Herde Western Pomerania

People who make things happen in the state by the sea
1. Auflage 2019
ISBN: 978-3-356-02281-0
Verlag: Hinstorff Verlag
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 291 Seiten

Western Pomerania - the fascinating state by the sea. The cries of seagulls, fishing boats in the port, wide Baltic Sea beaches with piers and beach chairs, fancy promenades with villas in the spa architecture style, tranquil coves, white chalk cliffs, UNESCO-listed Brick Gothic architecture, castles and manor houses and endless rapeseed yellow fields beneath an immense blue sky. These are the images that come into most people's minds when they think of the eastern part of the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. They generally also associate it with wonderful holiday memories - Western Pomerania is undoubtedly an outstanding tourist region. Yet life here is more than this. The state has a history and many stories to tell. Stories about the people who live and work here. This book tells the stories of some of the people who have made the state their home and transformed their ideas into success. Western Pomerania - Germany's sun deck is more than just a place to go on holiday.

Lars Herde, 1974 auf der Insel Rügen geboren, studierte Germanistik und Amerikanistik in Greifswald. Nach dem Volontariat im Stuttgarter Scholten-Verlag war er zehn Jahre Redakteur, Textchef und stellvertretender Chefredakteur bei überregionalen Publikums-Magazinen (u.a. 'Liebes Land', 'Cavallo'). Inzwischen ist er mit Familie und Federvieh zurück in seiner Heimat, arbeitet in einem winzigen vorpommerschen Dorf als freier Journalist und Publizist für Zeitschriften (u.a. Burda, Springer) und Buchverlage. Für die Bundesgartenschau 2015 schrieb er den offiziellen Reiseführer.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Herde, Lars

Leseproben

Welcome to Western Pomerania. Germany’s sun deck

Light, air, landscape – and a lust for life

Let’s take a bet: when you hear the words “Western Pomerania” you probably imagine rolling fields beneath an open sky, thriving rapeseed, dense forests, the charm of old guest houses, magnificent seaside resorts and romantic villages. A tranquillity combined with the cries of seagulls and cranes that forms the backdrop to the gentle roaring of the Baltic Sea. Flat bays, small and large islands, bright chalk cliffs and a coastline that is just as varied as its residents. Western Pomerania - this is a state full of romance and feelings, people with their heart in the right place, a region for dreaming, living and working - but also a place where bold visions for the future, the exciting present and eventful history meet.

Apropos history: Western Pomerania, today the part of the former Prussian province of Pomerania located to the west of the Oder, was also called Front Pomerania for many centuries.

Both descriptions date back to the second division of Pomerania in 1532, when the traditional separation into a northern and southern part was reversed and the region was divided in the east-west direction. The dukes of Pomerania-Wolgast (Western Pomerania) and Pomerania-Stettin (Eastern Pomerania) were not displeased about this.

However, this happiness didn’t last for long as, under the Peace of Westphalia from 1648, Western Pomerania, including the city of Szczecin, suddenly belonged to the Kingdom of Sweden. A good 70 years later, in 1720, the southern part of Western Pomerania (including Szczecin, Usedom and Wollin) became part of Prussia whereas, after a brief Danish intermezzo, the northern part still belonged to Sweden.

It was the Congress of Vienna (1814/15) that brought a sense of order into this chaos. From 1815, Western Pomerania belonged to Prussia.

After the Second World War it formed part of the Soviet occupation zone, was united with Mecklenburg and ultimately - the name Pomerania was suspect - became part of the newly founded districts of Rostock and Neubrandenburg in the GDR in 1952. Yet the southernmost tip (today the municipal federation of Gartz) was assigned to the district of Frankfurt (Oder).

Since 1990, Western Pomerania has been the eastern part of the newly founded federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

The fact that Western Pomerania is today a magnet for both holiday-makers and entrepreneurs is due not only to the traces of its eventful history but, primarily, thanks to its unique nature, open-mindedness, excellent infrastructure, central location in the Baltic Sea region and the warmth of its people. Some of these people have remained loyal to the region since their childhood. Others came to put down new roots and enjoy Western Pomerania’s greatest benefit: an office with a sea view. Some of these life stories, which seem extraordinary yet are typical for this region, are presented in this book.

