June 2024: A member of our support group recently found an interesting old newspaper article, which I would like to share with the readers of our website.

The ironworks Koenigshuette – kings’ hut - like many other ironworks - produced weapons and ammunition in times of war, from the Seven Years' War (1756 to 1763) to the Second World War (1939 to 1945). Cannons, such as those mentioned in the newspaper article, were also used in peacetime to fire salutes.

The newspaper article was published in 1984 in a special supplement 'Volksfest 1984' (fair 1984) Newspaper from the city of Hildesheim. There we read:

arksmen's wish: The cannons should be "durable and their sound loud and impressive".

The cannons are 150 years old

The two cannons that take pride of place in the parade have a history steeped in tradition. It's their birthday: this year they are 150 years old.

The decision to purchase the two cannons was made in 1833 after a firecracker exploded during the free shooting in the town of Marienrode.

Two new cannons were then ordered by the shooting club from the ironworks Koenigshuette (kings’ hut), the state gun foundry near the town of ‘Bad Lauterberg’ in the Harz Mountains. The Hildesheim marksmen's wish: The cannons should be "durable and their sound loud and impressive".

The two guns were delivered in the spring of 1834. The county initially caused difficulties because no prior approval had been obtained. However, the cannons were eventually approved. They were tested on the (mountain) Spitzhut . For safety reasons, the muzzle was pointed to the west.

The cost of the two cannons amounted to 180 thalers. The two cannons were honored at the jubilee celebrations of the University of Göttingen in 1837 and at the entry of the Count Muenster to (the city of) Derneburg ten years later. In both cases they were used to fire salutes.

 

Here come a few notes on terms and places that not everyone knows (anymore):

The 'Spitzhut', from which the cannons were fired, is a peak in Hildesheim, Hanover region, Lower Saxony and has an elevation of 215 meters. It lies west of Marienburg Castle, the seat/home of the king of hanover.

A 'Landdrostei' is a defined administrative district in military, jurisdictional and police terms. The administrative official 'Drost' corresponds to a modern-day government president or district administrator. He represented the position of the sovereign.

At the moment, we are trying to find out more about the history of the cannons mentioned in the article, a short facebook-video has already been found showing the firing of the cannons. Contact has also been sought with the Hildesheim Shooting Society, which acquired the two cannons from the Koenigshuette (kings’ hut) in 1984. More on this soon.

 

*** Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version) ***