In the old rugged days lived a group of people that, because of their isolation, had become self-reliant, staunch, and because of their experience with the outside world, had become very suspicious of any outside peoples and they had isolated themselves from the rest of the world. They had overcome all the wars that had been on their island, and were hardened and impervious to the outside world. They were a very proud people and anyone not from Fehmarn, to them, was nothing. From generation to generation they stuck together, and the island did not develop and they were really a backward and uneducated people – they did not develop industrially or culturally. The saga of their island and people became known the world over. This was the result of the enslavery and terrible destruction of the island by the King Eric of Denmark.

Northern Europe was divided into little sections and an overseer, called a Count ruled three sections, like a triangle. Eric was from Pommern and the cousin of the Kaiser of Schleswig. They had moving artillery as they were advanced in war equipment compared to Fehmarn. So Eric was sent to conquer Fehmarn in 1416 and it was easy to do because of their advance artillery. On the island was a huge stronghold castle which they conquered by devious means – it was called Wasserburg Glambeck. It was ruined but there are still evident signs of where it had been. There were just two groups of defenders of the island: one group was led by a man named Holstein, and he was responsible for the political and determined Christian group, they were all murdered. In the same year Henry III from Holstein reconquered Fehmarn. He removed the crest of the Danish king and replaced it with the Holstein crest. This made King Eric from Denmark furious. In 1420, with the help of Lübeck and 700 moving artillery, he came into Fehmarn for revenge. The courageous Fehmarn peoples repulsed two attacks and they in turn mocked the Danish with glee. They wrote a little poem and taught it to all their children and it is still taught to every child of the island, so that even today the children are very aware of their history.

Then the Danish made another attack, it was a horrible blood battle. There were 2500 islanders murdered, regardless of sex. This horrible experience was written down in history as another saga of the island. The people have forgotten all the other wars, except this horrible slaughter. (There was mention of a 30-year war, but no details were given). After this horrible blood battle, all the islanders left the island except 16 men—from three families and they were Mackeprang, Rauert, and Witte. Because of their extreme courage during the battle, and their miraculous salvation from the holocaust, these men formed a blood friendship pact (bond) with each other vowing that they and all following generations would only intermarry with each other.  That vow was kept for 100 years.

The uncertainty from years of wars, caused many north German peoples to form brotherhoods and gilden. The Fehmarn inhabitants found out they could not isolate themselves any longer and must reach out to others and to do good in accordance and obedience to God’s word and they realized God is above all. Through the years they lost their bitterness, changed their attitudes towards all men to build unity among people, and to promote a spirit of good will towards all men. They realized they had to change their attitudes and that God had to be their leaders.

In 1420 Ditmarscher colonists (from lower Jutland governed by Denmark) emigrated to Fehmarn to escape oppression in the colony of Ditmarsch. They were worldly people, knowledgeable and experienced. It is true that today the blood and vein of Fehmarn farmers is mostly Ditmarscher blood. When they came, a new pact was made to include them and the government established the constitution written mostly using Ditmarscher ideas. Even though they were different in background, they decided they had to become united to make a strong country.

Because the Ditmarschers were more aristocratic, having lived a broader life, the Fehmarners followed their way of living because they did not want more dissension and so they went to church together.

By 1500, the Fehmarners had formed about 12 gilden called brotherhoods. After they had become completely integrated with the Ditmarschers, these brotherhoods dissolved except for a small nucleus, which became like a welfare association. (The author mentions: "This is still a habit in many nations today-brotherhoods of laborers, special people and different classes of people). The reformation was also responsible for the breakup of brotherhoods.

(Through the years of oppression, evidently the islanders were not allowed by Denmark to bury their dead, they were all pushed into the sea, this began to bother them very much after they began to believe in an afterlife.  This belief started in about 1486.) The brotherhood now was an organization to help the needy, poor and to help members bury they’re dead in a reverent way (not by sea). There is not a record of the original brotherhood names. They lost all their significance in 1721.

WOHLER was the name of a very prominent family throughout the history the history of this period and they were of the Ditmarscher descent.

In time they’re developed two groups that opposed each other and there were riots and violence between them. The government had to keep them apart. Every two years there had been a special holiday declared and they drank a lot of beer.  Because of their drunkenness, they would riot at every celebration. It was a case of pride and their ancestry and they drank 6-7 tons of beer and wine on that day. The beer they drank was made on Fehmarn and was very famous. Both groups considered themselves Christians. A law had to be passed to govern that day. Even the police could not control those riots. One Rauert 18-yr. old lad argued with his dad and said "if we still had our brotherhoods, I would hit you on the head, for the devil is in you." A law was passed that all youth must honor their fathers! There continued to be many serious clashes over many small things. Eventually that holiday was eliminated.

Taxes were used to pay for the burial of anyone whose family could not afford a burial for their loved ones. This was very important to them, from time to time they had terrible plagues. Records were kept of the cost of every burial and the brotherhood took care of this. Even strangers would give money for burials. If they did not belong to a brotherhood and had property, they had to sacrifice their horses, homes and land for burials. They were never allowed to have debt. Thirty marks was considered a large inheritance at that time.