Apropos: typical, but yet unusual, is the biography of Manuela Schwesig, the Minister President of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Born in Brandenburg in 1974, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has been her home since the mid-1990s at the latest. What is very typical: it was to a large extent her job that brought the qualified financial consultant to the north. She initially worked in the Schwerin tax office before later transferring to the Ministry of Finance. This was the start of an outstanding career: she became Federal Deputy Leader of the SPD, was a member of the state government as Minister of Social Affairs and Health, was Minister of Family Affairs and, finally, became Minister President of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in 2017. Her election victory was a premiere, as she is the first woman to hold this office.

New homeland: Minister President Manuela Schwesig was born in Brandenburg and found her home in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. It’s not just the “very special light” that she finds fascinating in the region. (Susi Knoll, München)

Appealing, picturesque, committed, imaginative, strong-willed.

Entrepreneurs who are deeply-rooted in the region are the heart of a well-functioning economy that creates and secures jobs. They ensure that young people can build a future here and that there are also jobs for older employees. The region has developed well overall and clever business people are maintaining a good sense of cohesion in the towns and villages. Readers will get to know some of these entrepreneurs from Western Pomerania in this book. During my public forums, I repeatedly see the commitment to Western Pomerania shown by entrepreneurs here. That is both impressive and exemplary.

That is very clear: we have well-developed industrial estates such as the Pomeranian Triangle (“Pommerndreieck”) or Pasewalk business park. We can offer well-qualified employees, a close-knit network of day care centres and exemption from paying contributions in nurseries from 2020, top-performing schools as well as sport and leisure opportunities. Our inviting landscape, the Baltic Sea, natural parks and the many recreational opportunities are simply fabulous. You can come here to relax and enjoy the air and very special light. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is a state where people can live, work and go on holiday.

The maritime industry has again seen positive developments over the past few years. The largest cruise ships currently on the market are built here and we see good opportunities for the shipyards and their suppliers. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania also has a strong presence in the field of boat building. The aim of a project such as “South Coast Baltic” is to promote the marketing of the southern Baltic Sea region. That is particularly important for our ports and marinas. We want to be involved and attract even more tourists to our state, while also providing a range of appealing offers for locals.

The state capital Schwerin has long been the centre of our family life. My husband, our two children and I feel at home here and are happy. During my time as Federal Minister, I made the conscious decision to stay in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and commute. It was difficult at times, but we organised everything well. I’m delighted that I can now work here again in my capacity as Minister President. This is my home.

Western Pomerania shines

-Area: 7,137 square kilometres

-Inhabitants: around 460,000

-Population density: 65 inhabitants/square kilometre

-more than 20,000 companies with over 150,000 employees who pay social security contributions

-the biggest towns and cities: Greifswald, Stralsund, Anklam, Grimmen, Pasewalk, Bergen auf Rügen, Ribnitz-Damgarten, Wolgast, Ueckermünde

Western Pomerania is the logistical hub to and from Eastern Europe and Scandinavia and shines with

-well-developed ports and a strong maritime infrastructure

-outstanding road, rail and air connections, also to metropolitan regions such as Berlin, Hamburg and Szczecin

-modern industrial and business locations such as the Pomeranian Triangle (“Pommerndreieck”), the port of Mukran on Rügen, the Pasewalk business park and the synergy park in Lubminer Heide

-a high quality of life with a comparatively low cost of living

-a range of offers in education and culture, leisure and sport, childcare and training

-affordable real estate and apartments

-the most up-to-date health care, for example at the University Medical Department in Greifswald

-unique quality of life on “Germany’s sun deck”

Not just “bread and wages”: Clever entrepreneurs ensure that young and old alike have perspectives in Western Pomerania. Dr. Sylva Rahm-Präger (far left) is one of them.(Molkerei Naturprodukt GmbH Rügener Inselfrische, Poseritz)

On the up: Maritime industry, boat building, a range of harbours as well as marinas and clever marketing are making Western Pomerania even more appealing.
(Thomas Häntzschel,...