Dortmund

Dortmund is a city in Germany, located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Ruhr area. Population: 587,288 (1 January 2004).

History

The history of Dortmund goes back as far as 880 AD, when the city was first mentioned in official documents as Throtmanni. It was a small village at that time. In 1152 the emperor Barbarossa came to the region and rebuilt the town, which had been destroyed in a fire shortly before. For two years Dortmund was the residence of Barbarossa - a short time, but afterwards it grew to become one of the most powerful towns of the empire. In the 13th century Dortmund joined the Hanseatic League. In 1220, it attained the status of an Imperial Free City, i.e. it was directly subordinated to the emperor. After 1320, the wealthy trading city started to appear in writing as Dorpmunde. The etymology of the name is uncertain.

Related Topics:
History - 880 - 1152 - Barbarossa - Hanseatic League - 1220 - Imperial Free City

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Dortmund lost its status as an Imperial Free City in 1803. It was incorporated into Prussia after the Napoleonic Wars and became a major center for coal, steel, and beer.

Related Topics:
Prussia - Napoleonic Wars - Beer

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During the rule of the Third Reich, Dortmund was home to the Aplerbeck Hospital that "took care" of mentally and/or physically disabled persons. Located in the heart of the Ruhr region (Ruhrgebiet), Dortmund, along with neighboring cities, was a target of allied bombing raids. During World War II about two-thirds of homes in Dortmund were destroyed.

Related Topics:
Third Reich - Aplerbeck Hospital - World War II

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Today the city is a center for hi-tech industry. It is also one of the greenest cities in Westphalia, with extensive parks and gardens laid out in the reconstruction period after the Second World War. Additionally, the Dortmund chess tournament, one of the strongest in the world, is held here annually.

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