Heilbronn: Difference between revisions

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Heilbronn is known for its wine industry and is nicknamed ''Käthchenstadt'', after [[Heinrich von Kleist]]'s ''[[Das Käthchen von Heilbronn]]''.

 

==Geography==

 

Heilbronn and its surroundings are located in the northern part of the larger [[Stuttgart]] metropolitan area. The city is the economic center of the Heilbronn-Franken region and is one of fourteen such cities in the Baden-Württemberg master plan of 2002. It also serves [[Abstatt]], [[Bad Rappenau]], [[Bad Wimpfen]], [[Beilstein (Württemberg)|Beilstein]], [[Brackenheim]], [[Cleebronn]], [[Eberstadt (Württemberg)|Eberstatt]], [[Ellhofen]], [[Eppingen]], [[Flein]], [[Gemmingen]], [[Güglingen]], [[Ilsfeld]], [[Ittlingen]], [[Kirchardt]], [[Lauffen am Neckar]], [[Lehrensteinsfeld]], [[Leingarten]], [[Löwenstein]], [[Massenbachhausen]], [[Neckarwestheim]], [[Nordheim (Württemberg)|Nordheim]], [[Obersulm]], [[Pfaffenhofen (Württemberg)|Pfaffenhofen]], [[Schwaigern]], [[Siegelsbach]], [[Talheim, Neckar|Talheim]], [[Untergruppenbach]], [[Weinsberg]], [[Wüstenrot]], and [[Zaberfeld]] as a regional economic centre.

* 009: Horkheim

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==History==

 

===1200–1500===

In 1225, Heilbronn was incorporated into the [[Hohenstaufen]] Empire as ''oppidum Heilecbrunnen''. ''Oppidum'' signified a city fortified by [[parapet]] and [[trench]]es. Later during the 13th century, the [[Teutonic Knights]] obtained ownership of a large area south of Heilbronn which would remain owned by that order until [[German Mediatisation]] in 1805. Starting in 1268, the order built the ''Deutschhof'' there as one of its residences. The church building of the order that was located on the premises was modified and expanded several times: First in 1350 it was expanded ([[gothic architecture|Gothic]]), then it was remodeled in 1719 ([[Baroque]]), and in 1977, it was consecrated as a cathedral.

 

 

===1900–1945===

With the dissolution of monarchy in the [[German Reich]] as a result of World War I, Heilbronn became part of the [[Free People's State of Württemberg]] in 1918.

 

On July 28, 1935, the port was opened in a canal off the Neckar, and 1936 saw the [[Autobahn]] between Heilbronn and Stuttgart completed. Economy and infrastructure were booming in Württemberg, and Heilbronn was at the logistic centre of it all. As the result of a district reform on October 1, 1938, Heilbronn became the seat of the newly created [[Heilbronn (district)|Heilbronn County]] and regained independent city status. At the same time the previously independent communities of Böckingen, Sontheim, and Neckargartach were annexed, and with 72,000 residents Heilbronn then was the second largest city in Württemberg. The port turned into an important transfer station on the Neckar and one of the ten largest interior ports in the country.

 

 

Starting in 1942 during World War II, the salt mines in and around Heilbronn were used to store art and artifacts from Germany, France, and Italy. Similarly, important producers of the war industry were moved into the [[Shaft mining|mine shafts]]. The expansion of the shafts was undertaken by labour brigades of the [[concentration camp]] branches in Kochendorf and Neckargartach. From Heilbronn all the way to [[Neckarelz]] numerous subterraneous complexes, some of them gigantic, were constructed''';''' on November 20, 1942, the Heilbronn Bureau of Labour had 8,000 forced labourers registered in its district.

 

===Second Half of the 20th Century===

After the war, Emil Beutinger, mayor until 1933, returned to office and began the formidable task of reconstruction that was subsequently continued by his successors [[Paul Metz]] and Paul Meyle. Milestones were the rededication of historic city hall in 1953 and the reopening of the community centre, ''Harmonie''. Heilbronn was part of [[Württemberg-Baden]] until 1952, after which it became part of [[Baden-Württemberg]].

 

After 1951, US troops were permanently stationed in Heilbronn. They used barracks built prior to World War II and added some structures of their own.

 

The opening of the Autobahn [[Bundesautobahn 6|A 6]] from Heilbronn to [[Mannheim]] in 1968 was an important economic event. When the [[Bundesautobahn 81|A 81]] to [[Würzburg]] and the [[Bundesautobahn 6|A 6]] to [[Nuremberg]] was completed in 1974 and 1979, respectively, Heilbronn became an important logistical centre in southern Germany. As a result, many large companies opened offices in Heilbronn.

Other major new buildings in the city area in recent years include two Neckar bridges, the two shopping centres Stadtgalerie and Klosterhof, the experimenta Science Center and the Bildungscampus.

 

 

===Religion===

Ever since the [[Franks]] under [[Clovis I|Chlodwig]] settled in the Neckar region around 500 the area has been predominantly [[Christians|Christian]] and when Heilbronn was first mentioned in an official document in 741 Christian Michaelsbasilica, present day's [[Kilianskirche (Heilbronn)|Kilianskirche]], was mentioned along with the city. The [[Teutonic Knights]] constructed its church from the 13th century and both churches were continually expanded. They were joined later by other churches and cloisters in the city.

