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Salzgitter

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Template:Infobox Town DE Salzgitter is a German city in the southeast of the state of Lower Saxony, located between Hildesheim and Braunschweig. Salzgitter is an independent city. Together with Wolfsburg and Braunschweig, Salzgitter is one of the seven Oberzentren of Lower Saxony (roughly equivalent to a metropolitan area). With 109,142 inhabitants and 223.94 km² (as of 30 January 2004), its area is one of the biggest in Germany. The main shopping street of the young city is in the borough Salzgitter-Lebenstedt, and the central business district is in Salzgitter-Bad. The city is connected to the Mittellandkanal and the Elbe-Seitenkanal by a distributary. The nearest metropolises are Braunschweig, about 23 km to the northeast, and Hanover, about 51 km to the northwest. The population of the City of Salzgitter has exceeded 100,000 inhabitants since its foundation in 1942 (which made it a city in contrast to a town by the German definition), when it was still called Watenstedt-Salzgitter. Beside Wolfsburg, Leverkusen and Eisenhüttenstadt, Salzgitter therefore is one of the few towns in Germany founded during the 20th century.

About the changing names

Until 31st March 1942, "Salzgitter" was the name of a town where now the quarter "Salzgitter-Bad" is. Until 1951, "Salzgitter" was a quarter of the then city "Watenstedt-Salzgitter". In 1951, the quarter "Salzgitter" was renamed as "Salzgitter-Bad"; the name "Salzgitter", that had become free this way, became the new and more succinct name of the city that was called "Watenstedt-Salzgitter" until then. (Nowadays, "Salzgitter-Watenstedt" is the name of a small quarter with some hundred inhabitants.)

Geography

Salzgitter is located in a bride dell coated with loess, between the Oderwald Forest and the Salzgitter-Höhenzug ("Salzgitter Hills"). The largest extension of the city area is 24 km from north to south and 19 km from east to west. The highest point in it is the hill Hamberg (275 m), located north-west from Salzgitter-Bad.

Neighbouring municipalities

The following cities, towns and municipalities border on the City of Salzgitter. They will be named clock-wise, beginning in the North East. (As the City of Salzgitter was founded on the area of the District (Landkreis) Wolfenbüttel, that district borders on Salzgitter in the west and in the east; that is why it is named twice.)

City structure

The area of the City of Salzgitter consists of 31 quarters (often called villages): Bad, Barum, Beddingen, Beinum, Bleckenstedt, Bruchmachtersen, Calbecht, Drütte, Engelnstedt, Engerode, Flachstöckheim, Gebhardshagen, Gitter, Groß Mahner, Hallendorf, Heerte, Hohenrode, Immendorf, Lebenstedt, Lesse, Lichtenberg, Lobmachtersen, Ohlendorf, Osterlinde, Reppner, Ringelheim, Salder, Sauingen, Thiede, Üfingen, Watenstedt.

These 31 quarters are combined to 7 Towns. As a board, every Town has got a Town Council, elected by the population allowed to elect, with a Town Mayor.

The Towns with their quarters are:

  • Norh Town: Lebenstedt, Salder, Bruchmachtersen, Engelnstedt
  • North East Town: Thiede, Beddingen, Üfingen, Sauingen
  • North West Town: Lichtenberg, Osterlinde, Reppner, Lesse
  • East Town: Hallendorf, Bleckenstedt, Drütte, Immendorf, Watenstedt
  • South Town: Bad, Gitter, Groß Mahner, Ringelheim, Hohenrode
  • South East Town: Flachstöckheim, Barum, Beinum, Lobmachtersen, Ohlendorf
  • West Town: Gebhardshagen, Calbecht, Engerode, Heerte