In 1718 there was a terrible ruin of the city of Burg because of debts. In 1731 seventy homes were empty. There were many executions because the people had not paid their taxes and debts to the city. The Rauert brotherhood had a huge estate, and had not paid their taxes or debts to the city and was forced to sell their estate, it was a very sad ending to a prominent family. Then Mackeprang and Witte were the only two left now of the original brotherhood. (The author says—The oldest book of the Mackeprang-Witte brotherhood agreement was written in 1611, it was written in plat-deutsch, which was spoken in 1552. In 1830 the book was translated into High German, but Hanson, the translator, was not really a good translator because he could not understand the plat deutsch very well.)

Herzog Johann, the Altere ruled from 1540-1588. In 1563 he made an inheritance law, this law  stated that inheritance could only go to sons. But just 1/20 of the inheritance - the rest had to go to the government for military goods.   In 1830 they changed the law for Mackeprang-Witte to keep only 10% and in 1893 it was reduced to 5%. In 1550 there was a revolt against Herzog Johann and from then on he declared all the laws the Fehmarn people had made previously were revoked. The Mackeprang-Witte brotherhood declared revenge and raised their fists in protest. (The claws you see in the crest are the fists of protest). In 1563 we find the Wittes still united with the Rauerts. In 1611 a new brotherhood was formed between Mackeprang, Witte, Stuecken & Ehler, but only 4 Wittes signed that agreement. The Stuecken-Ehler very soon disregarded the contract and were thrown out. The last Ehler left in 1641. The name of Ehler is still very prominent on the island and had a lot of importance. The Witte is still prominent and some of them have used Ehler as a first name to remember them in the brotherhood.

If anyone wanted to become a part of the brotherhood, he had to pay his dues of 16 marks and drink from a common silver stein, then he would be a member. The dues were 16 marks from their income. The brotherhood assured a proper burial. Now the gifts from each member are voluntary toward the burial and no longer compulsory.

Everyone in the brotherhood had to attend the funeral and view the body, and they drank a ton of beer together by the casket in honor of the deceased. (Mrs. Antholz explained a ton was like a huge tall jar—She said it was an awful lot to drink—like maybe 2 gallons.) Now this was frowned on by other people and they had articles of complaint; they not only spent so much money for beer, but they also ate 25 marks of food and were drunk—like having a party right by the casket, and they also asked God to bless their beer. This was in their by-laws. There were three horrible incidents and punishment followed. Sometimes they drank more than the required ton and one man was hung because of the strife he caused while drunk. So then they raised the price on beer to 4 mark, 8 shillings a ton, then they drank less and the respect of the brotherhood was restored. The brotherhood received the increase in price of the beer and became rich. In 1726 the brotherhood had to start paying the city for fire protection and water.

The brotherhood was protective of their members. (It seems they were mostly congregated in and near the cities or villages) The farmers had not joined the brotherhood and by 1718 the Turks had boats and were pirates on the sea and came to Fehmarn and carried away the unprotected as slaves. Then shipyards began to be built on the island. Fehmarn had 50 merchant marine boats and they exported their products to Spain, France and Italy, and brought back imports from those countries, their seagoing men were often captured by pirates. Fehmarn knew they had to secure their coast and the brotherhood had to pay taxes for arms and boats. Jürgen Ehler was captured when he was away in Hamburg by Turkish pirates but he was rescued by the brotherhood.

The Mackeprangs and Wittes built a memorial to their ancestors, those last 16 men on the island, and there will always be an honorary position given to any Mackeprang or Witte male as long as they live on Fehmarn. The only other man to be honored is Jürgen Rauert because he gave the land on which the memorial was built, for which he was honored. His crest contains a rode and his initials.

The Mackeprang-Witte crest has a birdclaw with a ring of large Weisspfenigh (which means small money, like cents). It also has a piece of jewelry on it with the names of Mackeprang-Witte on it. Whitte means white money. The crest was first made in 1700. In 1713 an epitaph was added to the remembrance of Peter Witte – he was a highly esteemed man. There was another crest in 1696 for Jacob, it was a bronze sign over his home with a white field in it.

In spite of the importance of the brotherhood in history, it is now no longer in existence. Through all generations these people have kept up the old-fashioned morals, family bonds, and hospitality. They are so very strongly implanted into the Fehmarn children. The memory of the traditions of these two families, Mackeprang-Witte, has had a great impact on the well being of the Fehmarn islanders. They are very proud people because of the suffering they shared and they look back on their ancestry with pride.

(The author closes with the following prayer, which was taught to all their children)

Oh God let the brotherhood of the Witte and Mackeprang flourish for all times as we wish and desire. Let these two families, dear Lord; never die out as long as the sky is overhead and the bright stars shine. Let the fear of God and unity never end and help us God, for all eternity.

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