Genealogy: Brandenburg

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Brandenburg

General Information

Federal State in the northeast of the Federal Republic of Germany (eastern Brandenburg now belongs to Poland).
Map of Present Day Brandenburg (37 KB JPG file)
Area: 29.471 qkm (Stand 31.12.1997)
Population:
- 1997 = 2,573 Million
Capital: Potsdam
Coat of arms:
The red eagle on a silver backgournd was first used in 1170 by the Askanien dynasty Markgrafen von Brandenburg. Later the von Hohenzollern dynasty adopted it.

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Present Political Structure (As of 31.12.1997)

Municipalities:
Counties:
- Barnim
- Brandenburg/Havel
- Brandenburg an der Havel
- Cottbus
- Dahme - Spreewald
- Elbe Elster
- Frankfurt an der Oder
- Havelland
- Märkisch Oderland
- Oberhavel
- Oberspreewald - Lausitz
- Oder - Spree
- Ostprignitz - Ruppin
- Potsdam
- Potsdam - Mittelmark
- Prignitz
- Spree Neisse
- Teltow - Fläming
- Uckermark

Past Political Structure (Pre-1945, includes eastern Brandenburg now Poland)

Brandenburg was divided into 2 Regierungsbezirk (districts):
- Regierungsbezirk (district) of Potsdam with 18 Kreise (counties):
  - Angermuende, Beeskow-Storkow, Brandenburg-Stadt, Charlottenburg, Jueterbog-Luckenwalde, Niederbarnim, Oberbarnim, Osthavelland, Ostpriegnitz, Potsdam-Stadt, Prenzlau, Ruppin, Spandau-Stadt, Teltow, Templin, Westhavelland, Westpriegnitz, Zauch-Belzig.
- Regierungsbezirk (district) of Frankfurt an der Oder with 20 Kreise (counties):
  - Arnswalde, Frankfurt(Stadt), Friedebrg, Guben(Stadt), *Guben-Land, Kalau, *Koenigsberg, Kottbus(Stadt), Kottbus-Land, Krossen, Landsberg-Stadt, Landsberg-Land, Lebus, Luebden, Luckau, Oststernberg, Soldin, Sorau, Spremberg, Weststernberg, Zuellichau-Schwiebus.
- Each Kreis was headed by the Landrat who presided over the Landratsamt. The Landratsamt records are deposited in Berlin and the Polish archives with published brief inventories. The Landrat was in charge of passport and emigrations matters and reported to the Regierung who in turn gave data to the provincial Oberpraesidium

The highest provincial court was the Oberlandesgericht in Berlin. The lower courts were:
- Landgericht Berlin with Amtsgericht Berlin I
- Landgericht Berlin II with (15) Amtsgerichte:
  - Alt-Landsberg, Berlin II, Bernau, Charlottenburg, Koenigs-Wusterhausen, Koepenick, Liebenwalde, Mittenwalde, Nauen, Oranienburg, Rixdorf, Spandau, Straussberg, Trebbin, Zossen.
- Landgericht Frankfurt an der Oder with (11) Amtsgerichte:
  - Beeskow, Wendissch-Buchholz, Drossen, Frankfurt, Fuerstenwalde, Muencheberg, Reppen, Seelow, Sonnenburg, Storkow, Zielenzig
- Landgericht Guben with (10) Amtsgerichte:
  - Forst, Fuerstenberg, Guben, Krossen, Pfoerten, Schwiebus, Sommerfeld, Sorau, Triebel, Zuellichau.
- Landgericht Kottbus with (12) Amtsgerichte:
  - Dobrilugk, Finsterwalde, Kalau, Kirchhain, Kottbus, Lieberose, Luebben, Luebbenau, Luckau, Peitz, Senftenberg, Spremberg.
- Landgericht Landsberg an der Warte with (15) Amtsgerichte:
  - Arnswalde, Baerwalde, Berlinchen, Driesen, Friedeberg, Koenigsberg, Kuestrin, Landsberg, Lippehne, Neudamm, Neuwedell, Reetz, Soldin, Woldenburg, Zehden
- Landgericht Neuruppin with (15) Amtsgerichte:
  - Fehrbellin, Gransee, Havelberg, Kremmen, Kyritz, Lenzen, Lindow, Meyenburg, Neuruppin, Perleberg, Pritzwalk, Rheinsberg, Wittenberge, Wittstock, Wusterhausen
- Landgericht Potsdam with (11) Amtsgerichte:
  - Baruth, Beelitz, Belzig, Brandenburg, Dahme, Jueterbog, Luckenwalde, Potsdam, Rathenow, Treuenbrietzen, Werder.
- Landgericht Prenzlau with (12) Amtsgerichte:
  - Angermuende, Bruessow, Eberswalde, Freienwalde, Lychen, Oderberg, Prenzlau, Schwedt, Strasburg in der Uckermark, Templin, Wriezen, Zehdenick

