Saxon Siberia
Encyclopedia
Saxon Siberia is a term referring to the higher regions of the Western Ore Mountains
and the Vogtland
in Central Europe. The term was first coined in the 18th century.
The region was given this name because of the harsh climate experienced on the upper part of the mountain range. In 1732 an Austrian Rectification Commission described the weather at Gottesgab
immediately next to the Saxon-Bohemian border as follows:
Comparisons of the Ore Mountains with Siberia
, due to their harsh conditions, were encountered by the priest and chronicler Georg Körner from Bockau
in 1757. He wrote:
In 1775 the term "Saxon Siberia" was first explained in detail in a document entitled Mineralogical History of the Saxon Ore Mountains. It was probably authored by the Saxon genealogist, Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Toussaint von Charpentier. On page 48 it states:
When August Schumann
's Lexikon of Saxony appeared at the beginning of the 19th century in large numbers, the term "Saxon Siberia" became widespread. However, later, many prominent representatives of the Ore Mountain Club
described it as "completely inaccurate".
In 1908, Philipp Weigel used the term in the title of his book Das Sächsische Sibirien.
Western Ore Mountains
The Western Ore Mountains is a natural region that forms the westernmost part of the Ore Mountains in the German federal state of Saxony. It is also part of the major landscape unit known as the Saxon Highlands and Uplands...
and the Vogtland
Vogtland
The term Vogtland refers to a region reaching across the German free states of Bavaria, Saxony and Thuringia and into the Czech Republic . The name of the region contains a reference to the former leadership by the Vögte of Weida, Gera and Plauen, which translates approximately to advocates or lord...
in Central Europe. The term was first coined in the 18th century.
The region was given this name because of the harsh climate experienced on the upper part of the mountain range. In 1732 an Austrian Rectification Commission described the weather at Gottesgab
Boží Dar
Boží Dar is a town in Karlovy Vary Region in the Czech Republic. Boží Dar is one of the most important ski areas in the Czech Republic, located between the Fichtelberg and the Klínovec...
immediately next to the Saxon-Bohemian border as follows:
"Gottesgab is a place [...] lying in the bleakest forests just within Saxon territory, where not even oats grow, nor weeds, nor sloes, nor briars. Summer is not known here at all. The local region typically lies for eight months long under snow, which in many areas is piled several ellEllAn ell , is a unit of measurement, approximating the length of a man's arm.Several national forms existed, with different lengths, includingthe Scottish ell ,the Flemish ell ,the French ell...
s high by severe storm winds; in addition, fog comes down so thickly that travellers often lose their way and freeze to death miserably in the snow... "
Comparisons of the Ore Mountains with Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
, due to their harsh conditions, were encountered by the priest and chronicler Georg Körner from Bockau
Bockau
Bockau is a community in the district of Erzgebirgskreis in the Free State of Saxony in Germany. The community is known for growing and researching herbs...
in 1757. He wrote:
"If you look at the double map of the Ore Mountain districts published by Mr. Matthias Seuttern; you would almost be horrified and imagine that our region is a real desert place, a Little Siberia, and as the Bohemians sarcastically call it, "a land of oats and hunger", but if you look at the many towns and villages, full of people, in the area you would soon lose this preconception."
In 1775 the term "Saxon Siberia" was first explained in detail in a document entitled Mineralogical History of the Saxon Ore Mountains. It was probably authored by the Saxon genealogist, Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Toussaint von Charpentier. On page 48 it states:
"Report from the so-called Saxon Siberia. We have here on our high mountains a rather extensive region, which is so wild and harsh that it is usually called Saxon Siberia. It runs from EybenstockEibenstockEibenstock is a town in the western Ore Mountains, in the Erzgebirgskreis, Saxony, Germany. It is situated near the river Mulde.- Geography :...
over the Voigtländischen CreysVogtlandThe term Vogtland refers to a region reaching across the German free states of Bavaria, Saxony and Thuringia and into the Czech Republic . The name of the region contains a reference to the former leadership by the Vögte of Weida, Gera and Plauen, which translates approximately to advocates or lord...
to the Fichtelberg [i.e. the FichtelgebirgeFichtelgebirgeThe Fichtelgebirge is a mountain range in northeastern Bavaria, Germany. It extends from the valley of the Red Main River to the Czech border, a few foothills spilling over into the Czech Republic. It continues in a northeastern direction as the Ore Mountains, and in a southeastern direction as...] . Apart from a few otherwise very bleak places (such as JöhstadtJöhstadtJöhstadt is a town in the district of Erzgebirgskreis, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is situated in the Ore Mountains, on the border with the Czech Republic, 10 km southeast of Annaberg-Buchholz, and 35 km northeast of Karlovy Vary....
