(Painting by Meinrad Bittmann, Michelbacher and former village stabhalter)
Michelbach’s Story

Michelbach is a village of about 2,100 people that was incorporated into the nearby city of Gaggenau in 1975 – but physically, it is still a separate village, and run by a local council. Gaggenau-Michelbach is a part of the district Rastatt, and state Baden-Württemberg, within the Schwarzwald (Black Forest) of Germany.

There are many Michelbach’s in Germany. This one is located in the valley of the Murg River, and has therefore been described in German as Michelbach im Murgtal (Michelbach in the Murg Valley).

The village of Michelbach can trace its history back to 1102 – in fact, in 2002, Michelbach held a 900-year anniversary festival. To prepare for the festival, they completed a heimatmuseum (homeland museum) designed to describe life in 1792. They also published a 430-page history book – a remarkable accomplishment for such a small town. This town is also very proud of its heritage. As explained by the ortsvorsteher (local chief) Volkward Vath, the Michelbach council was divided years ago on whether to completely modernize like many small towns in Germany, or to retain its historic look. They decided to focus on their heritage – which makes this town much more appealing.

The name “Michelbach” comes from the brook that runs through the town, and drains into the Murg River. “Michelbach” means, literally, “strong brook.”

For centuries, the industry of Michelbach was primarily lumber and wine. The Murg river flows into the Rhine, which flows north to the Netherlands. Lumber was exported to the large ship-building cities in the north.

The church records in Michelbach start in 1730. From 1637-1671, Michelbachers attended church in Rotenfels, so the Rotenfels records provide information for that period. Prior to that, there are miscellaneous village records and tax lists that identify some of the people in town. The diagram on the right describes the first time family names of Bernhard and Philomena’s ancestors appeared in Michelbach. The first Bittmann record, for example, occurred in 1651.

Wars and plagues kept the population below 300 until the early 1700s. At times, the village was nearly depopulated (for example, the population dropped to the 100 range during the Thirty Years War). The Bittmanns arrived in Michelbach as the Thirty Years War was ending, sometime between 1632 and 1651 – most likely from Ittersbach.

The Thirty Years War, 1618-1648

The Thirty Years War was really a series of mini-wars involving many parties, with interests both political and religious, primarily contained within Germany. One of the hallmarks of the war was the use of mercenary armies that supported themselves by plundering the countryside. Even "friendly" armies would plunder the locals for shelter and food. The generals also made plunder an incentive to their soldiers. Many more people died from starvation and disease than from battle - the loser throughout the conflict was the civilian population (Michelbach may have lost 2/3rds of its population during the war).

Michelbach was impacted the most during three phases of the war. The first, from 1620-1623, involved the Spanish (Catholics), who invaded the lower Palatinate. Michelbach was Evangelist at this time. In 1622, Georg Friederich of Baden-Durlach (a Calvinist) raised an army of 11,000. In April 1622, Baden-Durlach’s army joined with Mansfeldt’s and defeated the Catholic League under Tilly at Wiesloch. After the armies split, Baden-Durlach was defeated at Wimpfen in May 1622 by the joint armies of Spain and the Catholic League. Georg and the remnants of his army fled to Stuttgart.

Michelbach was apparently impacted by the defeats in 1622 (records mention that this was a particularly hard time) – probably due to plundering armies. It also seems very possible that Georg Bittmann (born in 1595) was a soldier in the Baden army – possibly the reason he relocated from Ittersbach to Rotenfels, and eventually became a village leader there. In 1624, after 80 years of being Evangelist, Michelbach was forced to convert to Catholicism. In 1625, the population of Michelbach was 330, with 37 houses. From then on, until the end of the war, the population declined due to famine, plagues and murderous plundering.

