Luckenwalde

Luckenwalde
Market tower and St. John's Church
Market tower and St. John's Church
Coat of arms of Luckenwalde
Location of Luckenwalde within Teltow-Fläming district
Am MellenseeBaruth/MarkBlankenfelde-MahlowDahmeDahmetalGroßbeerenIhlowJüterbogLuckenwaldeLudwigsfeldeNiederer FlämingNiedergörsdorfNuthe-UrstromtalRangsdorfTrebbinZossenBrandenburg
Luckenwalde is located in Germany
Luckenwalde
Luckenwalde
Luckenwalde is located in Brandenburg
Luckenwalde
Luckenwalde
Coordinates: 52°05′N 13°10′E / 52.083°N 13.167°E / 52.083; 13.167
CountryGermany
StateBrandenburg
DistrictTeltow-Fläming
Subdivisions3 Ortsteile
Government
 • Mayor (2017–25) Elisabeth Herzog-von der Heide[1] (SPD)
Area
 • Total
46.75 km2 (18.05 sq mi)
Elevation
48 m (157 ft)
Population
 (2022-12-31)[2]
 • Total
20,839
 • Density450/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
14943
Dialling codes03371
Vehicle registrationTF
Websitewww.luckenwalde.de

Luckenwalde (German: [ˌlʊkn̩ˈvaldə] ; Upper and Lower Sorbian: Łukowc, Upper Sorbian: [ˈwukɔfts], Lower Sorbian: [ˈwukɔwts]) 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

Former hat factory

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.[3]

During World War II, there was a Stalag for prisoners of war (Stalag III-A). 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.[citation needed]

Demography

Luckenwalde: Population development
within the current boundaries (2020)[4]
YearPop.±% p.a.
1875 14,699—    
1890 19,173+1.79%
1910 24,213+1.17%
1925 25,625+0.38%
1939 29,383+0.98%
1950 31,668+0.68%
1964 29,968−0.39%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1971 29,700−0.13%
1981 27,957−0.60%
1985 27,487−0.42%
1990 26,544−0.70%
1995 24,185−1.84%
2000 22,389−1.53%
2005 21,373−0.92%
YearPop.±% p.a.
2010 20,471−0.86%
2015 20,358−0.11%
2016 20,521+0.80%
2017 20,674+0.75%
2018 20,522−0.74%
2019 20,582+0.29%
2020 20,586+0.02%

Politics

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

Transport

Luckenwalde station is located on the Berlin–Halle railway.

Notable people

International relations

Luckenwalde is twinned with:

References

  1. ^ Landkreis Teltow-Fläming Wahl der Bürgermeisterin / des Bürgermeisters, accessed 4 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Bevölkerungsentwicklung und Bevölkerungsstandim Land Brandenburg Dezember 2022" (PDF). Amt für Statistik Berlin-Brandenburg (in German). June 2023.
  3. ^ Hat Factory on Architectuul
  4. ^ Detailed data sources are to be found in the Wikimedia Commons.Population Projection Brandenburg at Wikimedia Commons
  5. ^ "Municipal election 25.05.2014 - STVV Luckenwalde". Stadt Luckenwalde. Retrieved 19 October 2014.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Luckenwalde". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 106.

Media related to Luckenwalde at Wikimedia Commons

Notgeld (emergency banknotes) depicting the industries Luckenwalde was known for in the early 20th century. http://webgerman.com/Notgeld/Directory/L/Luckenwalde.htm