Trade and industry

In April 1945, shortly before the end of the Second World War, uncertainty hung heavy over the land. In Hohenhameln, American troops were already advancing along the main street. On one of the farms stood a man in an SS uniform – the young officer Christian Steinbach, exhausted and on the run.

Käte Backhaus, the owner of the farm, recognised the danger of the situation. With courage and compassion, she offered Steinbach a civilian suit to shield him from capture by the advancing troops. This moment would prove to have far-reaching consequences.

After the war, production began in available agricultural buildings, and later in rooms of the Gasthaus Handelmann, later known as Kammer. Today, the Greek restaurant Achillion occupies this location.

Christian Steinbach eventually found a vacant hall on the premises of the Hohenhameln dairy, which was still in operation at the time and only ceased its activities in the 1960s. In this unassuming yet full-of-potential building, he opened his first small workshop for wooden galanterie goods – finely crafted items made of wood. In doing so, he laid the foundation for what would later become the internationally renowned Steinbach Volkskunst GmbH.

In the 1960s, production was moved to the former girls’ school in the village centre – an already disused building that offered significantly improved spatial conditions. The new factory finally allowed for expansion, the hiring of additional staff, and the establishment of specialised workshops for carving, painting, and final assembly. This step proved decisive for the company's continued growth.

The history of the Steinbach family reaches back to the 13th century. Their roots lie in Austria, where they were known as a distinguished family of merchants, judges, and scholars. One notable ancestor was Erwin V. Steinbach, an architect at Strasbourg Cathedral – a symbol of the creative and technical talent that flowed through generations.

Through wars and religious persecution, the family was eventually driven to the Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge), where they turned to woodcraft. In a harsh region shaped by mining, carving nutcrackers and incense smokers (Räuchermännchen) became both a means of survival and a form of artistic expression. The Steinbachs developed a distinctive style and became part of the esteemed “Männelmacher” guild. Their figures found their way into many a household, becoming little bearers of hope in dark times.

The loss of their workshop in the Ore Mountains and the flight to Hohenhameln could have marked the end of this tradition. But Christian Steinbach saw it as a new beginning. With craftsmanship, entrepreneurial vision, and tireless passion, he built a new livelihood in Lower Saxony.

Today, Steinbach Volkskunst GmbH stands for over 200 years of Ore Mountain craftsmanship. Each piece is Handmade in Germany, crafted with care and dedication from the finest materials – nutcrackers, incense smokers, and miniatures that do not merely preserve tradition but keep it alive.

In the spring of 2016, the company filed for bankruptcy. The Hohenhameln location was closed, and production was re-established at the former site in Marienberg in the Ore Mountains.

One of the final nutcracker designs was the figure of a Mayor of Hohenhameln, dressed in the traditional attire of the "Club of Oberbürgermeister" from 1954. For many years, the company also produced the ceremonial medals (Orden) awarded by the Mayors' Club at the traditional Rosenmontag celebration.

In the United States in particular, Steinbach woodcraft has become a true cult object: collectors and enthusiasts prize the quality, intricate detail, and charm of these hand-crafted figures. Christmas markets, specialist shops, and private collections across North America now carry the name Steinbach – a testament to how far the path has led from the quiet village of Hohenhameln.

Sometimes a new story begins with a borrowed suit – and an empty building on the grounds of a still-operating dairy.
 

Partly passed down by Otto Köhler
Source and further information: https://www.steinbach-volkskunst.com/steinbach-erleben/