The Atlas Obscura Podcast · Thursday, July 30, 2026
During Germany's Nazi era, traditions like the Bridegroom's Oak letter-sending were suppressed. After World War II, former residents of Oitten worked to revive the tradition, with Carl Heinz Martins' story becoming a symbol of its enduring romantic spirit.
“So this tree, this beautiful tradition, was pretty much erased from German history.”
“And it wasn't until 1950 when the war was over, that some of the former citizens of Oitten, who had moved away from the town, started to come back and ask, hey, where's this tree?”
“And so this tradition has been kept alive for the last 70 years.”