The second major phase of the war occurred when Gustavus Adolphus and the Swedes invaded (1630-1634) – subsidized by the French. The treaty with the French required that they stay in Germany, not attack forces of the Catholic League, and not interfere with Catholic worship where it was already established – but that didn’t stop them from plundering Catholic towns. In late 1631, as a reward to the troops, Gustavus and the Swedes plundered the Catholic towns in the Main and Rhine valleys. This undoubtedly included newly Catholic Michelbach. The Swedes took up winter quarters in Mainz. In 1632, the Swedes moved east to invade Bavaria. This is the time that the first Bittmanns arrived in Rotenfels - Georg and Margaretha Bittmann, who had a son Georg in Rotenfels in 1632. In September, 1634, the Swedes were destroyed at Nördlingen, and were pursued by the Imperial army into southwest Germany, stopping south of Mainz (once again, near Michelbach). Deaths from epidemics were high along the Rhine River.

The Michelbach church was reported in serious disrepair, and starting in 1637, Michelbachers attended church in Rotenfels, and the people in the towns appear to be close (based on godparents, witnesses and marriages between the towns).

The third phase of the war occurred from 1635 through 1644, when the French intervened. This was a difficult time for Michelbach. In October 1634, the Swedes and Heilbronn League entered into a treaty with France in order to defend the Rhineland from Imperial forces. In early 1635, Imperial forces laid siege to Mainz. In August 1635, the French finally raised the siege, but were forced to retreat behind the Rhine, and Mainz fell in December 1635. from 1637 through 1644, the French crossed the Rhine several times, were defeated, and retreated back. In April 1644, Imperial forces again crossed through the Black Forest area, laying siege to Freiburg, which fell in July 1644 (the bloodiest battle of the war, just south of Michelbach). Bloody battles in August reduced French and Bavarian forces by half. The main French Army moved down the Rhine, through the Murg valley and Michelbach to the Lower Palatinate, taking all of its fortresses except Frankenthal. They also captured Philippsburg and Mainz. Finally, in 1648, the war ended.

Michelbachers church activity is reported in Rotenfels through 1671. The first Bittmann mentioned in Michelbach is Jacob Bittmann (probably Georg Bittman, Sr.’s son), who is married in Michelbach in 1651. In 1660, the Stabhalter (leader) in Michelbach was Georg Dillinger. Also that year, Georg Bittmann, Sr. was described as a Gerichtverwandtenß in Rotenfels (one of 2-3 village leaders). Yet another plague wave decimated Michelbach in 1680. By 1683, there are 36 families in Michelbach (all Catholic by this time).

The War of Augsburg, 1688-1697

In the War of Augsburg (1688-1697), the French invaded and destroyed much of the German Palatinate. Baden was not a principal military theater, but the French Marshall Duras, stationed on the east side of the Rhine, was essentially unopposed, and ravaged towns throughout Baden. They burned Baden-Baden to the ground in 1689. In 1690, the Stabhalter (leader) of Michelbach was Georg Bittmann (very likely the son of Georg Bittmann of Rotenfels). The French destroyed and burned Gaggenau (just two miles from Michelbach) in 1691. There was much poverty in the Michelbach area by 1697.

In 1701, there were 33 families in Michelbach. By 1730, the population of Michelbach in was about 340, and complete church records start. In 1768, St. Michael’s church (that still stands in Michelbach) was built – and records indicate another plague.

The French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, 1789-1815

The French Revolution occurred from 1789-1799. In 1792, the population of Michelbach had grown to about 670. In the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815), Baden fought the French from 1792-1804. In 1796, the army of the French General Moreau crossed the Rhine and invaded Germany – making camp in Michelbach. Records reveal that the village was required to supply the army with food – which was already in short supply. From 1805-1813, Baden joined forces with Napoleon. Several Michelbachers served in Napoleon’s army – eight Michelbachers died in the Russian campaign. Baden then turned on Napoleon from 1813-1815, and at least ten Michelbachers participated in the campaign against the French. The population of Michelbach by 1814 reached 806. Once Napoleon was defeated in 1815, Baden joined the German Confederation.

