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Reichenbach (Vogtland)
Encyclopedia
Reichenbach im Vogtland is a city in the Vogtlandkreis
district of Saxony
, Germany
. With a population of 20.146,
it is the second largest town after Plauen
. It lies by the A27
in between Plauen (at ca. 18 km) and Zwickau
(at ca. 19 km).
and thanks its early growth to its convenient position in a valley near Mylau Castle
. In 1212 it was officially named Richenbach, possibly because of the many wetland basins (German: Bächen) in the area which now hosts the Altstadt
. It received town privileges
around 1240 and a 1271 decree established "civitatis richenbach", a recognized small city with autonomous rights to defend itself, trade and hold municipal elections. Much of the Reichenbach history was lost in the city fires of 1720, 1773, and 1833. The foundations of the Peter Paul parish church
still date back to the 12th century.
The rise of industrialisation
allowed the city to grow further, again promoted by its accessibility. Sewing
and weaving
were Reichenbach's main trades, but in the 19th century the metal working industry settled in the city and in the early 20th century, there was a rise of the pulp and paper industry
and printing works. Some of Reichenbach's most remarkable structures date from this era, including its Rathaus
(1837–1839), the railway station
(1846), and world's largest brick bridge, the Göltzsch Viaduct
(1846–1851).
Reichenbach im Vogtland has had a rather insignificant role in World War II
. On March 21, 1945, American bombings killed 161 citizens and destructed or damaged many buildings.
Against the orders of the National Socialists, Mayor Dr. Otto Schreiber capitulated the city on April 17 without a fight. The town was occupied by American troops, who handed over control to the Red Army
on July 1. About 120 innocent youth aged 15 and 16 were taken in custody and transferred to the Soviet Union
's secret service (predecessor of the KGB
), hoping all other citizens would be spared.
After Germany was split up, Reichenbach im Vogtland became part of East Germany. The population has since declined from nearly 35,000 to little over 20,000 today. As was the case with many former East German industrial cities, the 1991 German reunification
caused many workers to lose their jobs and they started to move away. Many initiatives have since been deployed to rebuild the local economy. There are still many industrial buildings in Reichenbach with a high historic value, but with little appeal.
Reichenbach includes the quarters Friesen, Brunn, Rotschau and Schneidenbach, and has had a collaborative relationship with Heinsdorfergrund
since 2000.
erected out of concrete, which includes a VHF
broadcasting station for among others Vogtlandradio. It is not to be confused with the tower in Reichenbach (Oberlausitz)
which transmits MDR Info at 1,188 kHz.
The West Saxon University of Applied Sciences of Zwickau teaches Architecture at bachelor
and master
level and Textile- and Leather Craftsmanship. The city also has a gymnasium
, a middle school, three primary schools, and a special school for the physically and mentally challenged. Middle school students also attend schools in the surrounding towns.
Vogtlandkreis
The Vogtlandkreis is a Landkreis in the southwest of the Free State of Saxony, Germany, at the borders to Thuringia, Bavaria, and the Czech Republic. Neighboring districts are Hof, Saale-Orla, Greiz, Zwickau and Erzgebirgskreis...
district of Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. With a population of 20.146,
it is the second largest town after Plauen
Plauen
Plauen is a town in the Free State of Saxony, east-central Germany.It is the capital of the Vogtlandkreis. The town is situated near the border of Bavaria and the Czech Republic.Plauen's slogan is Plauen - echt Spitze.-History:...
. It lies by the A27
Bundesautobahn 72
is an motorway in Germany. Construction of the autobahn started in the 1930s, but was halted by the outbreak of World War II. Due to the division of Germany, a part of the autobahn lay in ruins until after German reunification.- Exit list :...
in between Plauen (at ca. 18 km) and Zwickau
Zwickau
Zwickau in Germany, former seat of the government of the south-western region of the Free State of Saxony, belongs to an industrial and economical core region. Nowadays it is the capital city of the district of Zwickau...
(at ca. 19 km).
