Großweier

Großweier is an urban subdivision (Stadtteil) of the major county town (Große Kreisstadt) of Achern in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. The population of Großweier is approximately 1,500 inhabitants. Großweier was an autonomous rural municipality since the High Middle Ages. In 1973, Großweier was incorporated as an urban subdivision of Achern in the Ortenaukreis district.

Origins
Großweier was settled during the Middle Ages. The century of its original settlement is unknown. However, Großweier was dense, uninhabited forests at least until the 8th century CE. The surrounding Ortenau region, which Großweier belonged, was controlled by the Celts. In 12 BCE, during the reign of Emperor Augustus, the region was conquered by the Roman Empire as part of Germania Superior. The closest known Roman settlements to Großweier were Aquae (Baden-Baden) and Argentorate (Strasbourg). The region was subsequently conquered by the Alamannia after the rupture of the Limes Germanicus in 260 CE. The Franks expanded into Ortenau towards the end of the 7th century with the arrival of the first Christian monks. By 720, five Frankish monasteries are recorded in the Ortenau, including: Schwarzach, Schuttern, Honau and Gengenbach. Deforestation projects began in the early 8th century, as laymen and farmers arrived at the monasteries. Both spiritual and secular rulers took possession of newly deforested land and thus increased their spheres of influence. Gradually, farms and hamlets were settled and the population increased. The settlement of Großweier was a result of this era of expanding colonization into the Black Forest.

Großweier is first referenced in the undated Benedictine monastery records of Reichenbach, sometime between 1091 and 1115. The region that is referenced is referred to as United Weierer. Großweier was first mentioned in the records as Crosvilare. It was later referred to as Croschweier. In the early 12th century, Crosvilare was the capital of eight surrounding small settlements, identified in the Reichenbach monastery records as farms or hamlets, including: Oberweier, Hesselbach, Rodt, Fronrode, High Hurst and Egdessenloch. In 1263, records mention a moated castle as having been previously built in Großweier. However, the year of this construction is unknown. The Großweier castle is likely to have been the center of local government to the surrounding farms and hamlets.

Großweier and the surrounding lands were ruled by the Knights of United Weier. In the 13th century, the knights provided the city of Strasbourg with military aid against Walther von Geroldseck. In recognition of this service, the Count of Eberstein granted landed gentry to Junker Johann in 1263, during a hearing in Strasbourg. The knight Junker Johann took the surname of von Crosvilare, after the name of the town. Eventually, the von Crosvilares were without heir and became extinct in 1484. Kraft von Crosvilare died heirless and was survived by his wife Christine von Seldeneck. Consequently, the fiefdom became the property of the Lords of Seldeneck, a wealthy merchant family. By May 12, 1484, Philipp von Seldeneck became owner and Lord of Großweier for the princely sum of 2,500 guilders.

16th to 19th centuries
In 1583, Großweier was sold to the Margrave of Baden. The Margrave of Baden used the moated castle in Großweier as the seat of the local bailiff, thus operating as a district court. The castle was destroyed in 1689 by French troops of the "Sun King" Louis XIV, during the early stages of the Nine Years' War (War of the League of Augsburg). The bailiff seat was subsequently moved to Bühl.

Like many of the surrounding towns, Großweier was depopulated and devastated during the Thirty Years' War. Between 1575 and 1630, eight witch trials were conducted in Großweier. Consequently, two men were found guilty and executed during this period. In 1797, French troops occupied Großweier for approximately one year, until the end of the War of the First Coalition. Großweier was economically hit by the Napoleonic Wars and struggled to recover after they ended. The issue was further exacerbated by three sequential crop failures in Großweier from 1845 through 1847. Many of the poor faced starvation. A special meeting was called and it was agreed to donate 800 gilders to feeding the poor. The population subsequently began to deplete. In particular, the period from 1843 to 1852 saw many inhabitants migrating to the United States. The majority of those immigrating to the US were done so forcibly. In 1852, Großweier voted to eliminate the poor and banish them, raising the minimum financing necessary to ship them from Le Havre to New Orleans. A number of these immigrants died on the voyage or shortly after arrival to the United States, from yellow fever or other afflictions. After eliminating the poor, Großweier lost 25 percent of its population within a ten-year period, from 800 to 600 residents.

20th and 21st centuries
In 1902, the parish church of St. Martin was completed. During World War I, Großweier mourned the loss of 29 killed and missing. In World War II, 83 people were killed and missing. In 1958, highway construction reached Großweier, connecting the town to the modern transportation system. In 1961, Großweier underwent land consolidation of agricultural and forestry land. On January 1, 1973, Großweier was incorporated as an urban subdivision of Achern. In 2005, Großweier celebrated its 850th anniversary.

Geography
Großweier is located in the northern Black Forest. Großweier is located approximately 30 kilometers south of the Rhine valley of Baden-Baden and about 30 kilometers north of Offenburg. The western Strasbourg in Alsace on the French side of the Rhine is also approximately 30 kilometers away.

Demographics
As of the 2013 census, there were 1,512 residents in Großweier. There were 687 residents in 1933 and 692 residents in 1939.

Architecture
The Church of St. Martin is the parish church of Großweier. The church was completed in 1904 and is one of the central pieces of architecture in Großweier.

Economy
Großweier has a service economy that also includes heavy industry and commercial transportation. Großweier is home to the international headquarters of Hodapp GmbH & Co. KG, a manufacturer specializing in the production of steel doors and gates. The company was founded in 1948 by Eugen Hodapp. Presently, the company has branches in Spain, France, and Austria. Hodapp designs doors with a variety of safety features, including: fire protection, burglary, and radiation. The corporate headquarters in Großweier is a 20,000 meter facility that employs 180 people.

Großweier is also the headquarters of the international commercial transportation company Firma Deichelbohrer. The company has a fleet of tractor-trailers that provide transportation services across Europe, as well as parts of the Middle East.