Rüsselsheim am Main

Rüsselsheim am Main

Aerial view

Coat of arms
Rüsselsheim am Main

Coordinates: 50°00′N 08°26′E / 50.000°N 8.433°E / 50.000; 8.433Coordinates: 50°00′N 08°26′E / 50.000°N 8.433°E / 50.000; 8.433
Country Germany
State Hesse
Admin. region Darmstadt
District Groß-Gerau
Government
 • Lord Mayor Patrick Burghardt (CDU)
Area
 • Total 58.3 km2 (22.5 sq mi)
Elevation 88 m (289 ft)
Population (2015-12-31)[1]
 • Total 63,030
 • Density 1,100/km2 (2,800/sq mi)
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes 65428
Dialling codes 06142
Vehicle registration GG
Website www.ruesselsheim.de

Rüsselsheim am Main is the largest city in the Groß-Gerau district in the Rhein-Main region of Germany. It is one of seven special status cities (implementing several functions that counties normally provide) in Hesse and is located on the Main, between Frankfurt and Mainz, only a few kilometres from its mouth in Mainz. The suburbs of Bauschheim and Königstädten are included in Rüsselsheim. Rüsselsheim has attained international recognition through the presence of the German car company Adam Opel GmbH.


History

Rüsselsheim emerged from a settlement of the Count of Katzenelnbogen.

circ. 1655

The name of the city evolved over the course of time:

In the year 1435 the high noble Count John IV of Katzenelnbogen[2] was first to cultivate Riesling in Rüsselsheim. His administrator bought new vines for 22 Schilling documented in the annual reports. in the following years Riesling showed up down the river Rhine and up the River Mosel. Rüsselsheim's comeback in the history of wine took place in 18th and 19th century, when famous wine-growing estates in the Rheingau recultivated their vineyards with vines of the Rüsselsheim and Flörsheim Area (Allendorf, Rheingauer Weinbauverband EV 1980). After the First World War viticulture disappeared in Rüsselsheim. In 1980 the mayor of Rüsselsheim Dr. Storsberg initiated a memory vineyard near the castle celebrating 550 Years of Riesling. This vineyard still exists.

Politics

Coat of arms

In the city's coat of arms, there is a silver "Doppelhaken" (a double hook) and two silver stars on a blue background.

The "Doppelhaken" is also called a "Wolfsangel" (wolf hook); however, it is not clear whether or not it was actually used to kill wolves. Some also see the "Doppelhaken" as a grappling hook. It is actually forbidden in Germany to use this symbol on the grounds that it has been used in the past to stand for certain right-wing extremist groups, also now banned. Civic coats of arms or similar, which have traditionally used the Wolfsangel, are exempt from the ban.[3]

The two stars indicate that Rüsselsheim used to belong to Katzenelnbogen County, which also bore these stars on its coat of arms.

World War II

During World War II, Rüsselsheim was bombed several times by the British RAF. The RAF followed a policy of "area bombing" of cities. The day after one such bombing, August 26, 1944, an American B-24 Liberator was shot down after bombing nearby Hanover (American policy did not allow for area bombing as did the British; the American crew had been bombing an airport). The nine member American crew was captured and under guard was placed on a train to a POW camp routed thorough Rüsselsheim. Due to damage done to the railyards, the captured crew and their guards were forced to alight and walk to another location to catch another train. During this walk, residents of Rüsselsheim saw the crew and vented their anger on the crew, shouting insults and spitting. Assuming the crew were "Canadians" and that they had taken part in the bombing of their city the night before, this group grew larger. One woman shouted out "There are the terror flyers. Tear them to pieces! Beat them to death! They have destroyed our houses!" She threw a brick at the crew and that precipitated a riot during which the residents attacked the crew with rocks, hammers, lumber and shovels. Six of the crew were killed. A local Nazi official administered a final shot to four of the men. The bodies of the dead crew were hidden at the rear of the city cemetery.

