The Great Hollenberg Saga. Heinz Niederste-Hollenberg

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      The Battle nearby at 9 A.D. with the Romans

      And now let’s jump into the period when the Roman Empire was at its peak, around the birth of Christ.

      It was the time when a number of independent Germanic tribes, which had settled in Europe between the Danube in the South and the North- and Baltic- Seas, and between the Rhine in the West and the Vistula (=Weichsel) in the East. It was the time when the transition began from migratory hunting and herding to agriculture and village life.

      During this period of transformation, the Romans began to expand beyond their historical frontiers into just those core Germanic territories to subdue those traditional “clan” structures and their people there.

      The only reliable written testimony from this period is made available by Roman writers like Tacitus. In his book “Germania”, he covers land and people of our area with particular details of the “Varus” battle from 9 AD. The actual location of the battle site has been a subject of dispute for several hundred years and was argued by many historians. (fig.: #6)

      The “blue” line shows the theory of the historian Mommsen from the late 19th century. Others had different ideas, like Klostermeyer-Delbrück, Knocke, etc.

      However, it took more than 100 years to give proof to Mr. Mommsen, pointing to a place named “Kalkriese” which is only a few miles away from our “Holenberg” site.

      The Varus Battle near Osnabrück at 9 A.D.

      between Roman Legions under Publius Quinctilius Varus

      and Arminius Leading the Germanic tribes

      (fig.:# 6)

      It might be noted that, in the September issue of 2005, even the “Smithonian” Magazine covered this particular battle rather detailed, under the title: “The Ambush that Changed History”.

      The site was lost and had been argued about for over 1000 years. It was rediscovered with a simple metal detector coincidentally by Tony Clunn, a British Army officer, in 1987.

      It is reported that, when the news about this bloody event reached Rome, Emperor Augustus made his rather famous outcry: “Quintilius Varus! Give me my legions back”.

      At that point and place, the Roman Empire lost 3 legions, amounting to an equivalent of 18000 to 20000 soldiers.

      It was this particular battle, spearheaded by the Germanic tribe of the Cherusci under the leadership of their commander, named Arminius, which halted the spread of the Roman Empire, thus marking the turning of the tide of Rome’s struggle with the Germanic tribes. The defeat took place in a 360-foot-hill area where the “Teutoburger Wald” slopes down into the North-German plain.

      Here is proof of a pivotal event in Central-European history, where 3 Roman crack units were annihilated.

      “Nothing was more bloody than this defeat in those swamps and woods, nothing as unbearable as the insolence of those Barbarians”, Florus, a Roman reporter, wrote.

      This battle took place in close proximity to Osnabrück at “Kalkriese”, within sounding distance of the living quarters of our ancestors. (fig.: #7)

      Where the Romans Lost against Arminius

      Although many historians have speculated for several hundred years about the actual site, this uncertainty has now been put to rest. Quite a few Roman writers gave different accounts and no specific details about this event. Other neutral information or descriptions from Germanic parties were not existent. However, we now have proof of the historical site.

      Many artefacts were found and have been put on display, while the excavation activities are still going on.

      (fig.: #8)

      Yoke fittings (bronze )

      - pendent of horse harness

      - Part of snaffle

      - strap items ( bronze )

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