Aschaffenburg HOME - GOEHLE INTRODUCTION - Catherine Furst Schwarzmeier Lindemann |
Aschaffenburg is both a district and a city.
My great great grandmother, Catherine Furst, and her brother, Ludwig Furst,
were born in the city of Aschaffenburg in the 1820s. They immigrated to New York City in the mid 1800s.
Aschaffenburg, located on the Main River, is the largest town on the lower Main area of Bavaria. Aschaffenburg was under the control of the Bishop of Mainz for more than 800 years. | |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck | |
Aschaffenburg, Germany Schloss Johannisburg Postmarked 1902 Schloss Johannisburg, the main feature of the Aschaffenburg skyline, dates to the 17th century and until 1803 was the seat of the Archbishopric and Electorate State of Mainz and served as the second residence of the archbishops. It is one of the most important examples of Renaissance German palace architecture.
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Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck, 2011 |
Aschaffenburg Posted 1900 | |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck
Aschaffenburg Posted 1915 |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck
Aschaffenburg a M vom Bischberg [Aschaffenburg on the Main River vom Bisch mountain] Posted but stamp was removed with date. |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck
Not posted. |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck
Aschaffenburg vom Bischberg Not posted |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck |
Aschafenburg am Main — Sandtor — Das Sandtor, das dem spateren
Turm de gleichnamigen Kirche als Unerbau diente, wurde in der zweitne Halfte des
14. Jahr-hunderts (um 1380) errichtet [The New Sandorborgen _ The Sandtor built in the later part of the 14th century (around 1380). My German is very bad, but I believe that the date refers to the tower.] |
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Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck | |
Aschaffenburg Pfaffengasse — Blick in ide Pfaffengasse; links
die 1976 als Kulrursatte wiederhere-stellte Jesuitenkirke, rechts das
ehemalige Kurienhaus "Zur Starkeburg".
Posted 1912 [gasse=lane - on the left is the Kulrursatte (renamed?) Jesuit Church - on the right the former mansion of "Zur Starkeburg"] | Justizgebaude [Justive Building] Posted 1917 |
Aschaffenburg, Stiftskircke Posted 1900 Stiftkirche, St Peter and Alexander, fruheste Erwahnug in einer Urkunde Kaiser Ottos II im Jahre 974. The collegiate Chruch of St Peter and Alexander [was mentioned? in a document of Emperor Otto II in 974.] | |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck |
Aschaffenburg, Stiftsplatz — Shiftskircke — Pilgerbrunnen
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Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck Posted 1916 |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck Interior Stiftkirche |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck, 2011 Aschaffenburg Partie aus der Stiftkirche |
Print collection of Maggie Land Blanck The central panel is labled #1. Left side #2. Right side # 3. AUFNAHMEN MITTELALTERLICHER WAND - UND DECKEN - MALEREIEN IN DEUTSCHLAND STIFTSKIRCHE ZU ASCHAFFENBURG 1. Gewolb-Malerei im sudlichen Joch des Kreuzganges Anfang des 16 Jahrhundrets 2. Laibungsfries in der Nische mit germalten Kreuzigungsgruppe Fresco im Kreuzgan 14 Jahrhundert 3. Laibungsfreis vom Stirnbogen des nordlichen Seitenschiffs [IMAGES OF MEDIEVAL WALL - AND CEILING - PAINTINGS IN GERMANY COLLEGIATE CHURCH ASCHAFFENBURG 1. Vault painting in the southern by of the cloister from the early 16th century. 2. "Laibungsfries" in the alcove with the painted Crucifixion fresco in the cloister, 14th Century. 3. "Laibungsfries Laibungsfries from the frontal arc of the northern aisle] |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck, 2011 Aschaffenburg a. M. Der romanische Kreuzgang an der Stiftkirche (Ende d. 12. Jahrhunderts) Aschaffenburg on the Main - The Romanesque cloister of the collegiate church (late 12th century) |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck, 2011 Aschaffenburg Stiftkirche Hauptportal aus dem 12 jahrhunderts Asschaffenburg Collegiate Church main door of the 12th century |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck, 2011 Aschaffenburg a. M. Motiv an der Stiftkirche Asschaffenburg Collegiate on the Main - motif on the Collegiate Church |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck Posted 1916 |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck, 2011 Aschaffenburg Stiftkirche u. Loherstrasse [Stiftkirche from Loher Street] |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck, 2011 Aschaffenburg Haus am Stiftsplatz aus dem Mittelalter um 1580, erneuert 1925 House on the Stiftplatz from the Middle Ages to 1580 renovated 1925. |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck Aschaffenburg Stiftplaz Posted 1943 This view is taken from a slight turn to the left of the image above. The end of the side of the church? is to the right. The very ornate building is the Lowen Apothecary, seen in other pictures below. |