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Present Church Structure

Evangelical Church (Protestant - Lutheran, Calvinist etc.):
- Evangelische Landeskirche
  Bachstraße 1-2, 10555 Berlin
  Tel. 390 91-228, Fax: 390 91-375
Evangelical Church of Brandeburg is divided into three districts:
- Berlin
- Cottbus
- Neuruppin
More information and important addresses can be found on the homepage of the Evangelical Church of Brandenburg
- Evangelical Church in Brandenburg
For information on Church records, please see the Genealogical and Historical Records Section below.

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History

948
1034
1157
1165
1180
1237/1244
1248
1256
1273
1304
1323
1367/70
1415
1506
1539
1548
1618-48
1635
1636
1675
1685
1701
1714
1740-86
1807-1814
1815
1848/49
1871
1918/20
1920
1945
1947
1952

1990

- Founding of the Bishoprics of Brandenburg and Havelberg by King Otto I.
- Saxon Wettiner dynasty gains control of the Lausitz
- Albrecht the Bear becomes the first Markgraf von Brandenburg
- The foundation is laid for the Brandenburger Cathdral
- The Cloister Lehnin is founded
- Cölln and Berlin were mentioned for the first time
- Wittstock is chartered according to Magdeburg Law
- Neuruppin is chartered according to Magdeburg Law
- The Chorin Cloister is founded
- The Lausitz becomes part of Brandenburg
- Wittelsbach dynasty gains control of Brandenburg
- The Lausitz falls to Bohemia and becomes a Markgrafschaft
- Friedrich I. von Hohenzollern is created Elector of Brandenburg
- Founding of the University of Frankfurt (Oder)
- Reformation in Brandenburg
- The first book in the Sorbisch language is published
- The Thirty Yeasr War; Elector of Brandenburg inherits the Duchy of Prussia in 1618
- Electorate of Saxony acquires the Lower Lausitz
- Before the gates of Wittstock, Sweden defeats the Imperial-Saxon troops
- Friedrich Wilhelm, the Great Elector, defeats Sweden by Fehrbellin
- Edict of Potsdam: The Great Elector invites Hugenotts to Brandenburg
- Kingdom of Brandenburg-Prussia is created under King Friedrich I.
- Under Friedrich Wilhelm I., Prussia's Soldier-King, begins directing the development of the region
- Friedrich The Great enlarges Prussia
- Prussian Reforms; Founding of the University of Berlin
- Creation of the province of Brandenburg, Lower Lausitz becomes part of Prussia
- March Revolution of 1848 in Germany
- Prussia's King Wilhelm I. is created Emperor of Germany
- Abdication of the Hohenzollerns; Prussia is a free state
- The province of "Greater-Berlin" is created, Potsdam becomes Brandeburgs capital
- Potsdam Conference, expulsions and ethnic cleansing of eastern Brandenburg and Prussia begin
- Allies dissolve Prussia
- DDR dissolves the new Land of Brandenburg (formed 1947) into 3 districts: Potsdam, Frankfurt (Oder) and Cottbus
- Founding of the new Federal Land of Brandenburg

Brandenburg in the 1700s(10 KB GIF file)
Brandenburg in 1920 (3 KB GIF file)

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Clubs and Societies

Genealogical Association and Societies
- Arbeitsgemeinschaft für mitteldeutsche Familienforschung e.V. (AMF)
  - AMF-Arbeitskreis Landkreis Uckermarck
- Arbeitsgemeinschaft ostdeutscher Familienforscher e.V. (AGoFF)
  - Eastern Brandenburg-Neumark section leader:
    - Rita Sydow
      Forschungsstelle Ostbrandenburg-Neumark der AGoFF
      Hundsmuehlen
      Veilchenweg 12
      D-26203 Wardenburg, Germany
      Tel.: +49-441-5040812
      eMail: reinhold-cornelia.cordes@nwn.de
- List of regional and other genealogical societies in Germany
Historical Clubs and Societies
Other Clubs and Societies
- List of German genealogical societies.

