Genthin

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

Genthin
Town
Town hall and Trinity Church
Town hall and Trinity Church
Coat of arms of Genthin
Coat of arms
Location of Genthin within Jerichower Land district
Genthin is located in Germany
Genthin
Genthin
Genthin is located in Saxony-Anhalt
Genthin
Genthin
Coordinates: 52°24′N 12°10′E
CountryGermany
StateSaxony-Anhalt
DistrictJerichower Land
Subdivisions8
Government
 • Mayor (2018–25) Matthias Günther[1]
Area
 • Total230.72 km2 (89.08 sq mi)
Elevation
49 m (161 ft)
Population
 (2021-12-31)[2]
 • Total13,402
 • Density58/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

Genthin 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 consists of Genthin proper and the following Ortschaften or municipal divisions:[3]

The formerly independent municipalities Gladau, Paplitz and Tucheim were incorporated in July 2009,[4] followed by Schopsdorf in July 2012.[5]

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.[6]

Economy

The headquarters of the LFD Holding are in Genthin.

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. Bürgermeisterwahlen in den Gemeinden, Endgültige Ergebnisse, Statistisches Landesamt Sachsen-Anhalt, accessed 8 July 2021.
  2. "Bevölkerung der Gemeinden – Stand: 31. Dezember 2021" (PDF) (in German). Statistisches Landesamt Sachsen-Anhalt. June 2022.
  3. Hauptsatzung der Stadt Genthin, November 2014.
  4. Gebietsänderungen vom 02. Januar bis 31. Dezember 2009, Statistisches Bundesamt
  5. Gebietsänderungen vom 01. Januar bis 31. Dezember 2012, Statistisches Bundesamt
  6. 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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