History
Reichenbach im Vogtland originated as a settlement of the FranksFranks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
and thanks its early growth to its convenient position in a valley near Mylau Castle
Mylau Castle
Mylau Castle is a fortification on a spur in Mylau, Vogtland, Saxony, Germany. It is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Saxony.- History :...
. In 1212 it was officially named Richenbach, possibly because of the many wetland basins (German: Bächen) in the area which now hosts the Altstadt
Altstadt
Altstadt is the German language word for "old town", meaning "historical city centre within the city wall", in contrast to a Neustadt built outside later....
. It received town privileges
Town privileges
Town privileges or city rights were important features of European towns during most of the second millennium.Judicially, a town was distinguished from the surrounding land by means of a charter from the ruling monarch that defined its privileges and laws. Common privileges were related to trading...
around 1240 and a 1271 decree established "civitatis richenbach", a recognized small city with autonomous rights to defend itself, trade and hold municipal elections. Much of the Reichenbach history was lost in the city fires of 1720, 1773, and 1833. The foundations of the Peter Paul parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
still date back to the 12th century.
Industrialisation
Industrialization is the process of social and economic change that transforms a human group from an agrarian society into an industrial one...
allowed the city to grow further, again promoted by its accessibility. Sewing
Sewing
Sewing is the craft of fastening or attaching objects using stitches made with a needle and thread. Sewing is one of the oldest of the textile arts, arising in the Paleolithic era...
and weaving
Weaving
Weaving is a method of fabric production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth. The other methods are knitting, lace making and felting. The longitudinal threads are called the warp and the lateral threads are the weft or filling...
were Reichenbach's main trades, but in the 19th century the metal working industry settled in the city and in the early 20th century, there was a rise of the pulp and paper industry
Pulp and paper industry
The global pulp and paper industry is dominated by North American , northern European and East Asian countries...
and printing works. Some of Reichenbach's most remarkable structures date from this era, including its Rathaus
Rathaus
Rathaus is a German word literally translating as “council house”, meaning “city hall” or “town hall”. Many specific buildings are referred to as Rathaus even when spoken about in English.Some important Rathäuser are:* Rathaus Schöneberg...
(1837–1839), the railway station
Reichenbach (Vogtland) Oberer station
Reichenbach Oberer station is the main station of Reichenbach im Vogtland in the German state of Saxony. It is the only remaining station in Reichenbach, which once had three stations, and is located on the Saxon-Franconian trunk line between Nuremberg and Dresden...
(1846), and world's largest brick bridge, the Göltzsch Viaduct
Göltzsch Viaduct
The Göltzsch Viaduct is a railway bridge in Germany. It is the largest brick-built bridge in the world, and for a time it was the tallest railway bridge in the world. It spans the valley of the Göltzsch River between Mylau and Netzschkau, around east of Reichenbach im Vogtland in the German Free...
(1846–1851).
Reichenbach im Vogtland has had a rather insignificant role in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. On March 21, 1945, American bombings killed 161 citizens and destructed or damaged many buildings.
Against the orders of the National Socialists, Mayor Dr. Otto Schreiber capitulated the city on April 17 without a fight. The town was occupied by American troops, who handed over control to the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
on July 1. About 120 innocent youth aged 15 and 16 were taken in custody and transferred to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
's secret service (predecessor of the KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
), hoping all other citizens would be spared.
After Germany was split up, Reichenbach im Vogtland became part of East Germany. The population has since declined from nearly 35,000 to little over 20,000 today. As was the case with many former East German industrial cities, the 1991 German reunification
German reunification
German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...
caused many workers to lose their jobs and they started to move away. Many initiatives have since been deployed to rebuild the local economy. There are still many industrial buildings in Reichenbach with a high historic value, but with little appeal.
Reichenbach includes the quarters Friesen, Brunn, Rotschau and Schneidenbach, and has had a collaborative relationship with Heinsdorfergrund
Heinsdorfergrund
Heinsdorfergrund is a municipality in the Vogtlandkreis district, in Saxony, Germany....
since 2000.
