Everyone loves a little bedtime story. So lay back, relax, and hope that you wake up tomorrow.
I think we’ve all heard the modern time legend of Slender Man. However, not many know that this legend goes much further back than just a video game and some photoshopping. Whether or not the creators knew it, they were doing a 21st century version of a much older creature. This article is his story.
The legend of Der Grossman (The Tall Man, The Great Man, The Big Man) dates back to the 16th - 18th century, deep within Schwarzwald (The Black Forest - Germany). He is a fairy, and he would take children who would wander out into his forest late at night, or with some versions, just kids who stayed up too late. There are a few different versions.
A child runs into the woods late at night, against their parents warning. Der Grossman finds the child and chases them, which results in 1) he catches up with the child and takes them away to an unknown fate, or 2) the child makes it back to their house and confesses their wrongdoing, thus, they are spared.
Der Grossman lures the child into the woods by haunting them and whispering for them to come to him. The child would walk into his arms, and be taken away to an unknown fate.
Der Grossman comes tapping on the window of a child who stayed up later than his parents had told them to, and once again, he takes them away to an unknown fate.
Before we get too much more into the details of the folklore, let’s look at who Der Grossman is.
His most commonly seen features are his height, thinness, tentacles, and his face. His absolute height is unknown, though the modern day Slender Man is usually pegged between 6 to 8 feet tall. This, combined with being a scrawny little anorexic thing, made Der Grossman perfect for being camouflaged amongst the trees. His arms and legs are long and spindly, and he has many arms which are rarely recalled to have hands. This is the reason they’re most commonly referred to as tentacles. His face differs with stories. Some say he has no facial features, others say he only has demonic, orb like eyes, and still others say he has nothing but a ghastly smile. And according to the folklore from other parts of the continent (yes, there’s more behind this creature, but we’ll just focus on Germany for this article), he dressed as a nobleman, wearing clothes made of fine fabrics.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, we can start looking at the historical evidence.
"My child, my Lars… he is gone. Taken, from his bed. The only thing that we found was a scrap of black clothing. It feels like cotton, but it is softer… thicker.
Lars came into my bedroom yesterday, screaming at the top of his lungs that "The angel is outside!" I asked him what he was talking about, and he told me some nonsense fairy story about Der Großmann. He said he went into the groves by our village and found one of my cows dead, hanging from a tree.
I thought nothing of it at first…But now, he is gone. We must find Lars, and my family must leave before we are killed. I am sorry my son…I should have listened. May God forgive me."
This journal entry has been dated back to Germany, 1702. If you’ll notice, I highlighted a few sections in red. These section are things that I believe point towards the conclusion of Der Grossman. Heck, it even flat out says his name! As for everything else, cotton was a fabric of the wealthy, the boy spoke to his father about a fairy, and the cow was found hanging from a tree (Der Grossman lives in the woods).
They say that monsters come only at night,
That light will drive them away.
But not all creatures follow this rule,
Safety not certain during the day.
He hides on the fringes of your vision,
Brief glimpses of the distorted.
He slithers and writhes behind your eyes,
Reaching for you, limbs contorted.
Before you know it your children are taken,
And now it's come down to you.
His breath is oppressive, his presence acidic,
He feels pity is undue.
Suddenly, trapped in his grasp so tight,
You struggle to break yourself free.
He laughs and he gurgles and he screeches with glee,
He turns your head for you to see.
Your children are crying though their eyes are removed,
They collapse, still and silent.
His arms and legs bend pulling you closer,
The man's eyes dark and violent.
He strikes and he cuts, your skin flays open,
Your soul to weak to resist
This should not have happened, if only you had listened,
Never go into his forest.
This is also a piece originating in Germany, though the date is unknown. It is a poem describing a creature called Schlankwald. Now, unlike the journal entry, which was describing a real event (real meaning the boy was kidnapped; the fact that he was kidnapped was Der Grossman could’ve been an exaggeration), this is a poem. It could very well just be a scary story to get kids to listen to their mommies and daddies.
However, this does add a few things to what we know about Der Grossman. But first of all, where’s the connection between him and Schlankwald? Well, if you translate Schlankwald, it becomes “Slim Forest” in English.
Next, let’s look at Schlankwald’s M.O. “Reaching for you, limbs contorted. Before you know it your children are taken” Contorted = bent out of normal shape. Der Grossman has what are considered tentacles for arms because they’re so spindly, and handless. Also, Schlankwald takes your children. However, in the poem it also mentions that the creature is taking the parent as well. One last thing. “This should not have happened, if only you had listened. Never go into his forest” In the legend of Der Grossman, or at least two of the mentioned versions, the children are warned not to go into the woods at night.
Now, though this is not nearly enough hard evidence for me shout out, “This is him! Schlankwald and Der Grossman are the same thing!”, it is enough to draw speculative opinions. If they are the same in one, this poem adds new pieces to the puzzle. Let’s look at them.
Well, let’s start at the beginning: the first stanza. This would bring forth the “he gets you if you’re up to late” and throw it out the window. Guess what, you’re never safe!
Also, while the legends say that the fate is unknown, this one clearly states a gruesome fate. In the last two stanzas it shows that the children’s eyes are gone, and then it rips the adult apart in a filleting sort of fashion.
Whatever the case may be, real or fiction, Schlankwald and/or Der Grossman, facts or modern day made up myths, I believe this tops Slender Man by quite a bit. Der Grossman has a history, a long lasting story, and a long lasting fear. Sweet dreams!
If you have any more info regarding Der Grossman or Schlankwald, shoot me an email in the "Hi..." box. Thanks!