After the War (1946) when Rüsselsheim was under occupation by the American Army, the killings came to light and the bodies located. In the first war trials of Germans prior to the Nuremberg trials, five of the residents were tried as war criminals, found guilty and hanged. Three others received sentences to hard labour and were released in the 1950s. A later trial was held for two more citizens, one of whom was hanged. In all, eleven citizens were tried for war crimes and murder stemming from this incident, six of whom were executed. (see Wolfsangel: A German City on Trial 1945–48, by August Nigro (Brassey's Inc, London, August 2000; 186pp)(ISBN 1574882457))

Lord Mayors

City partnerships

Since 1961 Rüsselsheim participates in a programme of international community partnership. A regular exchange of culture and sports takes place between the four partner communities. Among other things, there are regular competitions between the four municipalities.

The first partnership began in 1961 with the French town Évreux, the capital of the département of Eure, with approximately 50,000 inhabitants. Evreux is about 100 km from both Paris and the Normandy Coast. In terms of history, Evreux offers historical monuments from the Gallo-Roman period (3rd century) and a cathedral from the 13th century. The economy of the city is based on business from the printing, electronics and pharmaceutical industries.

In 1977 Rugby (England) was added as the second partner town. The city has a population of about 70,000 and is located in Warwickshire County. It became well-known because of the public school with same name, as well as the sport "rugby." Rugby is a transportation junction between London, Birmingham and the north of England and its economy is based on industry and agriculture.

In 1979 the town of Varkaus, in Finland, was added. A quarter of the town is water, and as a town with bridges and canals, Varkaus is a popular tourist destination, both in summer (baths and boot tours) and in winter (100 km cross-country ski runs).

In 1991 the town of Kecskemét formed a partnership with Rüsselsheim and is its most recent addition. Kecskemét is the capital of the Hungarian komitat Bács-Kiskun, with a population of about 100,000. Kecskemét is located in the national park Kiskunság between Danube and Theiss. Well-known people from the town include the playwright József Katona, the painter János Muroközy, and the composer Zoltán Kodály. Art, education and agriculture shape the town.

An attempt to add the Turkish spa town of Bodrum as a fifth partner town failed.

Economy

The car manufacturer Opel and the ideal transportation location with many motorway connections and direct train connections from Rüsselsheim station to Mainz, Frankfurt am Main, Wiesbaden and Darmstadt have resulted in the establishment of many businesses and the attraction of many commuters in Rüsselsheim.

Local companies

Opel

Above all, Rüsselsheim is known for its car manufacturer Opel. The founder, Adam Opel, began as a trainee mechanic and founded a sewing machine factory. The first cars were built in 1899.

Hyundai (and Hyundai-Kia European Technical Center)

The European Centre of the Korean car manufacturer Hyundai was inaugurated in 2003.

Electronic Data Systems

The German centre of the outsourcing division of Hewlett-Packard (formerly EDS) was located in Rüsselsheim.

Public institutions

Culture

The Rüsselsheim Theatre provides 865 seats in stalls and tiers. The theatre's programming consists of plays, concerts, operas, operettas, musicals, ballet and dancing.

The Rüsselsheim Museum, which was designated in 1980 with the Council of Europe's museum award as a "Model Museum", focuses in particular on the development of labor procedures and labor conditions from prehistory to the present.

Educational institutions

Hochschule RheinMain (RheinMain University of Applied Sciences)

The Hochschule RheinMain is an advanced technical college which has a branch in the city of Rüsselsheim. The technical departments of the Fachhochschule Wiesbaden are primarily located here.

Courses of study:


Recreational and sports facilities

Event spaces: Großsporthalle (formerly known as Walter-Köbel-Halle) (2500 spectators)
Swimming pools: Freizeitbad an der Lache, Waldschwimmbad, Opelbad (no longer in use)
Stadiums: Stadion am Sommerdamm, with a field including bleachers and an artificial field for hockey
Boathouses: Bootshaus des Rudervereins Rüsselsheim am Main

Clubs

Rüsselsheim features a large number of clubs. Some of them are members of national and international leagues.

In 2004, the Volunteer Fire Brigade of the city of Rüsselsheim was 125 years old.


Development of the city

Additions

Twin Towns

People

Honorary citizens

Sons and Daughters of the Town

People who have had influence in Rüsselsheim


References

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