Aschaffenburg, a Main Blick von der Stiftstreppe The Lowen Apothecary is on the right. | |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck Aschaffenburg Dalbergstrasse
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Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck, 2011 Aschaffenburg Dalbergstrasse mit Rathaus [town hall] The Rathaus must be the building with the columns in front. |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck, 2011 Aschaffenburg Dalbergstrasse mit Rathaus |
Aschaffenburg was heavily bombed during World War II. Much of the
center of the city was reduced to rubble and
many old buildings were
destroyed. The following pictures were taken from Aschaffenburgh Einst Und Jetzt [Achaffenburgh, then and now] published in 1947. The book contains pictures of Aschaffenburg before and after the war. These pictures were all taken before the war. | |
Aschaffenburg Einst Und Jetzt, 1947 | |
Die, Lowenapotheke", ein kostbares Juwel
mittelalterlicher Stadtebaukeunst. [Lowen Apothocary "a precious jewel" of medieval town architecture] The very ornately faced building was the Lowen Apothecary. Both it and the building to the right of it either survived the war or were restored after the war. There are several images of these buildings in the postcards above. I took a picture of these buildings when we were in Aschaffenburg in 2007. See below. |
Aschaffenburg Einst Und Jetzt, 1947 | |
Romanische Vorhalle der Stifskirche mit Lowenapotheke The Romanesque Stiftskerche [Convent church] and the Lowen Apothecary | |
Aschaffenburg Einst Und Jetzt, 1947 |
Der Stiftsbrunnen in der Dalbergstrasse | Caritasheim in der Treibgasse |
[brunner=well - the Dalbergs were a royal family in Germany.] [Caritahsiem=Caritas home] Modern pictures of Dalbergstrasse show that parts of it have been restored. I took some pictures of Dalbergstrasse when we were in Aschaffenburg in 207. See below. |
Aschaffenburg Einst Und Jetzt, 1947 | |
Alte Fachwerkhauser an der St Agathan Kirke [old half timbered houses near St Agnes chruch]
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Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck Aschaffenburg Neues Justizgebaude |
Aschaffenburg Einst Und Jetzt, 1947 | |
Schloss Johannisburg 1606-1618
von den Mainzer Furstbischolfen erbaut
Johannisburg Palace on the Main River | |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck Artillerie-Verein Aschaffenburg |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck | |
Bayerische Volkstrachten Unterfranken und Aschaffenburg [Bavarian folk costumes, Unterfranken and Aschaffenburg]
Not posted |
Aschaffenburg, Bavaria, Germany, 2007
Tom and I took a trip to Aschaffenburg in July 2007. |
Photo Maggie Land Blanck
The Schloss Johanessburg from the river, Main. |
Aschaffenburg, 2007 | |
Photo Maggie Land Blanck |
Aschaffenburg, 2007 Stiftsplatz — Stiftskerche Convent Church of Sts. Peter and Alexander.
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Photo Maggie Land Blanck |
Aschaffenburg, 2007 The building at the extreme left of the photo is the former Lowenapotheke. | |
Photo Maggie Land Blanck |
Aschaffenburg, 2007
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Photo Maggie Land Blanck |
Aschaffenburg, 2007 Thanks to Al Wenzel, January 2013 for the web connection and the correction as I had mislabeled this building. | |
Photo Maggie Land Blanck |
Aschaffenburg, 2007
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Photo Maggie Land Blanck |
Aschaffenburg, 2007
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Photo Maggie Land Blanck |
Aschaffenburg, 2007
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Photo Maggie Land Blanck |
Dalbergstrasse, Aschaffenburg, 2007 | |
Photo Maggie Land Blanck |
Aschaffenburg, 2007 | |
Photo Maggie Land Blanck |
Aschaffenburg, 2007 | |
Photo Maggie Land Blanck |
Photo Maggie Land Blanck
This map of Aschaffenbuerg 1821 is at the Naturwissenschaftliches Museum, where the guard gave me permission to take this photo. While this image is not very clear (due in part to the difficulty of phographing through the glass) it does give some idea of the size of the town in 1821. The red square in the top right is the Schloss Johannisburg. The other buildings indicated in red are in St Maria's parish. Those in yellow are in St Peters and those in blue in St Agatha parishes. The green areas represent gardens. The red rectangle near the bottom (above "Garten") was where Tom and I stayed in 2007. It is now the Hotle Wilder Mann.
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Aschaffenburg History In 1806 Aschaffenburgt was annexed to the grand-duchy of Frankfort. In 1814 it was transferred to Bavaria to which it still belongs.
