Information AboutSpandau |
|
Spandau is the westernmost Borough (''Bezirk'') of Berlin , situated at the Confluence of the Havel and Spree rivers and along the western bank of the Havel. It encompasses an area of 91.91 Km&2 and has ( As Of 2003 ) about 226.100 inhabitants. Its current Mayor is Konrad Birkholz ( CDU ). HISTORY The history of Spandau begins in the 7th or 8th Century , when the Slav Heveller first settled in the area and later built a fortress there. It is conquered in 928 by the German King Henry I , but returns to Slavic rule later in the 10th Century . In 1156 , the Ascanian Earl Albrecht Von Ballenstedt ("Albrecht the Bear") took possession of the region. 1197 marked the first mention of Spandau in a document - then called ''Spandowe''. It was given City rights in 1232 . During the Ascanian Rule the construction of the Spandau Citadel began, which was completed between 1559 and 1594 by Joachim II Of Brandenburg . In 1558 the village of Gatow became part of Spandau. The city was surrendered to the Swedes in 1634 . In 1806 , after the Battle Of Jena And Auerstedt , French troops under Napoleon took possession of the city and stayed there until 1807 . In 1812 , Napoleon returned and the Spandau Citadel was sieged in 1813 by Prussia n and Russia n troops. In 1920 , Spandau (whose name had been changed from Spandow in 1878 ) was incorporated into Berlin as a borough. Before World War I , the city was a seat of large government cannon foundries, factories for making gunpowder and other munitions of war. After World War II , it was part of the British Occupation Zone in West Berlin and the Spandau Prison was built to house Nazi War Criminals who were sentenced to imprisonment at the Nuremberg Trials . After the death of Rudolf Hess , the prison's last inmate, it was completely destroyed by the allied powers. PLACES OF INTEREST
SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS |
|
|