Luckenwalde

Luckenwalde

Market tower and St. John's Church

Coat of arms
Luckenwalde

Coordinates: 52°05′N 13°10′E / 52.083°N 13.167°ECoordinates: 52°05′N 13°10′E / 52.083°N 13.167°E
Country Germany
State Brandenburg
District Teltow-Fläming
Government
 • Mayor Elisabeth Herzog-von der Heide (SPD)
Area
 • Total 46.75 km2 (18.05 sq mi)
Population (2012-12-31)[1]
 • Total 20,154
 • Density 430/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes 14943
Dialling codes 03371
Vehicle registration TF
Website www.luckenwalde.de

Luckenwalde (German pronunciation: [lʊkənˈvaldə]) is the capital of the Teltow-Fläming district in the German state of Brandenburg. It is situated on the Nuthe river north of the Fläming Heath, at the eastern rim of the Nuthe-Nieplitz Nature Park, about 50 km (31 mi) south of Berlin. The town area includes the villages of Frankenfelde and Kolzenburg.

Overview

Hat factory, under reconstruction

The former Slavic settlement of Lugkin was conquered by Margrave Conrad Wettin of Meissen in the course of the 1147 Wendish Crusade. Lukenwalde Castle was first mentioned in a 1216 deed as a burgward of the Bishopric of Brandenburg, it was acquired by Zinna Abbey in 1285. Together with Zinna it remained under the rule of the Archbishopric of Magdeburg and its successor, the Prussian Duchy of Magdeburg until it was attached to the Margraviate of Brandenburg in 1773.

Originating in the 17th century, Luckenwalde's cloth and wool factories did not spring up till the reign of King Frederick II of Prussia and soon were among the most extensive in Germany. Other traditional industries were cotton printing and a dye works, brewing, and the making of metal and bronze goods. In 1808 Luckenwalde officially received town privileges.

By the turn of the 20th Century Luckenwalde became renowned as a key manufacturer of hats. In 1921 the two biggest hat ateliers, Herrmann and Steinberg, merged and set up their factory on an industrial estate in Luckenwalde. The factory was designed by German architect Erich Mendelsohn in 1923, the factory is considered a milestone of Expressionist architecture. The hat factory fell into disrepair during and after the war period and was restored in 2001, but as of 2013 the building remains empty.[2]

During World War II, there was a Stalag for prisoners of war (Stalag IIIa). There was also a work camp for civilians. The Nazis forced people to work for their war effort or else the families of people who worked there would perish. Lack of food and hard work killed thousands. Among them were Poles, Italians, French and many more. There were several places in the town and surrounding areas where they worked. Luckenwalde was taken by the Red Army on 22 April 1945. After the Russians showed up to liberate the camp, American POWs ventured into town to find Russians raping and killing, hanging women and children out of windows. German girls went to the GIs for protection and the Russians did not bother the girls when they were with them. But after feeling threatened by the Russians who had the guns they left town and headed back to camp. When they got there the fences were back up and they were now prisoners of the Russians. The Russians asked for name, rank and serial number but the GIs refused telling the Russians they were comrades and should not be treated as prisoners.

Demography

Luckenwalde:
Population development within the current boundaries[3]
Year Population
1875 14 699
1890 19 173
1910 24 213
1925 25 625
1933 26 784
1939 29 383
1946 31 927
1950 31 668
1964 29 968
1971 29 700
Year Population
1981 27 957
1985 27 487
1989 27 096
1990 26 544
1991 25 688
1992 25 306
1993 24 983
1994 24 675
1995 24 185
1996 23 803
Year Population
1997 23 383
1998 23 052
1999 22 683
2000 22 389
2001 22 111
2002 21 813
2003 21 718
2004 21 570
2005 21 373
2006 21 176
Year Population
2007 20 902
2008 20 726
2009 20 637
2010 20 471
2011 20 230
2012 20 154

Detailed data sources are to be found in the Wikimedia Commons.[4]

Politics

Seats in the municipal assembly (Stadtverordnetenversammlung) as of 2014 elections:[5]

Born in Luckenwalde

Rudi Dutschke (1940–1979), spokesman of the German 1968 movement, was raised in Luckenwalde

International relations

Luckenwalde is twinned with:

References

  1. ↑ "Bevölkerung im Land Brandenburg nach amtsfreien Gemeinden, Ämtern und Gemeinden 31. Dezember 2012 (XLS-Datei; 83 KB) (Einwohnerzahlen auf Grundlage des Zensus 2011)". Amt für Statistik Berlin-Brandenburg (in German). 31 December 2012.
  2. ↑ Hat Factory on Architectuul
  3. ↑ Boundaries as of 2013
  4. ↑ Population Projection Brandenburg at Wikimedia Commons
  5. ↑ "Municipal election 25.05.2014 - STVV Luckenwalde". Stadt Luckenwalde. Retrieved 19 October 2014.

Public Domain This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

External links

Media related to Luckenwalde at Wikimedia Commons