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Genealogical and Historical Records

Church Records
- Church records from the former Prussian provinces on the eastern side of the Oder-Neisse-border (East Prussia, West Prussia, eastern Pomerian, Posen, Silesia, and eastern Brandenburg) can be found at the Evangelisches Zentralarchiv in Berlin, Jebensstrasse 3, D-10623 Berlin. The archive will only answer simple inquiries and does not conduct extensive research itself.
- For the former eastern part of Brandenburg, please see the Neumark Genealogical Research Homepage.
- Kurt Meyerding de Ahna, "Die Kirchenbücher der evangelischen Kirchen in der Provinz Brandenburg," Archiv für Sippenforschung, 10 (1933), 97-141. FHL Film 1181595 (item 16).
- Karl Themel, Übersicht über die Bestände sämtlicher Kirchen- und Pfarrarchive der Kirchengemeinden in den Generalsuperintendenturen des ehemaligen Landes Brandenburg und von Groß-Berlin (Berlin: maschinenschriftliches Manuskript des Evangelischen Konsistoriums, 1955-1973).
Civil Records
- Civil registers of births, marriages, and deaths were introduced in October 1874. The Civil registry office is called Standesamt. Before this time, the Lutheran church records (1815-1874) or special Dissidenten-Register (1847-1874) served as official registers, and a duplicate copy was deposited at the local court (Amtsgericht).
- For civil records from former eastern Brandenburg please see: Neumark Genealogical Research Homepage
Other Records and Books
- Land Records
- Military Records

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Location Indexes and Maps

Location Indexes
- Meyers Orts- and Verkehrslexikon des Deutschen Reiches
  - 1912 ed., available on microfiche at the LDS Family History Centers.
- Alphabetical list of locations in former eastern Brandenburg/Neumark
Maps
- Genealogy Unlimited, Inc.
- Höfer Verlag
- Maps of Brandenburg, a directory of the maps is available at:
  Landesvermessungsamt Brandenburg
  Heinrich-Mann-Allee 103
  D-14473 Potsdam
- Bundesamt für Kartographie und Geodäsie - German Federal Bureau of Maps and Geography
  Stauffenbergstr.13
  D-10785 Berlin, Germany

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Bibliography and Literature

Bibliography
- Hans-Joachim Schreckenbach, ed., Bibliographie zur Geschichte der Mark Brandenburg, Veröffentlichungen des Staatsarchivs Potsdam, 8-11 (Weimar: Böhlau, 1970-1973). 4 vols.
- Genealogische Bibliographien - Herbert Lüpnitz (Menschen u. Orte der Uckermark) -
  AMF-Info D5.1
Historical Literature
- Gerd Heinrich, Berlin und Brandenburg, Handbuch der historischen Stätten Deutschlands, 10, Kröners Taschenausgabe (2nd ed.; Stuttgart: Kröner, 1985).
- Historische Landeskunde Mitteldeutschlands: Brandenburg, herausgegeben für die Stiftung Mitteldeutscher Kulturrat Bonn von Hermann Heckmann (2nd ed.; Würzburg: Weidlich,1991).
- Landesgeschichtliche Vereinigung für die Mark Brandenburg (Berlin). Publications: Mitteilungen and Jahrbuch für Brandenburgische Landesgeschichte.
- Historical Commission to Berlin and the borderland of Brandenburg (Berlin).
- Forschungsstelle für brandenburgische Landesgeschichte beim Staatsarchiv Potsdam.
- Gemeindelexikon für das Königreich Preußen, auf Grund der Materialien der Volkszählung vom 1. Dezember 1905 (Berlin: Königliches Statistisches Landesamt, 1907-1909), Heft 3: Berlin und Brandenburg. FHL Film 0491044; Film 0806635 (item 1).
- Historisches Ortslexikon für Brandenburg, ed. Lieselott Enders, Margot Beck, and Peter P. Rohrlach, Veröffentlichungen des Staatsarchivs Potsdam (Weimar: Böhlau, 1962-1989). I: Prignitz; II: Ruppin; III: Havelland; IV: Teltow; V: Zauch-Belzig; VI: Barnim; VII: Lebus; VIII: Uckermark; IX: Beeskow-Storkow. FHL Film 1045351 (item 3) [= vol. 1], (item 4) [= vol. 2], (item 2) [= vol. 3]; Book 943.15 E5e.
- Rudolf Lehmann, Historisches Ortslexikon für die Niederlausitz (Marburg 1979). 2 vols. 1: Kreise Luckau, Lübben und Calau; 2: Kreise Cottbus, Spremberg, Guben und Sorau. FHL Book 943.15 E3Lr.
Genealogical Literature
- Familienforschung in Mitteldeutschland (Family Research in Middle Germany), periodical of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Mitteldeutsche Familienforschung e.V. (AMF). Namens- und Ortsregister Jahrgänge 1993-1996
- Aktuelle Adressen und Informationen für Familienforscher, Dr. Eike Pies, Mettberg 18, D-45549 Sprockhövel, Verlag E. & U. Brockhaus, An den Eichen 3a, D-42699 Solingen
- Deutsches Geschlechterbuch, 1ff. FHL Book 943 D2dg.
  - Vol. 111, Brandenburgisches Geschlechterbuch, 1 (1941). FHL Film 0491968.
  - Vol. 150, Brandenburgisches Geschlechterbuch, 2 (1969).
  - Vol. 160, BrandenburgischeS Geschlechterbuch, 3 (1972).
Ortsfamilienbücher: (Local Family Books)
- General List of Ortsfamilienbücher
Address Books
Heimatbücher/Heimatsammlungen