History

  • Salzgitter originated in the beginning 14th century around salt springs near the village Verpstedt (later Vöppstedt).
  • 'The name developed from the neighbouring village Gitter (nowadays a quarter) as "up dem solte to Gytere", which means "Salt near Gitter"; the first mention was in 1347.
  • After 200 years of saltern at various springs, the peasants in the area, which is Salzgitter nowadays, were chartered around 1350, but, however, lost municipal law when being transferred to the Dutchy Braunschweig in the beginning 16th century. Later, Salzgitter belonged to the diocese Hildesheim. When that was transferred to Prussia in 1803, the municipal laws were reconfirmed, but were taken again in 1815, when Salzgitter became part of the Kingdom Hannover.
  • In 1830, a brine bath was established in Salzgitter.
  • With the Kingdom Hannover being transferred to Prussia in 1866, Salzgitter became a Prussian municipality, which was chartered again in 1929. Before, the towns Vorsalz and Liebenhall had been incorporated (1926, 1928). Salzgitter belonged to the Landkreis (district) Goslar and included beside Salzgitter itself also some small settlements like Gittertor, which is part of Salzgitter-Bad nowadays.
  • In 1936, Kniestedt, was incorporated; it is part of Salzgitter-Bad by now, too.
  • Due to the large iron ore body in Salzgitter, which had been mentioned first in 1310, the National Socialists founded the "Reichswerke Hermann Göring" (Reich works Herrmann Göring) for ore mining and ironworks in 1937.
  • In 1938, the neighbouring municipality Gitter was incorporated.
  • As the smelting works were supposed to develop economically well, a unique administration structure in the whole area was necessary. Therefore the Order about the area settlement around the Hermann-Göring-Werke Salzgitter as from 1st April 1942 disposed to form a unique city district (Independent City). For this aim, the town of Salzgitter and the municipalities Beinum, Flachstöckheim, Groß-Mahner, Hohenrode, Ohlendorf and Ringelheim (7 altogether, all belonging to the Landkreis Goslar) and Barum, Beddingen, Bleckenstedt, Bruchmachtersen, Calbecht, Drütte, Engelnstedt, Engerode, Gebhardshagen, Hallendorf, Heerte, Immendorf, Lebenstedt, Lesse, Lichtenberg, Lobmachtersen, Osterlinde, Reppner, Salder, Thiede-Steterburg (nowadays Thiede) and Watenstedt (21 altogether, all belonging to the Landkreis Wolfenbüttel) were merged to the Stadtkreis Watenstedt-Salzgitter. Together with the remaining rest of the Landkreis Goslar, the new Independent municipality was integrated into the State Braunschweig. In return, Braunschweig transferred the Landkreis Holzminden to the Prussian province Hannover.
  • With the village Gitter, which was already incorporated in 1938, the young city first had got 29 quarters from 1942 on.
  • During WW II, Salzgitter was damaged hard by several American and British bombings.
  • After the war, the State Braunschweig became part of the Land Lower-Saxony, and Watenstedt-Salzgitter became an Independent City in the "Administration District Braunschweig" (later Regierungsbezirk Braunschweig).
  • In 1951, the city was renamed into "Stadt Salzgitter" (City of Salzgitter), the then-quarter Salzgitter was named "Salzgitter-Bad", referring to the brine bath there.
  • In the course of the area reform of Lower-Saxony as from 1st March 1974, the municipalities Üfingen and Sauingen (Landkreis Wolfenbüttel) were incorporated. Since then, Salzgitter has got 31 quarters.
  • Until 1982, Salzgitter was mined (iron); in the former mine Schacht Konrad, an ultimate disposal place for radioactive waste has been planned since 1975.

Incorporations

On April 1st, 1942, the Independent City Watenstedt-Salzgitter (renamed in Salzgitter in 1951) was formed by uniting these municipalities:

  • formerly Landkreis Goslar:
    • town Salzgitter
    • municipalities Beinum, Flachstöckheim, Groß Mahner, Hohenrode, Ohlendorf and Ringelheim
  • formerly Landkreis Wolfenbüttel:
    • municipalities Barum, Beddingen, Bleckenstedt, Bruchmachtersen, Calbecht, Drütte, Engelnstedt, Engerode, Gebhardshagen, Hallendorf, Heerte, Immendorf, Lebenstedt, Lesse, Lichtenberg, Lobmachtersen, Osterlinde, Reppner, Salder, Thiede-Steterburg (nowadays only Thiede) and Watenstedt

On March 1st, 1974, the municipalities Üfingen and Sauingen (up to then Landkreis Wolfenbüttel) were incorporated.

Population development

Population figures in order to the then area, i.e. until 1942 the contemporary quarter Salzgitter-Bad and from 1942 on the Independent City Watenstedt-Salzgitter and Salzgitter respectively.

