Coburg

Location Coburg lies about south of Erfurt and about north of Nuremberg on the river Itz. It is an urban district and is surrounded by the Landkreis Coburg. Coburg lies at the foot of the Thuringian Highland. Coburg, Bavaria was part of West Germany until reunification in 1990, but on three sides it borders Thuringia which was East Germany. The border between Bavaria and Thuringia was also the inner German border. Subdivisions Coburg is divided into 15 Stadtteile: • Coburg (town proper) • Beiersdorf • Bertelsdorf • Cortendorf • Creidlitz • Glend • Ketschendorf • Löbelstein • Lützelbuch • Neu- and Neershof • • Rögen • Scheuerfeld • Seidmansdorf • Wüstenahorn ==History==

11th century to 16th century fortress , rebuilt after a catastrophic fire in 1690, received its Gothic revival exterior in the 19th century. Coburg was first mentioned in a monastic document dated 1056, which marked the transfer of ownership to the Archbishop-Elector of Cologne, although there was a settlement at the site that predates it called Trufalistat. The origin of the name Coburg is unclear; the first element may be kuh, which would give a literal meaning of "cow borough". "Coburg" initially referred to a property centred on the hill where Veste Coburg was later built. Its oldest remains date to the 12th or 13th century. In 1248, the castle came into possession of the House of Henneberg and in 1353 it passed to the House of Wettin In 1932, Coburg was the first German town to make Adolf Hitler an honorary citizen. Jewish community of Coburg Coburg had Jewish citizens as early as the 14th century. In the 1870s they were granted permission to permanently lease the Church of St. Nicholas for conversion into a synagogue. In 1931 an unofficial boycott was imposed against Jewish businesses. In 1932 the municipal council abrogated the lease of St. Nicholas Church. In 1933 the synagogue was closed down. It still remains standing. On 25 March 1933, 40 Jews in Coburg were arrested and tortured. They were not released until the affair became internationally known. On 9 November 1938, Kristallnacht, all Jewish men were interned. Jewish homes, shops, and the school were destroyed. Coburg's Jewish community numbered 68 in 1869, 210 (1.3% of the total population) in 1880, 316 (1.3%) in 1925, and 233 (0.9%) in 1933. Around 150 managed to leave by 1942, either emigrating from Germany or moving to other German cities. The rest were deported to Riga, Izbica, and Theresienstadt in three transports between November 1941 and September 1942. Coburg's Jewish community was not reestablished after the war. Post World War II After World War II, which Coburg survived largely undamaged, the town faced the challenge of integrating over 15,000 refugees. While the other Saxon-Thuringian principalities were incorporated into the German Democratic Republic, Bavarian Coburg became part of West Germany. As a result, the town spent the Cold War years lying right next to the Iron Curtain, surrounded by East German territory on three sides and cut off from much of its natural back country. ==Demographics==

Over two-thirds of Coburg's population live in the core town of Coburg rather than in one of the Stadtteile merged with it in the 20th century. Some of those retain a largely rural character. Religion Most residents of Coburg are members of the Evangelical Church (Lutheran). Other Christian communities are Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, the ICF Movement, Jehovah's Witnesses, Catholics, Old Catholics and the New Apostolic Church, as well as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There are also three communities of Muslims. Coburg had a large Jewish community until the 1940s. Jews had lived there since the 14th century. The old synagogue was a former church. Today it is used by Old Catholics. Coburg became Protestant after the Reformation. All Catholics were persecuted. A new Catholic community was founded in the 19th century. ==Climate==

Coburg has an oceanic climate (Cfb in the Köppen climate classification). {{Weather box ==Economy==

In 1919 Max Brose and Ernst Jüngling established the metal works Max Brose & Co. to manufacture car parts. The company is still in operation today, as Brose Fahrzeugteile. In 1950, the Haftpflicht-Unterstützungs-Kasse kraftfahrender Beamter Deutschlands a. G. (today ) relocated from Erfurt to Coburg. HUK is today the largest employer and largest payer of '''' (local corporate tax) in Coburg. Kapp Werkzeugmaschinen has been a manufacturer of gear-milling machines since 1953, after taking over the production assets of COMAG (Coburger Maschinenbau GmbH). Waldrich-Coburg, founded in 1920, manufactures CNC-milling machines in a range of sizes, the largest of which can handle an object of size 50 x 14 x 10 metres. Founded in 1919, Kaeser Compressors produces air compressors in various sizes. Coburg has an above-average share of goods-producing employees. In 2013, out of 32,962 employees 10,421 worked in the manufacturing or construction sectors (31% vs. a national average of 24%), 4,853 in trade, transport and tourism, 10,381 in professional services and 7,230 in public and private services. Hotels in Coburg counted over 61,000 overnight visitors in 2014 (of which around 53,000 were from Germany). They stayed for a total of almost 120,000 nights, or close to two nights per stay on average. ==Twin towns – sister cities==

Coburg is twinned with: • Cobourg, Canada • Gais, Italy • Isle of Wight, England, United Kingdom • Niort, France • Oudenaarde, Belgium • Toledo, United States ==Coat of arms==

