Strehla

Strehla (Upper Sorbian: Strjela) is a small town in the district of Meißen, Saxony, Germany. It is located on the river Elbe, north of Riesa. This place name means arrow in Sorbian. Strehla includes the following subdivisions:

  • Forberge
  • Görzig/Trebnitz
  • Großrügeln
  • Lößnig
  • Oppitzsch
  • Paußnitz
  • Unterreußen
Strehla
Coat of arms
Location of Strehla within Meißen district
Strehla
Strehla
Coordinates: 51°21′09″N 13°13′33″E
CountryGermany
StateSaxony
DistrictMeißen
Subdivisions7
Government
 • MayorHarry Güldner (CDU)
Area
 • Total30.07 km2 (11.61 sq mi)
Elevation
95 m (312 ft)
Population
 (2019-12-31)[1]
 • Total3,721
 • Density120/km2 (320/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
01616
Dialling codes035264
Vehicle registrationMEI, GRH, RG, RIE
Websitewww.strehla.de
Schloss Strehla in 19th century

History

Strehla was first mentioned in 1002, when its castle was set on fire by Polish King Boleslaw I, on his way back to Poland from a meeting with German King Henry; starting the German-Polish War of 1002–1018. During this war, Strehla went back and forth between Polish and German rule. It is situated on the Via Regia Lusatiae Superioris (Royal road of Upper Lusatia), which connected Görlitz to Leipzig. The castle of Strehla belonged to the Pflugk family from the 14th century until 1945. The Battle of Strehla between Austria and Prussia took place around the town during the Seven Years' War.[2]

Strehla is also regarded as the point towards the end of World War II where troops of the Western Allies heading East first encountered Soviet troops heading West, at 11:30am on April 25, 1945, when Lieutenant Albert Kotzebue of the 69th Infantry Division (United States) encountered a Russian on horseback at nearby Leckwitz, later identified as a trooper of a Soviet Guards rifle regiment.

The later encounter on the same day at 4:40 p.m. in Torgau, about twenty miles to the north, would go into history books as the official link-up. [3]

Personalities
Theodor Schreiber 1876

References
  1. "Bevölkerung des Freistaates Sachsen nach Gemeinden am 31. Dezember 2019". Statistisches Landesamt des Freistaates Sachsen (in German). July 2020.
  2. "1760-08-20 - Combat of Strehla - Project Seven Years War". www.kronoskaf.com. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  3. US historian and author Cornelius Ryan, "The Last Battle (Ryan)".
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