Borkum

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Borkum
Borkum photographed from a lighthouse
Borkum photographed from a lighthouse
Coat of arms Location
Coat of arms of Borkum
Borkum (Germany)
Borkum
Administration
Country Flag of Germany Germany
State Lower Saxony
District Leer
Mayor Kristin Mahlitz (Ind.)
Basic statistics
Area 30.74 km² (11.9 sq mi)
Elevation 6 m  (20 ft)
Population 5,547  (31/12/2006)
 - Density 180 /km² (467 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate LER
Postal code 26757
Area codes 0 49 22
Website www.stadt-borkum.de

Coordinates: 53°35′17″N 06°40′11″E / 53.58806, 6.66972

Borkum is an island and a municipality in the Leer District in Lower Saxony, northwestern Germany.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Borkum is bordered to the west by the Westereems strait (which forms the border with the Netherlands), to the east by the Osterems strait, to the north by the North Sea, and to the south by the Wadden Sea. It is the largest and westernmost of the East Frisian Islands in the North Sea, due north of the Dutch province of Groningen.

The island was formed by two previously separate islands which were still separated by a shallow water in 1863. The seam between the former eastern and western parts is called Tüskendör ("through in between").

[edit] History

On 19 and 20 December 1934, Wernher von Braun launched "Max" and "Moritz", the two prototypes of the A2-rocket. Lager Borkum, the Nazi labour camp on Alderney was named after the island.

A number of former German soldiers of the 216th Marine-Flak-Abeitlung (Naval Flak Battalion) were tried for war crimes by the Dachau International Military Tribunal, from February 6 to March 21, 1946 (US v Kurt Goebell et al). They were charged with the unlawful execution of seven United States Army Air Forces personnel who had survived the crash of their damaged B-17 Flying Fortress on the island on April 8, 1944. (See talk page for list of those tried).

[edit] Transportation

The island is partially car-free. Off-season, driving by car is permitted everywhere, otherwise there are car-free zones. The only town on the island is also called Borkum.

[edit] External links