Coburg's coat of arms, honouring the town's German patron Saint Maurice, was granted in 1493. In 1934, the Nazi government forbade any glorification of the African race, and they replaced the coat of arms with one depicting a vertical sword with a Nazi swastika on the pommel. The original coat of arms was restored in 1945 at the end of World War II. ==Attractions==

Coburg has the typical features of a former capital of a German princely state. There are numerous houses from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The most important landmarks include: • Ehrenburg, a former Franciscan convent built in 1220 and turned into a palace in 1543–1549. It was repeatedly renovated until the 19th century. Ehrenburg was gutted by fire in 1690 and rebuilt in a Baroque style, with stucco work by North Italian craftsmen that includes a "Hall of the Giants" (which contains a plaque that states it was the location of the first meeting between Britain's Queen Victoria and Franz Josef Emperor of Austria in 1860). The internal decoration dates from the late 17th to early 18th centuries. Its Gothic Revival exterior was remodelled by Karl Friedrich Schinkel in the 19th century. It now also houses a museum as well as a library. • Stadtkirche St. Moriz ("St. Maurice", 14th–16th centuries), is a Gothic edifice on the Hallenkirche plan with two towers. The interior, remade in the 18th century, include the notable funerary moment of Duke Johann Casimir for his parents, a 13 m-tall alabaster sculpture painted with statue and reliefs (1595–1598). • The medieval Veste Coburg, one of the biggest castles in Germany, built starting in 1225 (upon the site of an 11th-century chapel). It was mostly rebuilt in the 19th century. It has a triple line of walls with numerous towers. Today the Veste Coburg is home to three museums. One is the Fürstenbau (ducal palace), with many furnished rooms of the Dukes of Coburg, including the apartment where Martin Luther lived in 1530. Probably the most notable room in the castle (unique in all of Germany) is the Jagdzimmer (hunting room) of 1632, which is entirely made of marquetry wood inlay, done up with over 60 marquetry panels, deeply coffered marquetry ceilings and a wood paneled floor. Another museum is the Rüstkammer (armory), containing the largest collection of medieval armour and weaponry in Germany, with over 10,500 items. The third is the Kunstsammlungen, which contains a collection of 300,000 copperplate engravings (Kupferstich-Kabinett), a 20,000 piece coin collection (Münzkabinett), a 7,000 piece documentation collection (Briefe & Urkunden), and a 3,500 piece glassware collection (Gläser-Sammlung). • Gymnasium Casimirianum, a Renaissance building begun in 1601 • Arsenal (1616–21). • Landestheater Coburg, a Neoclassical theatre on Schlossplatz, whose other landmarks include the Ehrenburg, the Palais Edinburgh (1865), the Arkaden (1840), Reithalle (1852) and Marstall (rebuilt in 1920). • The Coburg Doll Museum is located near the Schlossplatz and the city centre. It was once the residence of the poet Friedrich Rückert. It houses over 1,000 dolls, including the grandmother of the world-famous "Barbie". • . • '', the town hall, part of the ensemble of structure on the market that also includes the Stadthaus (see below), the former Beyersches Haus, the , the Stadtbrunnen'' (fountain) and the central statue of Prince Albert. The seat of the public administration of Coburg was moved here in 1438. The original Gothic building proved to be too small and after 1570 the town bought additional properties and erected a Renaissance building at the corner with Ketschengasse. In another rebuilding in 1750-2 both structures were merged. The appearance of the town hall changed, only the round bay on the corner remained. The old roofs were replaced by the current garret roof and the colourful paintings were added to the façade in the 18th century. Another renovation took place in 1903, when the balcony to the market square was added and stairwell and entrance were redesigned. • '''', a late Renaissance building from 1597 to 1599 built under Duke Johann Casimir to house the ducal administration. It occupies the complete northern side of the market square. • Rose Garden, park. • Callenberg Castle, with Saxe-Coburg family art collection and National Shooting Museum. • Schloss Rosenau near Coburg. • St. Augustin, Catholic parish church opened in 1860. • The Baroque Basilica of the Vierzehnheiligen, outside the town. • The Coburg Bay Windows, a variant of the corner bay window, so called as it was only built in Coburg. It dates from the end of the 16th century and is characterized by three architectural features. These are a supporting pillar in front of the corner of the house, a two-story construction and the closure with a Welsche hood. ==Arts and culture==

Coburg is home to two major festivals: '' and Johann Strauss Musiktage''. Coburg is referred to as "Europe's Capital of Samba." As a result of the large presence of the US Army prior to German re-unification, Americans and American culture are still present in Coburg and the surrounding area. This influence ranges from American-style pubs and restaurants to two sports clubs sponsoring baseball teams. ==Infrastructure==