 

Around 1050 an important Jewish community was mentioned that had settled in what became known as the ''Judengasse'' (''Lohtorstraße''). In 1298, 143 Jews were killed during the [[Rintfleisch-Pogrom]] and in 1350 Jews suffered attacks again during a European [[epidemic]] of the [[Bubonic plague]]. The city's constitution required the council to include Jews, but already in the middle of the 15th century Jews were the target of vigilantes again until they were evicted from the city in 1490 with the blessings of Emperor [[Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick III]].

 

 

While Heilbronn was part of the [[Diocese of Würzburg]], the independent villages of Böckingen, Neckargartach and Frankenbach were attached to the [[Diocese of Worms]]. From 1514 on the Heilbronn native Johann Lachmann was caretaker of the parish in St. Kilian, in 1521 he became its preacher, in 1524 he converted to [[Lutheranism]] and proceeded to teach and lead the [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]] in Heilbronn against the wishes of both dioceses. After the [[Protestant reformation]] of Heilbronn was complete the city remained Lutheran for centuries and the council and citizens accepted the [[Augsburg Confession]] without dissent. Catholics were no longer welcome, Jews were prohibited from settling in Heilbronn, and the city took part in the [[Protestation at Speyer]] on April 19, 1529 (the Protestation was the origin of the terms Protestant and Protestantism).

Around 1920 first groups of "Serious Bible Students" (now: [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]) formed. Their small community suffered from oppression during the [[Third Reich]] and many of its members died in [[concentration camps]]. Similarly, the Jewish community had to watch as its colossal [[synagogue]] went up in flames and its 350 members were subsequently all but extinguished. Jehovah's Witnesses built a first meeting room in Heilbronn in 1953 and many more have been added since then.

 

 

Since the 1970s, after guest workers and immigrants from [[Islam]]ic or [[Russian Orthodox Church|Russian-Orthodox]] countries settled here, these faiths are practiced by a growing part of the population and numerous mosques have been created since the 1990s in the city and county of Heilbronn.

Figures reflect city limits at the time and are estimates (until 1870) or [[Census]] data (¹), or official extensions thereof, counting only primary residences.

 

{| border="0"

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| March 31, 2020 || align="right" | 126,559

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===City council===

 

{| class="wikitable"

| align="left" | [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]] || align="right" | 4

|-

|-

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| align="left" | [[The Left (Germany)|The Left]] || align="right" | 2

The city of Heilbronn together with the northern municipalities of Heilbronn County makes up the electoral District 268 for national elections of representatives to the [[Bundestag (Germany)|Bundestag]].

 

 

For State elections to the [[Landtag of Baden-Württemberg]] Heilbronn makes up an electoral district (District 18) together with Erlenbach. Before the 2006 elections, it was an electoral district all by itself.

* ''[[Kleist-Archiv Sembdner]]''

* South-German Train Museum Heilbronn

 

===Other sights===

The Literaturhaus Heilbronn has opened in 2020. It is located in the Trappenseeschlösschen, a striking baroque building in the middle of a lake in the east of the city. With readings by contemporary authors, lectures, discussions, workshops and conferences as well as smaller temporary exhibitions, the Literaturhaus Heilbronn offers a variety of formats on the subject of literature and reading. Associated to the Literaturhaus is the Kleist Archiv Semdner, an archive and study center on the famous German author [[Heinrich von Kleist]].

 

 

=== Music ===

Today the business faculties of the Hochschule Heilbronn reside at the [https://bildungscampus.hn/en/ Bildungscampus of the Dieter Schwarz Foundation] in the heart of Heilbronn along with the [https://www.heilbronn.dhbw.de/ Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University Heilbronn] (DHBW Heilbronn), the [https://www.cas.dhbw.de/ Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University - Center for Advanced Studies] (DHBW CAS) as well as the [https://www.wi.tum.de/tum-campus-heilbronn/welcome-tum-campus-heilbronn/ Campus Heilbronn of the Technical University of Munich] and other educational establishments and scientific institutions.

 

 

As far as general education is concerned, Heilbronn operates five college-track highschools or [[Gymnasium (school)|gymnasiums]] (''Elly-Heuss-Knapp-Gymnasium'', ''Justinus-Kerner-Gymnasium'', ''Mönchsee-Gymnasium'', ''Robert-Mayer-Gymnasium'' and ''Theodor-Heuss-Gymnasium''), four non-college-track highschools or ''Realschulen'' (''Dammrealschule'', ''Helene-Lange-Realschule'', ''Heinrich-von-Kleist-Realschule'' in Böckingen and ''Mörike-Realschule''). There are also six special-education schools run by the city ''Wilhelm-Hofmann-Förderschule'', ''Pestalozzi-Förderschule'', and ''Paul-Meyle-Schule'' for the mentally and physically impaired, two special-education schools run by Heilbronn County (''Gebrüder-Grimm-Schule'' for the speech impaired and ''Hermann-Herzog-Schule'' for the seeing impaired), and the ''Lindenparkschule'', which is run by the state of Baden-Württemberg for the hearing and speech impaired. The latter also includes a boarding school and consultation centre.

 

==Gallery==

 

==Footnotes==

[[Category:Former states and territories of Baden-Württemberg]]

[[Category:Holocaust locations in Germany]]