This is a postcard of Kurische Nehrung/Kuršių Nerija from the same series as the previous post, sent in 1939 from Heydekrug (now Šilutė, Lithuania) to Berlin, Germany. The Memel territory (Klaipėda region) was re-annexed by Nazi Germany on 23 March 1939, this, of course included Šilutė/Heydekrug, the 2nd largest town of the region. Although in 1818 the town became the district center of Landkreis Heydekrug, it never received the city right until 1941, which is very unusual.
This card from Šilutė (Heydekrug) and the previous postcard from Nida (Nidden) are showing Kurenkähne (plural - Kurenkahn singular in german).
ReplyDeleteThe Lithuanian word is Kurėnas.
They are traditional boats from the old tribe of the Curonians - a former Baltic tribe, which was specialized in maritime professions (fishermen e.g.).
The following map shows the areas of the Curonian language in the year of 1649:
http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Datei:Curonians_kursenieki_in_1649.png&filetimestamp=20061217164202
Thank You very much for showing your items. They are quite always very very interesting! :)
Thank you for bringing my attention to the ships! I have read before about the Curonian tribes in a book but I surely didn't know about that boat and i find it extremely interesting. Some of Curonian words remains in the regions topography, "Kurland" is the most obvious. I read somewhere that the name "Klaipėda" also might have a Curonian origin.
ReplyDeleteTypical for Kurėnas / Kuhrenkähne are the so called "Kurenwimpel" (traditional flag made out of wood). You can see them on this stamp from the "Third Reich":
ReplyDeletehttp://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Datei:DR_1937_653_Winterhilfswerk_Fischerboote.jpg&filetimestamp=20090909212639
And here we have the "Kurenwimpel" from Nida (Nidden)and some other information (german):
http://wiki-de.genealogy.net/Nidden/Kurenkahn
Only two examples from this boat type existed in 1994
I know this German stamp! I really didn't know! Thank you for this precious information. I think I even have this stamp. There was also a Lithuanian stamp with the kuhrenkahn:
ReplyDeletehttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lLkX-Bnul_E/UPLRUB-wMyI/AAAAAAAAEQ4/6-fVZ0am2pE/s1600/Kurenkahn_kurenas_kurische_nehrung_kursiu_nerija.jpg
I meant, I knew this stamp but didn't know it was about the Kurėnas/Kuhrenkähne. Sorry for the mistake.
ReplyDeleteDo you know where are the remaining 2 examples of Kuhrenkähne? In a museum maybe?
Sorry, but I do not know. 1994 one boat (a reconstruction) was a tourist attraction in Nida.
ReplyDeleteLovely miniature sheet with sailing ships!
I think this link will be very helpful to find out more. There seems to be one Kurėnas, too:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.muziejai.lt/klaipeda/juru_muziejus.en.htm
Thank you for the link! I would definitely visit this museum on the next visit to Memel!
ReplyDelete