Hohnstein (German pronunciation: [ˈhoːnˌʃtaɪ̯n] ) is a town located in the Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge district of Saxony, in eastern Germany. As of 2020, its population numbered a total of 3,262.

Hohnstein
General view of the town
General view of the town
Coat of arms of Hohnstein
Location of Hohnstein within Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge district
AltenbergBad Gottleuba-BerggießhübelBad SchandauBahretalBannewitzDippoldiswaldeDohmaDohnaDorfhainDürrröhrsdorf-DittersbachFreitalGlashütteGohrischHartmannsdorf-ReichenauHeidenauHermsdorfHohnsteinSebnitzKlingenbergKönigsteinKreischaLiebstadtLohmenMüglitztalNeustadt in SachsenPirnaRabenauRathenRathmannsdorfReinhardtsdorf-SchönaRosenthal-BielatalDippoldiswaldeSebnitzSebnitzStadt WehlenStruppenStolpenTharandtWilsdruffSaxonyCzech RepublicBautzen (district)DresdenMeißen (district)Mittelsachsen
Hohnstein is located in Germany
Hohnstein
Hohnstein
Hohnstein is located in Saxony
Hohnstein
Hohnstein
Coordinates: 50°59′N 14°07′E / 50.983°N 14.117°E / 50.983; 14.117
CountryGermany
StateSaxony
DistrictSächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge
Government
 • Mayor (2022–29) Daniel Brade[1]
Area
 • Total64.61 km2 (24.95 sq mi)
Elevation
330 m (1,080 ft)
Population
 (2022-12-31)[2]
 • Total3,201
 • Density50/km2 (130/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
01848
Dialling codes035975
Vehicle registrationPIR
Websitewww.hohnstein.de

Geography

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It is situated in Saxon Switzerland, 12 km east of Pirna, and 28 km southeast of Dresden (centre). It is dominated by its castle, standing on a sandstone rock.

The municipal territory includes the villages (Ortsteile) of Cunnersdorf, Ehrenberg, Goßdorf, Lohsdorf, Rathewalde, Ulbersdorf and Waitzdorf.

History

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In 1900, the town had a population of 1,321.[3]

During the German invasion of Poland at the start of World War II, in September 1939, the Oflag IV-A prisoner-of-war camp for Polish officers was established at the local castle, and from 1940 it also held French and Belgian officers and orderlies.[4] In 1941, the Oflag IV-A was dissolved, and the Stalag IV-A POW camp was relocated to Hohnstein from Elsterhorst.[4] It held Polish, French, British, Belgian, Serbian, Dutch, Soviet, Italian, American, Slovak, Czech and Bulgarian POWs, and was liberated by the Soviets in April 1945.[4]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Gewählte Bürgermeisterinnen und Bürgermeister im Freistaat Sachsen, Stand: 17. Juli 2022, Statistisches Landesamt des Freistaates Sachsen.
  2. ^ "Einwohnerzahlen nach Gemeinden als Excel-Arbeitsmappe" (XLS) (in German). Statistisches Landesamt des Freistaates Sachsen. 2024.
  3. ^ Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon. Vol. 9. Leipzig und Wien. 1906. p. 467.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ a b c Megargee, Geoffrey P.; Overmans, Rüdiger; Vogt, Wolfgang (2022). The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos 1933–1945. Volume IV. Indiana University Press, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. pp. 236, 413. ISBN 978-0-253-06089-1.
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