The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-19
WIsMAR's STRANGE STORY
Large City In Germany In Pawn for {
Century.


Wismar, the city which has just been re-
leased from pawn, has a long and varied
history. 1t claims an age dating back to
300 B. G. and is at least one Of the Oldest
cities in Germany. The time for redemp-
ton does not expire until June 26, that
Is next Friday, but as Sweden's debt has
now grown to about $27 ,OOO, 900, the Swed-
ish riksdag about month ago voted to
waive it's claims and let the pledge go to
the old pawnbroker, which is the duchy
Of Mecklenburg. The original sum ad-
vanced to Sweden was 1,25s,000 reich
sthaler. -...=-
The pledging Of WisInar, while it hap
pened only 100 years ago, really was di-
rectly due to the changing fortunes of the
Thirty Years war. If there should be
any diplomatic squabbles over the mat
ter now, treaties and protocols of sur
renders and armistices dating back to the
years between 1913 to 1648 would have to
be dragged into court Another exhibit
would be the story Of the jilting by a
king Of the daughter of a duke.
The fact that Wismar really was a
Swedish possession explains what has
been a. mystery for many years-the neg
lect Of the German empire to fortify this
port, which is considered as being the
finest harbor site Of the entire Baltic
coast. f.. ..., " \ f., ..-.
When Sweden's victorious armies burst
into Germany to give battle to the troops
of Tilly and Wallenstein, Wismar was
taken by them first of all. And from that
moment it became the key, to many a
campaign, for whoever had Wtsmar at his
back as a friend had stronghold to
which he might retreat. And whoever
had Wismar at his back as an enemy was
likely to be cut off at any moment.
Again and again Wisnar was taken and
| retaken by SWedes, Danes, Walloons, Bo-
hemians and Austrians. In the = end
Sweden held it against all corners. -, -
After the Thirty Years war, when the
joys Of home were maintained by con
Slant quarreling and fighting between
Denmark and Sweden, the Danes at last
conquered Wisnar, but had to give it
back in the peace that was concluded
early in the eighteenth century.
The, Immediate story of how Wismar
was pawned dates back to the beginning
of the eighteenth century, when Denmark,
the most powerful enemy Of Sweden after
the destruction of the Old Hanseatfc
league, became weary of being threatened
with this powerful Swedish stronghold.
and took it after fierce fighting. Almost
as soon as it was conquered the Danes
| RACED the mighty Notifications and sub
sequently, when peace was declared and
Wismar reverted to Sweden, a. clause in
the peace protocol was forced by the
Danes prohibiting the Swedes from erect
ing new Notifications.
| This converted Wismar from an element
OF strength into one Of weakness for the
Swedes. Robbed of it's usefulness as a
! bulwark, and a base of military operations
Wismar at once. became a source Of ex-
pense instead of the source Of rich in.
| come that it had been =, - - r. g ,
| Under these circumstances It was not
surprising that the Swedes tired at last
OF their white elephant of possession
in the land Of the enemy So, in the
reign of the incompetent and extravagan1
Gustavus w., with territory lost to the
French In one war, with Finland lost tt
Russia, with defeat in a war against Nor.
way, the Swedes seized an opportunity tt
relieve themselves Of the burden of pos
| session. "
The direct opportunity was given by tn,
cancellation by Gustavus of his engage
ment. to the daughter Of Duke Frederick
Franz I. That person not .unnaturally re
sented the insult and threatened dir,
| things. Finally his threats crystalizet
| into a demand for an enormous indemnity
The money had to be raised at once. Th,
| duchy Of Mecklenburg advanced 1858. OO
reichsthaler and took Wismar, Neukloste
and the island of Peel in pledge for 1O
| years.