60 years of Wolfratshausen: How a market became a city

Wolfratshausen - In 1961, Interior Minister Alfons Goppel elevated Wolfratshausen to the rank of city.

The citizens celebrated this historic event for three days.

It's 1961: a year steeped in history around the world: the USA and the Soviet Union argue during the Cuba crisis and the Federal Republic of Germany splits.

The construction of the wall begins in the GDR.

This year is also an eventful one for Wolfratshausen - but in a positive way.

In April, the council of the then market town submitted an application to the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior: to elevate Wolfratshausen to town.

The local archivist Simon Kalleder tells about it.

At that time, there were no fixed principles of what makes a place a city, reports Kalleder.

Factors such as existing institutions, infrastructure and the importance for the surrounding area play a role.

"In the case of Wolfratshausen, the Ministry of the Interior seems to come to an agreement pretty quickly." On October 9, 1961, the then Minister of the Interior and later Prime Minister Alfons Goppel signed the town census document.

The eventful day was then celebrated in Wolfratshausen itself on December 2, 1961: the wake-up call of the wind band began at 7 a.m., and they then took the bus to Farchet and Waldram, where they also woke up diligently.

“Weidach and Nantwein didn't belong to the city of Wolfratshausen at that time,” the city archivist explains.

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Big festive day in Wolfratshausen: In 1961, the city elevation event took place in the cinema on Bahnhofstrasse.

Only invited guests were admitted.

© Wolfratshausen City Archives

At half past eight there were two festive services in the Catholic and Protestant churches.

The Catholic program has been handed down and was quite ambitious with musical interludes such as Haydn's “Nelson Mass”.

After that there was a warrior ceremony.

The official state act then started around half past eleven o'clock.

This did not take place in the Wolfratshausen town hall, but in the cinema on Bahnhofstrasse.

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City survey Wolfratshausen: Citizens celebrate for three days

Interior Minister Alfons Goppel did not have time to come to the official state ceremony in Wolfratshausen in 1961. He was represented by State Secretary Heinrich Junker, who later succeeded him as Bavarian Minister of the Interior. Junker thus also presented the official certificate. There were also speeches by Wolfratshausen Mayor Peter Finsterwalder, District President Dr. Johannes Mang, the Wolfratshausen District Administrator Franz Lehmair and the Mayor of the sponsored town of Bad Tölz-Roth.

"The musical framework was massive, from today's perspective perhaps even a little pathetic," reports city archivist Simon Kalleder.

Among other things, the "Hallelujah" by Handel, "Die Almmacht" by Schubert and the "Patriotic Hymn" by Eugen Jochum were played.

By the way: "Due to the limited space, only invited guests could take part in the state ceremony." These ranged from members of the Bundestag to association boards.

"High Wolfratshausen"

In the evening at half past eight an event for the general population began.

"A so-called folk evening, today you would more likely call it home evening," explains Kalleder.

Directed by the “Munich humorist Otto Baumann.

According to a newspaper report, a march called "Hoch Wolfratshausen", composed by Anton Zinner, the head of the brass band at the time, was premiered at this event.

The text "unfortunately seems to be lost in the meantime".

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Singing played a major role in the folk evening.

Many groups of displaced persons made an appearance.

© Wolfratshausen City Archives

It was noticeable that in addition to the TSV, the singers' guild and the Loisachtalers, the displaced people in particular played a major role on this evening.

“This can be explained by the fact that the population of what is now the city of Wolfratshausen has grown by around 50 percent due to the influx of people who have been displaced,” reports the Wolfratshausen city archivist.

American Air Force throws football

A sporting highlight then followed on December 3, 1961: TSV 1860 Munich made a guest appearance with the Wolfratshauser "Wölfen" of TSV Wolfratshausen. The beginning was spectacular. A new single-engine machine of the American Air Force threw the ball from the flight. From a sporting point of view, it was as expected, the Munich Lions scored seven goals, but the Wolves still managed to score a consolation goal from Graf. There were also other youth football games and handball games.

On December 4th there was a meal for the older citizens of the city.

“Good soup” was served with roast veal or pork with side dishes and two breads, reports Kalleder.

Women were given a small beer or fruit juice to drink, men three glasses of beer or a bottle of wine, "it wasn't that far back then with equality".

The youngest citizen receives 50 DM

As the last act of the city elevation of Wolfratshausen, a city council meeting was held on December 17th, at which Mayor Peter Finsterwalder thanked everyone involved and the city councilors signed the city's guest book.

In addition, the youngest citizen of the city, who was born on October 9th in the eventful year 1961, was also given a savings account for 50 DM.