Hehlen is a municipality in the district of Holzminden, in Lower Saxony, Germany
.The independent municipality of Hehlen, idyllically situated on the Weser, has a fascinating history that has been shaped over centuries. The place name Hehlen itself underwent an interesting development, from the early mentions as “Heli” in the 8th/9th century to the later variants such as “Helen” in the 12th century. The name “Hehlen” reflects the geographical location, as the village lies on slightly elevated ground, while the Schiffberg rises steeply beyond the village. This place name thus refers to the settlement located on the slope.
The modern era brought important developments for Hehlen. After the extinction of the Homburg feudal holders in 1409 and later the ducal Brunswick feudal holders in the form of the Lords of Frenke in 1558, the fief was transferred to the older “white” branch of the Schulenburg family. Fritz von der Schulenburg, a renowned imperial mercenary leader in the service of Duke Henry the Younger of Brunswick-Lüneburg, and his wife Ilse von Saldern played a decisive role in the history of Hehlen. Ilse von Saldern had the Hehlen moated castle built from 1579 to 1584, which marked the beginning of a series of magnificent noble castles of the Weser Renaissance.
One of the oldest paper mills in the Upper Weser region was built in Hehlen in 1596 and goes back to the initiative of Ilse von Saldern.
The National Socialist era also left its mark on Hehlen. The expulsion of the Jewish family Alex and Bertha Bach, which took place at the instigation of Mayor Theodor Kreibaum, testifies to the dark chapters of history.
In 1996, the municipality of Hehlen had 2,250 citizens and remained a lively place with a rich history.
The postal history of Hehlen is also remarkable, starting with the establishment of a postal expedition in 1862 and later its transformation into a postal agency. There were special postmarks and grate stamps for the cancellation of postage stamps.
Finally, on January 1, 1973, the neighboring communities of Brökeln, Daspe and Hohe were incorporated into Hehlen, which allowed the community to grow further.
