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Spandau
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - Cite This Source- For the Spandau machine gun, see Maschinengewehr 08. For the 1980s New Wave group, see Spandau Ballet.
| Sign | Map |
|---|---|
| Area: | 91.91 km² |
| Inhabitants: | 223,768 (2007) |
| Population density: | 2,435 inhabitants per km² |
| Website: | Official homepage |
| Politics | |
| Mayor of Borough: | Konrad Birkholz (CDU) |
| Parliament of Borough (BVV): | CDU 24, SPD 20, Alliance '90/The Greens 4, FDP 3, The Greys 3, The Left Party.PDS 1 (last election 2006) |
Spandau is the fifth and westernmost borough (Bezirk) of Berlin, situated at the confluence of the Havel and Spree rivers and along the western bank of the Havel.
History
The history of Spandau begins in the 7th or 8th century, when the Slav Heveller first settled in the area and later built a fortress there. It is conquered in 928 by the German King Henry I, but returns to Slavic rule later in the 10th century.In 1156, the Ascanian Earl Albrecht von Ballenstedt ("Albrecht the Bear") took possession of the region. 1197 marked the first mention as Spandowe in a deed of Otto II, Margrave of Brandenburg - thus forty years earlier than the Cölln part of the medieval Berlin. Spandau was given city rights in 1232.
During the Ascanian Rule the construction of the Spandau Citadel began, which was completed between 1559 and 1594 by Joachim II of Brandenburg. In 1558 the village of Gatow became part of Spandau. During the Thirty Years' War Spandau was surrendered to the Swedes in 1634.
In 1806, after the Battle of Jena and Auerstedt, French troops under Napoleon took possession of the city and stayed there until 1807. In 1812, Napoleon returned and the Spandau Citadel was besieged in 1813 by Prussian and Russian troops.
Before World War I, Spandau was a seat of large government cannon foundries, factories for making gunpowder and other munitions of war making it a centre of the arms industry in the German Empire. It was also a garrison town with numerous barracks, home of the 5th Guard Infantry Brigade and the 5th Guard Foot Regiment of the German Army. In 1920, Spandau (whose name had been changed from Spandow in 1878) was incorporated into Greater Berlin as a borough.
After World War II, it was part of the British Occupation Zone in West Berlin and the Spandau Prison, built in 1876, was used to house Nazi war criminals who were sentenced to imprisonment at the Nuremberg Trials. After the death of Rudolf Hess, the prison's last inmate, Spandau Prison was completely demolished by the allied powers and later replaced by a shopping mall.
Modern industries include metal working, chemicals and carpet manufacturing.
Also worthy of note, the popular British New Romantic band, Spandau Ballet takes its name from Spandau.
Places of interest
- Spandau Citadel, Fortress build in the 16th century (officially located in Haselhorst)
- St. Nikolai, gothic church from the 14th century (there is also a Nikolaikirche in Berlin-Mitte)
- Spandau Old Town with medieval Gotisches Haus (Gothic House), 15th century
Localities
Twin towns
- Luton, England since 1950
- Siegen, Germany since 1952
- Asnières-sur-Seine, France since 1959
- Ashdod, Israel, since 1968
- Boca Raton, Florida, USA since 1980
- Iznik, Turkey since 1987
- Nauen, Germany since 1988
External links
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Last updated on Thursday March 06, 2008 at 14:44:16 PST (GMT -0800)
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