| Latin script (Sütterlin subvariant) | |
|---|---|
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| Type | Alphabet |
| Spoken languages | German |
| Time period | 1915–1970s |
| Parent systems |
Latin script (Blackletter variant)
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| ISO 15924 | Latf |
| Note: This page may contain IPA phonetic symbols in Unicode. | |
Sütterlinschrift (Sütterlin script), or Sütterlin for short, is the last widely used form of the old German blackletter handwriting (Deutsche Kurrentschrift). In Germany, the old German cursive script developed in the 16th century replacing the Gothic handwriting at the same time that bookletters developed into the Fraktur typeface. Some people refer to all old German handwriting scripts as Sütterlin, although variants of the Kurrent script were in use centuries before graphic artist Ludwig Sütterlin (1865–1917) was born. Sütterlin was commissioned to create a modern handwriting script by the Prussian ministry for culture in 1911 and his handwriting scheme gradually replaced the older cursive scripts. The word Sütterlin is nowadays often used to refer to all varieties of Old German handwriting although this specific script was only taught in all German schools from 1935 to 1941.
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The Prussian ministry for culture had asked for modern handwriting scripts to be used in the offices and to be taught in school. Sütterlin created two scripts in parallel with the two bookletter schemes that were in use (see Antiqua-Fraktur dispute). The Sütterlin scripts were introduced in Prussia in 1915, and from the 1920s onwards began to replace the relatively similar old German handwriting in schools. In 1935 the Sütterlin officially became part of the curriculum as the only German script in schools.
When the Nazis conquered much of Europe, they found that commands in the local language could not be understood when written in Sütterlin, so, in 1941, like all blackletter typefaces, it was officially banned from use. However, many German speakers brought up with this writing system continued to use it well into the post-war period.
Sütterlin was taught in some German schools until the 1970s, but no longer as the primary script.
The Sütterlin lower-case 'e' resembles two slanted bars, in which the origin of the umlaut diacritic from a small 'e' written above the modified vowel can be seen.
Sütterlin is based on the old German handwriting, which is a handwriting form of the Blackletter scripts such as Fraktur or Schwabacher, the German print scripts which were used during the same time.
It also had the long s (ſ), as well as several standard ligatures such as ff (f-f), ſt (ſ-t), st (s-t), and of course ß (ſ-z or ſ-s).
For most people outside of Germany, as well as younger Germans, Sütterlin is nearly illegible — even more so than Fraktur printing. Because of their distinctiveness, Sütterlin letters can be used on the blackboard for mathematical symbols which would use Fraktur letters in print. The Sütterlin lower-case D is used in proof-reading for delete and stands for Latin deleatur - it shall be deleted.
 In Erfurt 2004 (Fortress Petersberg): "Arreststube Nr. 1" - "lock-up room No. 1" - Notice the long s's. |
 "Offizierswache", "Officers' guardroom" - Notice the round s at the end of "Offiziers," since it occurs at the end of a syllable. |
 "Grenadierwache", "Grenadiers' guardroom" |
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