Year Population figures
1821 2.258
1848 2.654
1871 2.752
1885 2.681
1905 2.837
1925 2.852
1933 19.164
1942 108.480
1946 93.260
1948 110.247
1950 108.888
6th June 1961 ¹ 110.200
1965 115.500
1970 119.000
1975 119.000
1980 113.500
25th May 1987 ¹ 111.069
1989 111.676
30th June 1997 116.300
October 2003 109.632
September 2004 108.614
February 2005 108.174

1 census amount

Religions

The area of the contemporary city Salzgitter originally belonged to the diocese Hildesheim. In 1568, the Reformation was established in Salzgitter. Two superintendencies came into existence. The southern part of the area where the city is nowadays (Superintendency Salzgitter) belonged to the state Hannover and so to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hannover (Consistory in Hildesheim). The northern part (superintendency Lebenstedt), however, belonged to the state of Braunschweig and so to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Braunschweig.
When the city Watenstedt-Salzgitter originated (1942), the whole city area was attached to the state of Braunschweig, both politically and ecclesiastically. Thus all parishes of Salzgitter belong to the Protestant-Lutheran Church of Braunschweig nowadays. The two superintendencies are called Propstei today. However, the Propsteien Salzgitter-Bad and Salzgitter-Lebenstedt also comprise parishes that do not belong to the city of Salzgitter.

The Catholics, who moved into the city again afterwards, belonged - like before the Reformation - to the diocese of Hildesheim, which established an own deanship in Salzgitter, to which all parishes of the city belong nowadays.

Beside the two big churches, there are parishes, too, that belong to Free Churches, for example a Baptist parish, the Church of God, the Plymouth Brethren and the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In addition, there are several New Apostolic Churches in Salzgitter. Due to the immigration of foreign workers during the 1970s, there are some Islamic mosques and societies.

Politics

First, a state commissar was set ahead the city of Watenstedt-Salzgitter as Provisional Mayor. After World War II, the military government of the British zone of occupation installed the communal constitution of Britain. Accordingly, there was a Council elected by the people. It elected one of its members Lord Mayor (German: Oberbürgermeister) as president and representative of the city, who worked honorary. Beside, from 1946 on there was the Oberstadtdirektor ("Chief City Executive"), leading the Municipality and being elected by the Council, too. Since 2001, there is only the Lord Mayor, who does not work honorary any more. Being elected by the people, he represents the city and leads the Municipality, although there is yet a Council Chairman.

Coat of Arms

In Salzgitter's Coat of Arms there is a silver furnace visible behind a silver pinnacle wall, on which there is a buckler whose upper ground is green and adorned with two saltern instruments and whose lower ground is gold and adorned with a black sledge and black iron. On the red ground behind the furnace, there are two wheaten ears.
The Coat of Arms stands for the agriculture, which is important for many villages of Salzgitter, on the one hand, and for the industry, which led to Salzgitter's foundation, on the other hand.
This Coat of Arms is from 1951. Before, Watenstedt-Salzgitter had got a different one. Also the former town Salzgitter had got various coats of arms from 1854 on.

Like many German cities, Salzgitter has used the city's logo for some years. It is a green field with a white snaking way that narrows towards the horizon.

Town twinnings

The City of Salzgitter is twinned to these cities and towns:

Economy and infrastructure

Traffic

Road

In the north of Salzgitter, there is an Autobahn (A 39) from Braunschweig to the interchange Salzgitter (where you can change to Autobahn 7 (Kassel-Hannover). Salzgitter has got five grade-separated interchanges to this Autobahn. East from Salzgitter, there is the Autobahn 395 (Braunschweig-Goslar), which can be reached from Salzgitter by four interchanges.
Moreover, two Bundesstraßen (German highways) go trough Salzgitter.

Railway

Salzgitter has got six stations. The most important one is in the quarter Salzgitter-Ringelheim, the most central one in Salzgitter-Lebenstedt. There is no Union Station in Salzgitter. Salzgitter-Ringelheim's station is located at the lines Halle (Saale)-Goslar-Salzgitter-Hildesheim-Hannover. Another line leads into the Harz Mountain Range and to Braunschweig, passing Salzgitter-Bad. Salzgitter-Lebenstedt is the end of a local line coming from Braunschweig and passing the other train stops of Salzgitter.

Public Transport

There are three bus companies in Salzgitter. The bus is quite important considering Salzgitter consists of many, spread villages.

Media

In Salzgitter, the daily newspaper Salzgitter-Zeitung and the Sunday newspaper Salzgitter-Woche am Sonntag are published. There is the event calendar Salzgitter Szene and the online magazine Salzgitter-aktuell. Furthermore, the local TV channel TV 38 is broadcasted by cable television.

Important companies in Salzgitter

Public institutions

Salzgitter is seat of these public institutions:

  • Federal Radiation Protection Office of Germany, founded in 1989
  • Central Registration Office of the State Judiciary Administration of Lower-Saxony

Education

Since 1993, there is a site of the Fachhochschule Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel, where you can study

In addition, you can study after having completed a study in the past

and - by correspondence course -

  • Quality and environment management
  • Sale management.