The Failed Revolution in Baden, 1848-1849

A number of events led up to the 1848 Revolution of the German States, including growing nationalism, huge population growth after the Napoleonic Wars ended, poor economic conditions, lack of basic civil rights and suffrage, and foreign affairs. In Michelbach on July 1841, a tremendous storm destroyed most of the fruit harvest. In June 1844, a hailstorm destroyed most of the crop harvest. In 1845 and 1847, potato crops were lost to fungal infections.

In February 1848, the King of France was overthrown, triggering revolutions across the entire European continent. In March 1848, German liberals called for a German national assembly, with members freely elected. The National Assembly convened in Frankfurt in May 1848 (called the "professor's parliament"). In December 1848 the "Basic Rights for the German People" proclaimed equal rights for all citizens before the law. By March 1849, the Assembly created a new draft constitution, consolidating the 38 German states into one, and provided basic rights for citizens. 29 the smaller German states agreed to the draft, but notable exceptions included Prussia, Austria and Bavaria. In April, a delegation met with King Frederick William IV in Berlin to offer him the crown of Emperor under this new constitution. He refused, unwilling to be offered a crown "from the gutter." The Assembly started to disintegrate, with the more radical members continuing in Stuttgart, until they were dispersed by Württemberg troops. In May 1849, there was a military mutiny in Rastatt. Armed uprisings began in Saxony, the Palatinate and Baden. The Grand Duke of Baden Leopold fled to the federal fortress of Germersheim, and called for Prussian troops to intervene. A provisional revolutionary government was created in Karlsruhe. In June 1849, 60,000 Prussian troops invaded Baden, and deployed in the Rhine/Main area. The revolutionary army of Baden, under the command of French-Polish General Ludwig von Mieroslawski, was defeated soundly in several engaements.

Michelbach itself was the site of one of the confrontations, pitting the forces of pro-revolutionary and communist August Willich (who later emigrated to the United States and became a prominent general for the Union in the Civil War) and several hundred Free Corps troops against Prussian regulars. Friedrich Engels, co-author with Karl Marx of "The Communist Manifesto", participated as Willich's aide-de-camp. As Prussian troops entered Michelbach, shots were fired from a local hotel. As a result, the hotel keeper (Johannes Rückenbrod) was arrested. He was released several years later after repeated appeals from his wife and a military hearing.

A series of sketches showing various events that occurred in Michelbach during the 1849 revolt – the civilian-soldiers (called “scythe-men”), the shooting of the Prussian officer, and the arrest of Johannes Rückenbrod (sketch by Michelbacher Roland Bittmann).

The rest is best told by Friedrich Engels, himself (from "The Campaign for the German Imperial Constitution", 1850):

On the 28th we - the divisional staff and that of our own corps together with Moll, Kinkel and other volunteers - were just taking coffee after our meal in this hotel when the news arrived that our advance guard near Michelbach had been attacked by the Prussians. We at once set out, although we had every reason to suppose that the enemy had nothing more than a reconnaissance in mind. It indeed proved to be nothing more. The village of Michelbach situated down in the valley which had momentarily been captured by the Prussians had already been re-taken by the time we arrived. There was shooting across the valley from both mountain-sides and much ammunition was expended to no purpose I saw only one dead and one wounded. While the regulars were pointlessly shooting off their cartridges at distances of 600 to 800 paces, Willich bade our troops quietly pile their rifles and take a rest close by the alleged fighters and in the thick of the alleged firing. Only the riflemen went down the wooded slope and, supported by a handful of regulars, drove the Prussians from the heights opposite. One of our riflemen shot a Prussian officer off his horse at about 900 paces with his colossal heavy rifle, a veritable portable cannon; the officer's entire company at once did a right-about turn and marched back into the wood. A number of Prussian dead and wounded as well as two prisoners fell into our hands.