Historical population
Sites of interest
- Reichenbach stationReichenbach (Vogtland) Oberer stationReichenbach Oberer station is the main station of Reichenbach im Vogtland in the German state of Saxony. It is the only remaining station in Reichenbach, which once had three stations, and is located on the Saxon-Franconian trunk line between Nuremberg and Dresden...
is part of the Leipzig–Hof line. This line includes the Göltzsch ViaductGöltzsch ViaductThe Göltzsch Viaduct is a railway bridge in Germany. It is the largest brick-built bridge in the world, and for a time it was the tallest railway bridge in the world. It spans the valley of the Göltzsch River between Mylau and Netzschkau, around east of Reichenbach im Vogtland in the German Free...
, the largest brick bridge in the world, which lies 4 km (2.5 mi) west of the town.
- The Neuberinhaus is a local historical and theatrical museum, named after the town's most famous citizen, actress Friederike Caroline NeuberFriederike Caroline NeuberFriederike Caroline Neuber, also called Die Neuberin, , was a German actor and theatre director. She is one of the most famous artists in the history of the German theater....
(1697–1760), nicknamed "the Neuberin". Permanent expositions include her life and work, 18th century German theatreTheatreTheatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
and the town's history.
- The gardens of the 5th Saxon Landesgartenschau (horticultural show), which was held between May 1 and October 18, 2009.
Other
Reichenbach im Vogtland also has a telecommunication tower of Deutsche TelekomDeutsche Telekom
Deutsche Telekom AG is a telecommunications company headquartered in Bonn, Germany. It is the largest telecommunications company in Europe....
erected out of concrete, which includes a VHF
Very high frequency
Very high frequency is the radio frequency range from 30 MHz to 300 MHz. Frequencies immediately below VHF are denoted High frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Ultra high frequency...
broadcasting station for among others Vogtlandradio. It is not to be confused with the tower in Reichenbach (Oberlausitz)
Reichenbach (Oberlausitz)
Reichenbach/O.L. is a town in the Görlitz district, in eastern Saxony, Germany. It is located near Görlitz.-Broadcasting station in Reichenbach/Oberlausitz:...
which transmits MDR Info at 1,188 kHz.
The West Saxon University of Applied Sciences of Zwickau teaches Architecture at bachelor
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
and master
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
level and Textile- and Leather Craftsmanship. The city also has a gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
, a middle school, three primary schools, and a special school for the physically and mentally challenged. Middle school students also attend schools in the surrounding towns.
People
- Georg LenckGeorg LenckGeorg Lenck was a German musician. He was born in Reichenbach, Vogtland, Saxony, and was Kantor at Laucha an der Unstrut, near Naumberg when he competed unsuccessfully for the post of Thomaskantor at Leipzig, which was eventually offered to Johann Sebastian Bach...
(1685–1744), musician - Friederike Caroline NeuberFriederike Caroline NeuberFriederike Caroline Neuber, also called Die Neuberin, , was a German actor and theatre director. She is one of the most famous artists in the history of the German theater....
(1697–1760), actor and director - Karl BöttigerKarl BöttigerKarl August Böttiger was a German archaeologist and classicist, and a prominent member of the literary and artistic circles in Weimar and Jena....
(1760–1835), archaeologist and classicist - Richard BenzRichard BenzRichard Benz came to Heidelberg in 1902, where he was made honorary citizen in 1954. The historian, son of a pastor, is not related to the automotive pioneer Karl Benz...
(1884–1966), historian - August HorchAugust HorchAugust Horch was a German engineer and automobile pioneer, the founder of the manufacturing giant which would eventually become Audi.-Beginnings:...
(1868–1951), automobile pioneer - Rudolf KrauseRudolf KrauseRudolf Krause was a racing driver from East Germany. He is mainly known as one of the leading sportsmen in motor racing on Formula Two, during his career between 1927 and 1954, beside other Formula Two drivers like Hans Stuck...
(1907–1987), racing driver - Josef BachmannJosef BachmannJosef Erwin Bachmann became widely known in Germany for his assassination attempt on the leader of the German student movement, Rudi Dutschke, firing three bullets at him, on April 11, 1968. He was convicted of the attack and sentenced to a seven-year prison sentence...
(1944–1970), activist - Jürgen Fuchs (1950–1999), writer and DDR dissident