See Aschaffenburg and Aschaffenburg for more history. Aschaffenburg was heavily bombed in a 10 day battle in March 1945. In trying to determine why Aschaffenburg was bombed I discovered that the United States had a policy of strategic precision bombing that was intended to avoid civilian populations. However, the United States Army Air Force bombed several cities in Germany including: Aschaffenburg, Frankfurt, Berlin, Kassek, Pfozheim, Darmstadt, Swinemuende, Leipzig, Mainz, Hamburg, Dresden and Wurzburg resulting in hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths and the destruction of multiple cultural landmarks. One of the most controversial bombing raids was the destruction of Dresden in February 1945 when it is estimated that more than 25,000 people died within a 14 hour period. Dresden was known as a cultural center and had no military value, it had been spared ealier during the war because it was designated an "open city" (Cities, such as Paris, Rome and Florence, had such designations because of their cultural value. They were more or less spared being bombed.) I was not able to determine why Aschaffenburg was targeted. However it appears that the city was strongly defended by the Germans. "The fighting around Aschaffenburg was a very small part of the mosaic that was World War II in March and April 1945." The character of the fighting was such that it made an impression on even those with a broad view of the war. Secretary of War Stimson made this comment at his weekly news conference on 7 April 1945: "There is a lesson with respect to fighting to the end in Aschaffenburg. There Nazi fanatics used the visible threat of two hangings to compel German solders and civilians to fight for a week. After a week of fighting, during which the city was reduced to rubble and many Germans lost their lives, the inevitable took place and the Nazi fanatics ran up the white flag and surrendered to our veteran 45th Infantry Division." July 2008, Jack Power wrote: "I was stationed in Aschaffenburg 1967-1969. Great city. It was my understanding that the city was destroyed during WWII by three US army tanks placed atop "Three Cross Hill" in or near Schweinheim. The reason for destruction, as I came to understand it, was uniforms were manufactured there. Ate and drank in Schalpessipple (sp?) near Schloss Johannisburg. Also spent much time at a guesthaus in Goldbach."In January 2011 Utah Rogers wrote "You may be aware that Gen Patton's son-in Law (Captain Waters) had been captured by the Germans and so much of the battles in the area was brought about by the General wanting to free his Son-in-Law. Lot of denials to that story!" Note: John K. Walters married Patton's daughter Beatrice in 1934. During WWII he was captured in Tunisia and sent to a German POW camp at Hammelburg not far from Aschaffenburg. Patton ordered a Task Force under Capt Abraham Baum to liberate the camp. The mission was a failure, 32 men were killed, 35 made it back to the Allied Lines and the rest were taken prisoner. Waters was wounded during the liberation attempt. In March 2011 Anthony R. Varda wrote: "My father, then Captain John Varda, was in the military government in Aschaffenburg during WWII. You asked why the Allies destroyed the town. As my father explained it years ago, it was relatively simple. Patton's tanks went through Aschaffenburg at night with little resistance, putting it behind allied lines. There was an SS detachment in barracks on the outskirts of Aschaffenburg at the time, but they missed Paton's tanks as the tanks blew through the town, well ahead of the American troops. The next morning, the mayor wanted to surrender, but the SS were having nothing to do with any surrender. The SS hung mayor from a lamp pole and started fighting the troops following behind the American tanks. The troops retreated back from the town.The magazine WWII HISTORY, January 2011, contains an article Ten Days at Aschaffenburg by Christopher Miskimon which describes the fighting at Aschaffenburg in March 1945. Miskimon states that Aschaffenburg was a "major hub for water and rail transport, and the city also boasted extensive industry" in addition to having a "substantial military presence" as the "home of the 106th Infinity Regiment". However, he does not specifically state why Aschaffenburg was targeted. He does mention the "raid" of the POW camp at Hammelburg under Captain Abraham Baum. "Baum's force reached the camp where there were far too many POWs to evacuate, tried to fight its way back with a portion of them, was essentially hunted down and all its men killed or captured."Miskimon says: "The fate of Aschaffenburg was the destruction of some 70 percent of the city, lost in a determined by ultimately wasted struggle. Of 8,500 defenders 1,600 were wounded or killed and 3,500 more became prisoners of war. The Americas suffered around 300 wounded and 20 killed."On April 9, 2011 Wayne Lutz who was stationed in Asscahffenburg for 6 years and married a local girl wrote in regards to 3 Cross Hill: "In my time, the story was that Patton's army sat on that hill, which overlooks the Schloss across the river, and sent three officers down to the castle with a surrender demand. The three officers never returned, having been killed, so the US destroyed the castle and much of the city. The three crosses were then erected in memory of those officers. |
Map collection of Maggie Land Blanck
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Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck
Aschaffenburg Schonbusch Schlosschen |
To see a great collection of contemporary images of Aschaffenburgh go to Aschaffenburg am Main - Photos by Manfred Fisher - In German |
For more information on Aschaffenburgh go to the official site at Stadt Aschaffenburg - In German |
Catherine Furst Schwartzmeier Lindemann (1827 Aschaffenbyrg - 1892 New York City) and her family |
Fursts In New York City |
Connection to Other Related Pages |
If you have any suggestions, corrections, information, copies of documents, or photos that you would like to share with this page, please contact me at maggie@maggieblanck.com |
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© Maggie Land Blanck - Page created 2004 - Latest update, January 2013 |