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Neubrandenburg

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Neubrandenburg (lit. New Brandenburg, IPA: [nɔʏˈbʁandn̩bʊʁk]) is a city in the southeast of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is located on the shore of a lake called Tollensesee and forms the urban centre of the Mecklenburg Lakeland.

Neubrandenburg
City
Neubrandenburg skyline with Tollensesee
Neubrandenburg skyline with Tollensesee
Flag of Neubrandenburg
Flag
Coat of arms of Neubrandenburg
Coat of arms
Location of Neubrandenburg within Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district
Neubrandenburg is located in Germany
Neubrandenburg
Neubrandenburg
Neubrandenburg is located in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Neubrandenburg
Neubrandenburg
Coordinates: 53°33′25″N 13°15′40″E / 53.55694°N 13.26111°E / 53.55694; 13.26111
CountryGermany
StateMecklenburg-Vorpommern
DistrictMecklenburgische Seenplatte
Subdivisions10 Stadtteile
Government
 • Lord mayor (2022–29) Silvio Witt[1] (Ind.)
Area
 • Total85.65 km2 (33.07 sq mi)
Elevation
20 m (70 ft)
Population
 (2022-12-31)[2]
 • Total63,989
 • Density750/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
17033, 17034, 17036, 17050[3]
Dialling codes0395
Vehicle registrationNB
Websitewww.neubrandenburg.de

The city is famous for its rich medieval heritage of Brick Gothic architecture, including the world's best preserved defensive wall of this style as well as a Concert Church (Saint Mary), the home venue of the Neubrandenburg Philharmonic. It is part of the European Route of Brick Gothic, a route which leads through seven countries along the Baltic Sea coast. Neubrandenburg is nicknamed for its four medieval city gates - "Stadt der Vier Tore" ("City of Four Gates").

Since 2011, Neubrandenburg has been the capital of the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district. It is the third-largest city and one of the main urban centres of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The city is an economical node of northeastern Germany, featuring one of the highest national ranks in employment density and GDP per capita.[4] The closest greater urban areas are the regiopolis of Rostock and the metropolises of Szczecin, Berlin and Hamburg. Since 1991, Neubrandenburg has hosted a University of Applied Sciences that offers international exchanges, guest programs and study programs.

History

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Two of the 25 (formerly 56) typical timbered Wiek houses along the Neubrandenburg city wall

The first Christian monks in the area were Premonstratensian in Broda Abbey, a monastery at the shore (about 1240). The foundation of the city known as of Neubrandenburg took place in 1248, when the Margrave of Brandenburg decided to build a settlement in the northern part of his fief, naming it after the older city of Brandenburg further south. In 1292, the city and the surrounding area became part of Mecklenburg.

The city flourished as a trade centre until the Thirty Years' War (1618–48), when this position was lost due to incessant warfare. During the dramatic advance of the Swedish army of Gustavus Adolphus into Germany, the city was garrisoned by Swedes, but it was retaken by Imperial Catholic League forces in 1631. During this campaign, it was widely reported that the Catholic forces killed many of the Swedish and Scottish soldiers while they were surrendering. Later, according to the Scottish soldier of fortune Robert Munro, 18th Baron of Foulis, when the Swedes themselves adopted a "no prisoners" policy, they would cut short any pleas for mercy with the cry of "New Brandenburg!". The city, therefore, played an unconscious role in the escalation of brutality of one of history's most brutal wars.

During the Second World War, two German prisoner-of-war camps for Allied POWs of various nationalities were located in Fünfeichen within the city limits: the large Stalag II-A and the adjacent Oflag II-E/67 for officers. The town was also the location of a forced labour camp for Sinti and Romani people.[5] In 1945, few days before the end of the Second World War, 80% of the old town was burned down by the Red Army in a great fire, and about 600 people committed suicide as a result.[6] Since then, most buildings of historical relevance have been rebuilt. After the war, from 1945 to 1948, the special NKVD-camp Nr. 9 was operated at the site of the former Stalag II-A.

Neubrandenburg was a bezirk centre between 1952 and 1990.

Sights and monuments

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Neubrandenburg has preserved its medieval city wall in its entirety. The wall, 7 m high with a perimeter of 2.3 km, has four Brick Gothic city gates, dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries. Of these, one of the most impressive is the Stargarder Tor (pictured), with its characteristic gable-like shape and the filigree tracery and rosettes on the outer defence side.

Another place of interest is the Brick Gothic Marienkirche (Church of the Virgin Mary or St. Mary's Church, Konzertkirche), completed 1298. The church was nearly destroyed in 1945, but it was restored in 1975 and now houses a concert hall (opened 2001).

The tallest highrise in the city is the 56m Haus der Kultur und Bildung (HKB, House of Culture & Education), opened in 1965. Its slender appearance has earned it the nickname Kulturfinger ("culture finger").