, SatzungenMarienbergMarienberg can refer to:*Marienberg, Saxony, the capital of the Mittlerer Erzgebirgskreis district of the German state of Saxony*Bad Marienberg, a town in the Westerwaldkreis of Rhineland-Palatinate...
, Kuhnheyde, Neudorf, Joh. GeorgenstadtJohanngeorgenstadtJohanngeorgenstadt is a mining town in Saxony’s Ore Mountains, 17 km south of Aue, and 27 km northwest of Karlovy Vary. It lies in the district of Erzgebirgskreis, and right on the border with the Czech Republic, is a state-recognized health resort , and calls itself Stadt des...
, WiesenthalOberwiesenthalOberwiesenthal is a town and a ski resort in the district of Erzgebirgskreis in Saxony in Germany. It is situated in the Erzgebirge mountains, on the border with the Czech Republic, 19 km south of Annaberg-Buchholz, and 23 km northeast of Karlovy Vary. At , it is the highest town in Germany...
etc.) where potatoes, cabbages, turnips and oats are grown (albeit the latter hardly ripens but is at least used to produce the necessary straw for cattle), not a single potato grows, let alone a kernel of corn. Everything is covered by thick, wild and dark woods, not a single furrow of farmland can be traced. In winter, which lasts for most of the year, the snow generally lies 3 ells high and does not completely disappear until Johannis, especially in the hollows where the snow is brought by the wind from the mountains and lies 10, 20, even 30 ells deep. Only Volcanus has established his workshops here. The hammer works: Ober- und Unter-Blauenthal, Neidhardtsthal, Wildenthal, Wittingthal [i.e. Wittigsthal], Schlössel-Unterwiesenthal, Carlsfeld, and their associated glassworksGlassworksGlassworks is a chamber music work of six movements by Philip Glass. It is regarded as being a characteristically Glass-like work. Following his larger-scale concert and stage works, Glassworks was Philip Glass's successful attempt to create a more pop-oriented "Walkman-suitable" work, with...
, Morgenroths-RautenkranzsMorgenröthe-RautenkranzMorgenröthe-Rautenkranz is a village and a former municipality in the Vogtlandkreis district, in Saxony, Germany. Since 1 October 2009, it is part of the municipality Muldenhammer....
- and TannenbergsthalTannenbergsthalTannenbergsthal is a village and a former municipality in the Vogtlandkreis district, in Saxony, Germany. Since 1 October 2009, it is part of the municipality Muldenhammer.-Description:...
lie partly within and partly around this wilderness. ... the local forest houses are often completely snowed in during the winter, so that their occupants must dig themselves out with shovels and cut channels to enable light to reach their windows ...
Meanwhile this bleak desert is the true homeland of our best and most precious stones, some of which are won from the rocks, like the topaz from the Schneckenstein, and some are found among the hybrid plants of the Auersberger, Steinbächer, Sauschwemmer, Knocker und Pechhöfer soap works."
When August Schumann
August Schumann
Friedrich August Gottlob Schumann was a German bookseller and publisher. His best-known work is the 18-volume Lexicon of Saxony, which was completed after his death by Albert Schiffner...
's Lexikon of Saxony appeared at the beginning of the 19th century in large numbers, the term "Saxon Siberia" became widespread. However, later, many prominent representatives of the Ore Mountain Club
Ore Mountain Club
The Ore Mountain Club is one of the oldest and most tradition-steeped local history, mountain and hiking clubs in Germany. The club was founded in 1878. After the Second World War the club and its many branches were banned by the East German authorities, but it was refounded in West Germany in...
described it as "completely inaccurate".
In 1908, Philipp Weigel used the term in the title of his book Das Sächsische Sibirien.
Sources
- Wünschmann, Max (1910). Über das Aufkommen der völlig unzutreffenden Bezeichnung "Sächsisches Sibirien" für unser Erzgebirge und des Namens "Das Erzgebirge". In: Glückauf. 30. 1910, p. 9–10.
- Weigel, Philipp (1908). Das Sächsisches Sibirien. Sein Wirtschaftsleben. Berlin.
- Weckschmidt (1910). Noch eine Ehrenrettung unseres Erzgebirges aus alter Zeit. In: Glückauf. 30. 1910, p. 23.
- von Charpentier, Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Toussaint (unconfirmed) (1775). Mineralogische Geschichte des Sächsischen Erzgebirges), Carl Ernst Bohn, HamburgHamburg-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, p. 48.