebell
  • 1919โ€“1933: Adolf Maier (DDP)
  • 1933โ€“1936: Wilhelm Kube (NSDAP)
  • 1937โ€“1945: Emil Stรผrtz (NSDAP, since 1936 per pro)

Land Directors of Brandenburg:

  • 1876โ€“1896: Albert Erdmann Karl Gerhard von Levetzow (German Conservative Party)
  • 1896โ€“1912: Otto Karl Gottlob von Manteuffel (German Conservative Party)
  • 1912โ€“1930: Joachim von Winterfeldt-Menkin
  • 1930โ€“1933: Hugo Swart
  • 1933โ€“1944: Dietloff von Arnim (NSDAP)

Subdivisions

Administrative Structure

The province was primarily organized into two governorates (Regierungsbezirke): Frankfurt (Oder) and Potsdam. These governorates were further divided into numerous urban districts (Stadtkreise) and rural districts (Landkreise). The administrative map evolved over time, especially with the incorporation and separation of Berlin.

Urban Districts (Stadtkreise):

  • Cottbus (1886โ€“1950, and from 1954)
  • Forst (Lusatia) (1897โ€“1950)
  • Frankfurt (Oder) (until 1827, 1877โ€“1950, and from 1952)
  • Guben (1884โ€“1950)
  • Landsberg (Warthe) (1892โ€“1945)

Rural Districts (Landkreise):

  • Arnswalde (1818โ€“1945)
  • Calau (1818โ€“1950)
  • Cottbus (1818โ€“1952)
  • Crossen (Oder) (1818โ€“1945)
  • Cรผstrin (until 1836)
  • Friedeberg Nm. (1816โ€“1945)
  • Guben (1818โ€“1950)
  • Kรถnigsberg Nm. (1816โ€“1946)
  • Landsberg (Warthe) (1818โ€“1945)
  • Lebus (1816โ€“1950)
  • Luckau (1816โ€“1952)
  • Lรผbben (Spreewald) (1816โ€“1952)
  • Meseritz (1818โ€“1945)
  • Oststernberg (1873โ€“1945)
  • Schwerin (Warthe) (1887โ€“1945)
  • Soldin (1818โ€“1945)
  • Sorau (Lusatia) (1816โ€“1946)
  • Spremberg (Lusatia) (1818โ€“1993)
  • Sternberg (1816โ€“1873)
  • Weststernberg (1873โ€“1945)
  • Zรผllichau-Schwiebus (1818โ€“1945)

Urban Districts (Stadtkreise):

  • Berlin (1822โ€“1881)
  • Brandenburg (Havel) (from 1881)
  • Charlottenburg (1877โ€“1920)
  • Eberswalde (1911โ€“1950)
  • Lichtenberg (1908โ€“1920)
  • Potsdam (from 1809)
  • Rathenow (1925โ€“1950)
  • Rixdorf (1899โ€“1920)
  • Schรถneberg (1899โ€“1920)
  • Spandau (1886โ€“1920)
  • Wilmersdorf (1907โ€“1920)
  • Wittenberge (1922โ€“1950)

Rural Districts (Landkreise):

  • Angermรผnde (1818โ€“1952)
  • Beeskow-Storkow (1836โ€“1950)
  • Jรผterbog-Luckenwalde (1818โ€“1952)
  • Niederbarnim (1818โ€“1952)
  • Oberbarnim (1818โ€“1952)
  • Osthavelland (1816โ€“1952)
  • Ostprignitz (1818โ€“1952)
  • Prenzlau (1818โ€“1952)
  • Ruppin (1818โ€“1952)
  • Teltow (1836โ€“1952)
  • Teltow-Storkow (1816โ€“1835)
  • Templin (1818โ€“1952)
  • Westhavelland (1816โ€“1952)
  • Westprignitz (1818โ€“1952)
  • Zauch-Belzig (1817โ€“1952)

Legacy

Modern Day

After World War II, the territories east of the Oder-Neisse line were ceded to Poland. The remaining part of the province became the State of Brandenburg within East Germany. Following German reunification in 1990, Brandenburg was re-established as a federal state of Germany, comprising significant portions of the historical province's territory.

Contemporary States

Today, the historical lands of the Province of Brandenburg are primarily part of modern-day Germany, specifically the states of Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt. Smaller portions also lie within Poland, in the Lubusz and West Pomeranian Voivodeships.

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References

References

  1.  Statistisches Jahrbuch fรƒยผr das Deutsche Reich 1939/40
A full list of references for this article are available at the Province of Brandenburg Wikipedia page

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Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not professional historical or political advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for consultation with qualified historians or political scientists. Always refer to primary sources and consult with experts for in-depth analysis and specific research needs.

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