Transport Car Coburg can be reached by car via B 303 Schweinfurt-Coburg-Schirnding, B 4 Hamburg-Coburg-Nuremberg or motorway A 73 Suhl-Coburg-Nuremberg. Railways Coburg has four train stations: • Coburg-Neuses • Coburg-Nord • Coburg main station • Coburg-Creidlitz From the main station one can go to Lichtenfels, Bamberg, Forchheim, Erlangen, Fürth and Nuremberg, to Neustadt bei Coburg, Sonneberg, to Bad Rodach and to Kulmbach, Neuenmarkt-Wirsberg. Since December 2017, the Coburg station is served by Intercity Express high speed trains of the Munich-Nuremberg-Coburg-Erfurt-Berlin(-Hamburg) line (Nuremberg–Erfurt high-speed railway). Airports Small planes can land on the two airfields: • Coburg Brandensteinsebene (ICAO-Code: EDQC, founded in 1912) • Coburg Steinrücken (ICAO-Code: EDQY) Large airports nearby are in Frankfurt, Erfurt and Nuremberg. Local public transport system The public transport system in Coburg is operated by SÜC (Stadt- und Überlandwerke Coburg) with 9 bus lines. The OVF (Omnibus Verkehr Franken) covers Coburg's surrounding countryside with an additional 11 bus lines. ==Notable people==

Born in Coburg Before 1900 • Princess Charlotte Wilhelmine of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (1685–1767), Princess and Countess of Hanau-Münzenberg • Princess Luise Dorothea of Saxe-Meiningen (1710–1767), Duchess of Saxony-Gotha and Altenburg • Anton Schweitzer (1735–1787), composer • Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (1737–1815), Austrian field marshal • Johann Christian August Clarus (1774–1854), physician • Leopold I of Belgium (1790–1865), born to Francis, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, first king of the Belgians • Prince Albert (1819–1861), husband of Queen Victoria, was born in Schloss Rosenau. • William Frishmuth (1830–1893), architect and metallurgist • Ernst Marlier (1875–1948), German pharmaceutical manufacturer who built the Wannsee Villa, venue of the Wannsee Conference. • Alexander von Mensdorff-Pouilly (1813–1871), Austrian statesman • Fritz Mollwitz (1890–1967), professional baseball player, was born here. • Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1818–1893) • Heinrich Rückert (1823–1875), historian and Germanist • Felix Draeseke (1835–1913), composer • Max Brückner (1836–1919), theater painter • Princess Amalie of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1848–1894), Princess and Duchess in Bavaria • Bernhard Fischer (1852–1915), hygienist • Eduard Study (1862–1930), mathematician • Anna Ritter (née Nuhn, 1865–1921), poet and writer • Otto Appel (1867–1952), phytomedicine doctor • Anna Bernhardine Eckstein (1868–1947), champion of world peace • Hans Berger (1873–1941), neurologist and psychiatrist • Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1878–1942), Princess of Great Britain and Ireland and a member of the House of Saxony-Coburg and the Gotha family and later by marriage Princess to Hohenlohe-Langenburg • Louis Oppenheim (1879–1936), utility graphic artist • Fred Immler (1880–1965), actor • Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1884–1954), the last Duke of Saxony-Coburg and Gotha After 1900 • Hans Morgenthau (1904–1980), jurist and political scientist • Kurt Eccarius (1905-died after 1969), head of the detention area in Sachsenhausen concentration camp • Ernst Kupfer (1907–1944), fighter pilot in the Second World War • Yvonne Desportes (1907–1993), French composer • Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1908–1972), Princess of Sweden, married to hereditary prince Gustav Adolf of Sweden and mother of King Carl XVI Gustav of Sweden • Günther Weißenborn (1911–2001), pianist, composer and conductor • Eva Ahnert-Rohlfs (1912–1954), astronomer • Wolfgang Stammberger (1920–1982), politician (FDP, SPD), Member of Bundestag, Federal Minister of Justice, Lord Mayor of Coburg • Heinrich Strecker (1922–2013), composer of operettas and Viennese music • Werner Scheler (1923-2018), physician and pharmacologist • Tatunca Nara (born 1941), German-Brazilian impostor • Klaus Volk (born 1944), lawyer and criminal lawyer • Klaus-Peter Göpfert (born 1948), wrestler • Michael Stoschek (born 1948/1949), businessman and entrepreneur • Klaus Janson (born 1952), American comic artist • Martin May (born 1961), actor, author and narrator • Bernd Friedmann (born 1965), musician and producer • Frank Greiner (born 1966), footballer • Claudia Porwik (born 1968), tennis player • Andreas Hackethal (born 1971), professor • Julia Stoschek (born 1975), art collector • Cevat Yerli (born 1978), computer game developer • Martin Forkel (born 1979), footballer • Andreas Wolf (born 1990), handball player • Marius Wolf (born 1995), footballer Lived at Coburg • Baroness Louise Lehzen (1784–1870), governess and confidante of Queen Victoria • Walter von Boetticher (1853–1945), historian, genealogist and physician • Hans Berger (1873–1941), psychiatrist • Johann Strauss, he lived the last 13 years of his life in Coburg, and buried in Vienna • Adolf Hitler in 1922 led several hundred stormtroopers in a march through the city, fighting pitched street battles with communists. During the Nazi era, the Coburg Badge (made to honor the participants) was one of the most prestigious party medals. • Tsar Ferdinand I of Bulgaria (1861-1948), tsar of Bulgaria. • Hans Wilsdorf Founder of ROLEX ==References==