Dear residents of Wiesbaden,

Biebrich, Schierstein, and Sonnenberg have been part of Wiesbaden for nearly 100 years. We plan to celebrate this milestone at the end of September with a ceremony at City Hall. This is a truly special occasion—and I am very much looking forward to it, both on behalf of the state capital of Wiesbaden and on a personal level. 

Discussions about incorporating Biebrich into Wiesbaden were already underway in the 19th century. The two cities had been connected by rail since 1840, and a streetcar had been running along the main road between Wiesbaden and Biebrich since 1889. With the development of new residential areas around 1900 along the connecting avenue, the two towns also grew closer together in terms of urban planning. A merger at that time would have united the third-largest and seventh-largest cities in the Prussian province of Hesse-Nassau: While Wiesbaden had a population of just under 101,000 as of 1905, Biebrich’s population was just under 19,000. In 1895, Rudolf Vogt, then mayor of Biebrich, spoke favorably of a merger but was unable to win over his Wiesbaden counterpart, Carl von Ibell, to the idea. That was the end of it: the merger failed. Until the end of the German Empire, there were no annexations in Wiesbaden.

After World War I, Wiesbaden began talks with the city of Biebrich as well as the municipalities of Schierstein and Sonnenberg, which led to negotiations regarding their incorporation. The city of Wiesbaden had recognized that its future could not rely solely on its status as a spa town. The annexations thus served to expand the city’s territory, strengthen its economy, and standardize the organizational structure of a growing region. Sonnenberg was already connected to Wiesbaden—as was Biebrich—in terms of urban planning and infrastructure. From Wiesbaden’s perspective, the “country-style suburb” of Sonnenberg was also seen as an extension of Wiesbaden’s spa district, its villa developments, and the spa park.

The law of October 28, October 1926 on the expansion of the Wiesbaden municipal district regulated the separation of the town of Biebrich am Rhein as well as the rural municipalities of Schierstein and Sonnenberg from the Wiesbaden county and their incorporation into the municipality and municipal district of Wiesbaden retroactively as of October 1, 1926. The previously independent municipalities became districts of the city of Wiesbaden.

These initial annexations were followed on April 1, 1928, by nine additional municipalities from the Wiesbaden county, which was dissolved at the same time: these were Bierstadt, Dotzheim, Erbenheim, Frauenstein, Heßloch, Igstadt, Kloppenheim, Rambach—and Georgenborn, which was separated from the city again in 1939.

Dr. Peter Quadflieg, director of the City Archives, has compiled a wealth of interesting and informative facts about the annexations. Volume 19 of the series “Schriften des Stadtarchivs Wiesbaden,” titled “Wiesbaden Welcomes Its New Citizens: 100 Years of Incorporations into Wiesbaden,” is also being published this month and will be presented during the ceremony.

The annexation of Biebrich, Schierstein, and Sonnenberg describes a process of lengthy negotiations and, ultimately, a decision of great significance that continues to influence the development of our city to this day. My conclusion is this: The annexations did not strengthen the city of Wiesbaden itself, but rather led to a strengthening of the neighborhoods and, consequently, of the entire city. These 100 years of annexation mark a major anniversary for our city.

Sincerely,

Gert-Uwe Mende
Lord Mayor