Achim

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Achim [ˈaxiːm] is a municipality and the largest town (population 30,110 (June 2005)) in the district of Verden, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the right bank of the Weser, approx. 17 km northwest of Verden, and 16 km southeast of Bremen. The mayor is Uwe Kellner.

Achim is also a German male first name. It can be used on its own, or as a short-form for "Joachim".

1 Geography
- 1.1 Badener Mountains
- 1.2 Oil Camp
2 History
3 External links

[edit] Geography

Achim lies in a valley of the Weser. The area surrounding Achim is primarily moorland in its natural state. It has an elevation of 15 meters above sea level, and an area of 65.1 sq. km.

[edit] Badener Mountains

The Badener Mountains are located in the town of Baden, which is a locality within Achim. The location is shaped by the Weser-Marsh to the west, and the collection of sand dunes of up to 40m high and the Badener-Moorland to the east. Until the 19th Century the area was only sparsely settled; the people lived by cultivating potatoes, breeding sheep, and working at the outlying factories in Bremen. Hans Höppner observed about 200 of the 250 types of bees in Germany in Badener Mountains from 1898 until 1900. Possibly, only 130 types live there today.

[edit] Oil Camp

The Badener Oil Camp is a part of a bunker from the first World War. It was erected in 1917. It served as a shipping station for raw oil, heating oil, and fuel. It was put into 14 subterranean containers; the last containers have been scrapped, however. During the Weimar Republic, the oil camp was rented to an oil company. As part of the re-militarization of Germany in preparation for the second World War, the oil camp was built up and extended (to 36 containers). Although the camp got through the war intact, it was blown up by english occupying troops in 1956. The Area remained in military use, and was made into a military practice ground for the German Federal Armed Forces. The numerous combat practices and tank drives have had a grave impact on the vegetation. Other similar military practice grounds were developed in typically sandy, heath landscapes, for example on the Lüneburger Heide.

[edit] History

The first recorded mention of Achim came in 1091 as Arahem. The controlling heights of the Linden Mountains, south of Bremen, on which the old Arahem leaned, was a cult- and court-location. Achim was a meeting place of old Saxon courts. The court met three times annually.

The christian missionaries erected a baptismal church in Achim in the 12th Century; it was the predecessor of St. Laurentius Church in Achim, built in 1257.

Achim was set on fire in 1381 because of the fights between Duke Albrecht of Saxony and the Archbishop of Bremen.

From 1626-1712 it was alternatingly controlled by the Danes and the Swedes. During the seven year's war (precipitated by the French and Indian war) it was controlled by France. After the Congress of Vienna in 1815, Achim belonged to the kingdom of Hannover.

A train station has existed in Achim since 1847. Achim lies on the track between Bremen and Hannover.