Other attractions include Neubrandenburg Regional Museum.

Education

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Sports

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Neubrandenburg is known as city of sports (Sportstadt). The city is famous for being home to various Olympic medal winners and talents in sports, especially in canoeing (Andreas Dittmer, Martin Hollstein), discus throwing and shotputting (Astrid Kumbernuss, Ralf Bartels, Franka Dietzsch) and running (Katrin Krabbe). Neubrandenburg was the location of both of the world record throws in Discus, by Jürgen Schult in 1986 and by Gabriele Reinsch in 1988. The Jahnstadion, the Jahnsportforum stadium, the Stadthalle and adjacent sport parks offer vast options for large sport and culture events. The city is also home to a dedicated sports elite school, the Sportgymnasium Neubrandenburg.

The Günter Harder Stadion was a multi purpose stadium that existed from 1949 to circa 1996.[7] It hosted football and motorcycle speedway and held qualifying rounds of the Speedway World Championship in 1964 and 1965.[8][9]

 
Luise Mühlbach, ca 1850

Notable people

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Sport

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Viola Odebrecht, 2008

Governance

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The current mayor of Neubrandenburg is independent politician Silvio Witt since 2015. The most recent mayoral election was held on 16 January 2022, and the results were as follows:

Candidate Party Votes %
Silvio Witt Independent (CDU/SPD/FDP) 16,325 87.5
Gunar Mühle The Left 2,327 12.5
Valid votes 18,652 99.5
Invalid votes 93 0.5
Total 38,745 100.0
Electorate/voter turnout 52,941 35.4
Source: City of Neubrandenburg

The most recent city council election was held on 9 June 2024, and the results were as follows:

Party Votes % +/- Seats +/-
Alternative for Germany (AfD) 17,473 21.5   5.4 9   2
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) 14,597 17.9   7.4 8   3
Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) 13,037 16.0 New 7 New
Social Democratic Party (SPD) 9,238 11.4   5.1 5   2
Project Neubrandenburg (Projekt-NB) 7,218 8.9 New 4 New
The Left (Die Linke) 6,411 7.9   15.9 3   7
Citizens for Neubrandenburg (BfN) 5,195 6.4 New 3 New
Alliance 90/The Greens (Grüne) 4,131 5.1   6.2 2   3
Strong Citizens Neubrandenburg (SBNB) 1,866 2.3 New 1 New
Free Democratic Party (FDP) 827 1.0   2.4 0   2
Independent Sandmann 695 0.9 New 0 New
dieBasis 485 0.6 New 0 New
The Homeland (HEIMAT) 245 0.3 New 0 New
Valid votes 81,408 100.0
Invalid ballots 1,001 1.2
Total ballots 28,124 100.0 43 ±0
Electorate/voter turnout 51,927 54.2   2.2
Source: City of Neubrandenburg

In October 2024 Mr. Witt announced on Facebook that he would step down as Lord Mayor effective May 2025.

Twin towns – sister cities

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See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany

Neubrandenburg is twinned with:[11]

References

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  1. ^ Kommunalwahlen in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Ergebnisse der Bürgermeisterwahlen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Landesamt für innere Verwaltung, accessed 7 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Bevölkerungsstand der Kreise, Ämter und Gemeinden 2022" (XLS) (in German). Statistisches Amt Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. 2023.
  3. ^ Agentur für Arbeit Neubrandenburg Archived 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Facts & numbers about Neubrandenburg (neubrandenburg.de)
  5. ^ "Lager für Sinti und Roma Neubrandenburg". Bundesarchiv.de (in German). Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  6. ^ Lakotta, Beate (2005-03-05). "Tief vergraben, nicht dran rühren" (in German). SPON. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
  7. ^ "Neubrandenburger DDR-Stadion in Bronze gegossen". Nordkurier. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  8. ^ "1964 World Championship". Metal Speedway. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  9. ^ "1965 World Championship". Speedway.org. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Mühlbach, Luise" . New International Encyclopedia. Vol. XIV. 1905.
  11. ^ "Partnerstädte". neubrandenburg.de (in German). Neubrandenburg. Retrieved 2021-03-01.

Further reading

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Chronicles
  • (in German) Gottlob von Hacke: Geschichte der Vorderstadt Neubrandenburg. Vol. I: Vom Jahr 1248 bis 1711 (no further volume did appear). Neubrandenburg 1783 (online)
  • (in German) Franz Boll: Chronik der Vorderstadt Neubrandenburg. Neubrandenburg 1875. (Reprinted several times)
  • (in German) Wilhelm Ahlers: Historisch-topographische Skizzen aus der Vorzeit der Vorderstadt Neubrandenburg. Neubrandenburg 1876. (Reprinted several times)
  • (in German) Karl Wendt: Geschichte der Vorderstadt Neubrandenburg in Einzeldarstellungen. Neubrandenburg 1922. (Reprinted in 1984)
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