The other sites of the Fachhochschule are Braunschweig, Wolfenbüttel and Wolfsburg.

Furthermore, there are several general-education schools (meaning that general knowledge is taught there in contrast to occupation-specific knowledge) and vocational schools, among them three grammar schools, the Gymnasium Salzgitter-Bad, the Gymnasium am Fredenberg and the Kranich-Gymnasium, the latter two located at Salzgitter-Lebenstedt.

For education outside school, there is the Volkshochschule Salzgitter with sites in Salzgitter-Bad and in Salzgitter-Lebenstedt.

Culture and sights

Theatre

There is no theatre in Salzgitter nor any building used as one. Yet there are several representations at various places. For example, in Salzgitter-Bad there is a society rooting in the students' theater of the local grammar-school that supports the amateur play. They act on various stages, with an auditory between 100 and 600 people. Furthermore, there are irregular performances of musicals.

Museums

  • Städtisches Museum Schloss Salder ("Municipal Museum in Salder Castle", including city history, Castle museum, changing expositions, ice age path from summer 2006 on)
  • Städtische Kunstsammlungen Schloss Salder ("Municipal Art Collection in Salder Castle")

Buildings

  • In the quarter Salzgitter-Lebenstedt:
    • City monument (Turm der Arbeit - "Tower of work", the city's emblem, constructed in 1995. The monument tells about the suffering of the forced workers and concentration camp prisoners while building up industry during the national socialism, about the flight from home beyond the rivers Oder and Neiße, about the fight against the removal of the iron works and about Salzgitter's people's will to live and to rebuild.)
    • Town hall (built 1959-1963)
    • Ice sports hall (in far-east style)
  • In the quarter Salzgitter-Bad:
    • Old Town
    • Thermalsolbad ("hot-springs brine bath")
    • Protestant church St. Mariae Jacobi; military defence church built in 1481
    • Catholic church St. Marien
    • Former Nicolai church (nowadays event room)
    • Bismarck Tower (look-out)
    • Former town hall at the market place
    • Tilly house
    • farm house in Kniestedt (now care for old people and music school)
    • "Beamtensiedlung" (from 1930, dwellings of the employees of the smelting works)
  • pilgrimage church in Salzgitter-Engerode, chapel built in 1236, one of Lower-Saxony's oldest pilgrimage churches with frescos laid open
  • Wasserburg (castle), Salzgitter-Gebhardshagen, nearly 1000 years old
  • Franzosenbrücke ("French bridge", stone arch bridge over the river Innerste near Salzgitter-Hohenrode
  • Salzgitter-Lichtenberg: Castle ruins, once build by Henry the Lion, destroyed in 1552 and laid open again in the 1950s. Look-out and restaurant.
  • Salzgitter-Ringelheim: Ringelheim Castle, former monastery, founded in the 10th century, secularised in 1803. Baroque church built in 1694, including a precious organ; crucifix from the workshop of Bishop Bernward of Hildesheim (around 1000); large castle park (Schlosspark)
  • Salzgitter-Salder: Salder Castle with Municipal Museum, former emblem of the city; the castle built in the style of the "Weser renaissance" around 1600 was domicile of the noble family von Salder in the duchy Braunschweig, later domain of the duke; nowadays museum of local history; castle church Maria-Magdalena with a circular floor plan.
  • Salzgitter-Thiede: Convent Steterburg, ladies' convent founded in 1003; there are still buildings from the 11th century. The house of the abbess was built in 1691. The church is from 1752. In 1938, the area was reconstructed to tenements.

Other sights

  • archeological excavation from the Stone Age in Salzgitter-Lebenstedt
  • Farm house Salzgitter-Flachstöckheim with open-air stage and English Park (1756/1821)
  • Salzgittersee ("Lake Salzgitter") in Salzgitter-Lebenstedt, beach, water-ski, boats, inliners, diving

Regular events

  • May: municipal sports week in Salzgitter-Lebenstedt
  • May: museum festival in Salzgitter-Salder
  • May/June: Schützenfest (German festival of a shooting club including shooting matches) in Salzgitter-Bad
  • June/July: Old Town Festival in Salzgitter-Bad

Official website of the city of Salzgitter (German)
Website of the Fachhochschule Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel
Website of the Salzgitter AG (owning the iron works)
Website of the SMAG GmbH
Website of the Volkswagen work Salzgitter

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