Flensburg

Flensburg (Danish: Flensborg, Frisian: Flansborj) is an independent town in the North of the German state Schleswig-Holstein. Flensburg is the centre of the region Südschleswig. After Kiel and Lübeck it is the third largest town in Schleswig-Holstein.

History

Flensburg was founded in the 13th century at the innermost tip of the Flensburg Fjord and began to rise after the decline of the Hanseatic League. Between 1460 and 1864 it was one of the major ports of the Danish monarchy. In the Second war of Schleswig in 1864 the city was captured by Prussia, and Germany retained the city in the Schleswig Plebiscite following World War I. There is still a large Danish community living in Flensburg. The Danish name of the town is Flensborg. In the Second World War the town remained virtually undamaged. Admiral Karl Dönitz fled here in 1945 to escape the Allied troops. The remnants of the German government continued to operate what the Allies referred to as the Flensburg government after the fall of Berlin (May 2, 1945), and even after the surrender of Germany, until being shut down on May 23.

Related Topics:
13th century - Flensburg Fjord - Hanseatic League - 1460 - 1864 - Second war of Schleswig - