Figure 1.-- Here we see childten at a German beach resort. Notice all the sand. We are guessing that this is a Baltic beach. Notice the Strandkorben in the background. They were very popular at German beaches. The photograph is undated, but the Imperial German flag looks like the 1910s to us.

Bathing beaches were also popular in Germany. Given the German climate, they would have been very seasonal. Most popular were the sea beaches in the north. The North Sea coast (between Denmark and the Netherlands) was a relatively small area. As it was near Hamburg, however, there were several popular beaches. There were also boat excursions from Hamburh through the Kiel Canal to populat Baltic resorts. Germany had a much more extensive Baltic coast. The Baltic Sea (or Ostsee as the Germans say) has wonderful sandy beaches and the water is not as rough or cold as the North Sea coast. The German Baltic Coast is today much more limited than before World War I or even II. The German Empire until World War Ihad a very extensive Baltic coast. Even after the 1919 Versailles Agreement and the creation of the Polish Corridor, there was still an extensive Baltic coast. There were also a number of Baltic Sea islands that were popular resorts. One Baltic Sea peninsula, Peenemünde, achieved prominance in World War II as the site of German rocket research. There were also beaches along lakes near Berlin which were popular day trips. There were lakes near Berlin that were popular attractions on hot summer days. I'm less sure if other German cities had similar local attractions.

Northern Coast Sea Beaches

Bathing beaches were also popular in Germany. Given the German climate, they would have been very seasonal. Most popular were the sea beaches in the north. The North Sea coast (between Denmark and the Netherlands) was a relatively small area. As it was near Hamburg, however, there were several popular beaches. There were also boat excursions from Hamburh through the Kiel Canal to populat Baltic resorts. Germany had a much more extensive Baltic coast. The Baltic Sea (or Ostsee as the Germans say) has wonderful sandy beaches and the water is not as rough or cold as the North Sea coast. These beaches were wonderful for younger children interested in paddlng in the water, but primarily playing in seand with spades and buckets. Often German families literally built great piles of sand around their whicker beach homes which were ranted from local dealers in the beach. The German Baltic Coast is today much more limited than before World War I or even II. The German Empire until World War Ihad a very extensive Baltic coast. Even after the 1919 Versailles Agreement and the creation of the Polish Corridor, there was still an extensive Baltic coast. There were also a number of Baltic Sea islands that were popular resorts. One Baltic Sea peninsula, Peenemünde, achieved prominance in World War II as the site of German rocket research proram.

Interior Lake Resorts

There were also beaches along lakes near Berlin which were popular day trips. There were lakes near Berlin that were popular attractions on hot summer days. I'm less sure if other German cities had similar local attractions.

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Created: 1:51 AM 4/16/2006
Last updated: 4:19 PM 8/21/2009