Siedlung Diepenlinchen

Settlement Diepenlinchen – Apartments for 56 Families (1936)

The Settlement Diepenlinchen was created in 1936 for 56 families. Since only a few documents regarding its founding exist, the construction can be categorized based on comparable settlements in Broich and Bardenberg: all served at that time as employment measures during the political upheaval of the German Reich. The construction was accompanied by significant propaganda efforts and implemented by the Reich Leader of the German Labor Front (DAF) and later Reich Organization Leader of the NSDAP, Dr. Robert Friedrich Ley, who was one of the five highest-ranking Nazi leaders.

Purpose of the Settlement:

1. Provision of a new home for the families
2. Promotion of self-sufficiency through large gardens – each plot was approximately 1,000 m²

The first settlers painstakingly worked their plots with peat and spades, to make them arable. Furthermore, they received small animals such as chickens, geese, and ducks to supplement their supply.

After the destruction of World War II, the settlement was reconstructed in 1950 by the remaining families. The community decided to erect a memorial for the fallen, which was inaugurated in 1956.

Since then, families have been living in the houses for three generations. Continuous renovations and improvements are being made. Volunteers take care of the maintenance of the memorial. The settler community still lives by solidarity and cohesion, and joint family celebrations connect the members to this day.

Apartments for 56 families built in 1936

Because documents related to the founding of Settlement Diepenlinchen are not immediately accessible, one must consult the available information about the comparable foundations of the Broich and Bardenberg settlements for these purposes. It quickly becomes evident that these residential settlements were employment measures during the political upheaval in Germany in the Third Reich. The construction
of these settlements was carried out with great propaganda effort and executed by the Reich Leader of the German Labor Front (DAF) and later Reich Organization Leader of the NSDAP, Dr. Robert Friedrich Ley,
who was one of the five highest-ranking Nazi leaders at that time.

The settlement built in 1936 was intended first to provide the adopting families with a new home. Secondly, the large gardens served self-sufficiency. Therefore, the 56 plots each have an area of 1000 m².

The first settlers attempted to make the plots they were assigned arable with the help of peat and spades. Furthermore, all families received small animals (chickens, geese, and ducks) to supplement their supply.

In 1950, the settlement was rebuilt by the remaining families. The community of that time decided to build a memorial in honor of the fallen. This was inaugurated in 1956. From 1950 until the present time, families have already been living in the houses for three generations. Renovations and improvements are continually made. Volunteer workers take care of the preservation of the memorial. Solidarity is still lived in the settler community. Everyone is there for each other.

To this day, family celebrations connect the members.