Within days, the rebellion was crushed by Prussian troops. Leaders and participants, if caught, were executed or sentenced to long prison terms. By 1851, all of the achievements of the revolutionaries were rolled back, and the Basic Rights abolished. Many disappointed Germans emigrated at that point to the United States, and became known as the "Forty-Eighters.".

Otto von Bismarck of Prussia began a campaign to unite all of Germany in 1862. This led to the Austro-Prussian War (1866), which lasted seven weeks (determined by one-sided battle in Bohemia – the Battle of Königgrätz). Baden sided with the losing Austrian Empire, but was not really involved. The result of the war was a more dominant Prussia, and strong momentum leading to eventual German unity. The population of Michelbach in 1868 was 1021.

The Franco-Prussian War, 1870-1871

In 1870, French declared war on Prussia, which expanded to include the southern states of Germany. The Germans won the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71) within a few months. Baden was heavily involved in the war - 33 Michelbachers fought (including Bernhard’s brother, Rudolf). All of the Michelbachers returned from the war – although one was badly wounded (Fridolin Seiser). On January 1871, after victory against France, the German Empire was declared. The final peace treaty wasn’t signed until May 10, 1871 – twelve days before Bernhard and Philomena Bittmann arrived in New York City.

When the railroad was constructed in the area, Michelbach and other river towns lost the unique benefit of river transport, and the lumber industry declined. Fortunately for Michelbach, other industries began to flourish in the area. Gaggenau was the home of an iron works beginning in 1681. In 1894, the first cars were built in the Murg Valley. A company merger between Gaggenau Works and Daimler-Benz created a large factory in Gaggenau, that eventually employed a large percentage of Michelbachers (even today).

The World Wars

World War I was particularly hard on Michelbach, with 45 dead and two missing. Five of these were Bittmanns. Three of them were grandchildren to Bernhard Bittmann's brothers. We know the ancestry of 42 of the lost Michelbachers – and can document how almost all of these people are related to Bernhard and/or Philomena. Using Cecelia (Bittman) Jelinek (who lives in Milwaukee) as a base, she lost the following relatives from Michelbach in the war: 8 second cousins, 12 third cousins, 5 fourth cousins, 11 fifth cousins, and 1 sixth cousin.

World War II was difficult, also. The motor industry in nearby Gaggenau was a major target during World War II. In September of 1944, Gaggenau was severely bombed by 140 B-17s, reducing most of the town to ashes, killing many, including several hundred forced laborers. Many of the locals lived temporarily in Michelbach after the fire-bombing.

Unfortunately, the area also has some infamous history during World War II. Gaggenau was the site of a camp during World War II (Rotenfels Security Camp), run by Karl Buck – who was later sentenced to death as a war criminal for killing ten British and American prisoners of war, and four French civilians.

In talking to Michelbachers about World War II, many stories about the war and attitudes come up. Mostly, the older people remember running in from the fields and hiding whenever planes flew overhead. After the war, they hid valuables from the occupying forces. An American who moved to Michelbach after serving at a local military base (and marrying a German) passed on an interesting story. While enlarging a dirt basement in Michelbach for use as a music studio, they uncovered a large number of very old wine bottles – apparently hidden during or just after the war.

Many Michelbachers served in World War II. For such a small town, they lost quite a few soldiers – almost entirely on the eastern front – 60 dead, 28 missing in action. Five of these men were Bittmanns.

The current ortsvorsteher (who is not originally from Michelbach) was very young when his father went to serve on the eastern front. His father returned after being a prisoner of war to the Russians – ten years later.

Michelbach today has a population of about 2,100. They host a dorffest (village festival) every two years in the fall. The town seems prosperous, and many of the locals still work in the Daimler-Benz factory in Gaggenau. The most common name in town is Rieger. The second most common is Bittmann. The third most common is Bastian. At least half of the town’s current inhabitants are relatives of Bernhard and Philomena .

Next - Snapshot of Michelbach, 1792
Beginning - The Family History of Bernhard and Philomena Bittmann of Michelbach, Baden
Home - Bittmann and Davis Family Genealogy