Genthin

Genthin (German pronunciation: [ɡɛnˈtiːn]) is a town in Jerichower Land district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.

Genthin
Town hall and Trinity Church
Coat of arms
Location of Genthin within Jerichower Land district
Genthin
Genthin
Coordinates: 52°24′N 12°10′E
CountryGermany
StateSaxony-Anhalt
DistrictJerichower Land
Subdivisions8
Government
 • MayorMatthias Günther
Area
 • Total230.72 km2 (89.08 sq mi)
Elevation
49 m (161 ft)
Population
 (2019-12-31)[1]
 • Total13,761
 • Density60/km2 (150/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
39307
Dialling codes03933, 039342, 039346
Vehicle registrationJL
Websitewww.genthin.de

Geography
Elbe-Havel Canal

It is situated east of the Elbe river on the Elbe-Havel Canal, approx. 50 km (31 mi) northeast of Magdeburg and 27 km (17 mi) west of Brandenburg. The municipal area comprises the incorporated villages of Gladau, Paplitz, Schopsdorf, and Tucheim.

Genthin was the administrative seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft ("collective municipality") Elbe-Stremme-Fiener until its merger into the newly established Jerichow municipality in 2010.

History

Genthin Castle was first mentioned in an 1144 deed, it was the residence of the Plotho noble family who then served as ministeriales of the Archbishops of Magdeburg. The surrounding settlement was documented as a town in 1459, its citizens were vested with market rights in 1539.

When the last administrator of the Magdeburg archbishopric, Duke Augustus of Saxe-Weissenfels, died in 1680, Genthin with the Duchy of Magdeburg fell to the Electors of Brandenburg. The Baroque Trinity parish church was erected from 1707 to 1722.

Genthin station with memorial

The town's economy was decisively promoted by the building of the Elbe–Havel Canal from 1743 onwards and the opening of the Berlin–Magdeburg railway line in 1846. A detergent factory was opened in 1921 by Henkel.

See also: Genthin rail disaster

On the night of 21–22 December 1939, at least 186 (according to other sources: 278) people were killed in a train crash at Genthin station, making it one of the most deadliest railway accidents in Germany. A monument to the victims was erected in the town. In 1943 a subcamp of Ravensbrück concentration camp was built in Genthin for about 1,000 female prisoners and forced labourers. After World War II, Genthin was part of the Soviet occupation zone.

Mayor

Thomas Barz was elected mayor in 2013.[2]

Twin towns
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany

Genthin is twinned with:

Notable people
  • Herms Niel (Hermann Nielebock) (1888-1954), conductor and composer
  • Kurt von Manteuffell (1853-1922), Prussian General of the Infantry
  • Walter Model (1891–1945), field marshal in WW II
  • Norbert Dürpisch (born 1952), cyclist
  • Bernd Dittert (born 1961), racing cyclist, Olympic champion and trainer

References
  1. "Bevölkerung der Gemeinden – Stand: 31. Dezember 2019" (PDF). Statistisches Landesamt Sachsen-Anhalt (in German).
  2. Landeswahlleiter (2013-03-14). "Bürgermeisterwahl am 27.01.2013 in der Stadt Genthin" (in German). Statistisches Landesamt Sachsen-Anhalt. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
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