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Archives and Libraries

Archives
- Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv
  Postfach 60 04 49, 14404 Potsdam
  Zum Windmühlenberg, 14469 Potsdam
  Tel.: 0331 / 5674-0
  Fax: 0331 / 5674-212
  E-Mail: poststelle@blha.brandenburg.de
  Internet: www.landeshauptarchiv-brandenburg.de
  - Contains documents and records of the Brandenburg State Government Depts., cities, political parties, associations, justice system, land records, the DDR, and historical records.
- Geheimes Staatsarchiv Preußischer Kulturbesitz
  Archivstrasse 12-14
  D-14195 Berlin
  - Contains the records of the former Central Administration of Prussia and its provinces.
- Evangelisches Zentralarchiv in Berlin
  Jebensstrasse 3
  D-10623 Berlin
  - Archive of the Evangelical Church (Protestant). Contains some church records from the former provinces of Germany. (see Church Records).
- Evangelische Kirche in Berlin-Brandenburg
  Landeskirchliches Archiv und Konsistorium Berlin
  Bachstrasse 1
  D-10555 Berlin
  - Archive of the Evangelical (Protestant) Church of Brandenburg.
- Polish Archives
  - For civil registers and church register in former eastern Brandenburg, please see web address below.
  - http://www.man.poznan.p l/~bielecki/genpolen.htm..
Libraries
- LDS/FHC - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints / Family History Centers (Mormons)
  - Information about the LDS on this Server.
...

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Landschaften and Historical States

Landschaften
- Lausitz (parts belong to Brandenburg, part to Poland)
- Mittelmark
- Neumark (eastern Brandenburg, now Poland)
- Uckermark

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Miscellaneous

Regional Publishers and Bookhandlers
- General Listing of Publishers and Boohandlers
Professional Researchers
- Schröder & Fülling GBR
  - your partner for estate & adoption & emigration research in Polland (no genealogy research) -
- Markus Röhling http://www.ogygia.de
- Heiko Klatt, Ahnenforschung in Berlin und Brandenburg http://www.ahnenforschung-klatt.de
Customs
Emigration Waves
Occupations
Etymology and Language
- Dialects
Events
...

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Other Internet Resources

Private Sites
- Brandenburg Rootsweb
- Neumark Genealogical Research Homepage (Matthias Teichert)
Mailing lists
- PRUSSIA@ROOTSWEB
  - For individual messages. Send a message to PRUSSIA-ROOTS-L-request@rootsweb.com that contains (in the body of the message) the command "subscribe" and no additional text.
  - For digest mode (several messages combined into one large message). Send a message to PRUSSIA-ROOTS-D-request@rootsweb.com that contains (in the body of the message) the command "subscribe" and no additional text.
- Neumark-L-request@genealogy.net
  - Zum Anmelden: eine Mail mit dem Inhalt "subscribe" (im Text oder im Betreff der Mail), sonst keinen weiteren Text, an Neumark-L-request@genealogy.net
  - Homepage: http://neumark.genealogy.net
...

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Last Updated: 23.09.07
Special Thanks: Adalbert Goertz.
Comments and Information regarding this WWW-Site:
- Günther Unger (Deutsch) or Matthias Teichert (English).

Brandenburg

Contents:

General Information