Ditmarsch

Ditmarsch, DITHMARSCHEN, or DITMARSEN, the western district of Holstein, lying between the Eider and the Elbe, with an area of 531 miles, and a pop. (1885) of 77,347. It is low-lying and fertile, and has to be defended by dykes from flooding. Originally a part of Saxony, and from 1474 till 1559 practically an independent state between Germany and Denmark, the district still retains many ancient peculiarities. The Landbuch, containing the ancient laws, dates from 1348. The Chronik was written in the Lower Saxon dialect by Adolfi (1559-1629).