Mauthausen

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Coat of Arms	Map (Austria)

General Information
State:	Upper Austria
District:	Perg
Area:	14 km²
Inhabitants:	4,850 (counted 2001)
Population density:	346 inhabitants per km²
Elevation:	265 above mean sea level
Postal Code:	4310
Area code:	+43 7238
Coordinates:	48°14′31″N, 14°31′01″E
Municipality Key:	41111
Administration:	Marktplatz 7 4310 Mauthausen
Official Website:	www.mauthausen.at
Email Address:	gemeinde@mauthausen.ooe.gv.at
Politics
Mayor:	Erwin Wohlmuth (SPÖ)

Mauthausen is a small market town in Upper Austria. It is located at about 20 kilometers east of the city of Linz, and has a population of 4,850 (2001).

During World War II, it became the site of the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp complex.

[edit] History

The area of Mauthausen has been settled for many centuries, as shown by archaeological discoveries dating back to the Neolithic age. During the time of the Roman Empire, it was at the crossroads of two trade routes.

The end of the 10th century, saw it becoming a toll (Maut in German) station for ships, and the name "Muthusen" for the settlement is first mentioned in 1208.

During World War I, a prisoner of war camp existed to the east of Mauthausen. Russian, Serbian, and mostly Italian (at times 40,000 men) soldiers were imprisoned there, around 9000 of whom died in the camp. A war cemetery exists in their memory.

From 1938 to 1945, a German concentration camp was set up to the west of the town. Around 4,500 Jews were gassed, and 110,000 prisoners died due to the inhumane work and living conditions.

Mauthausen experienced flooding from the Danube in 1954 and 2002.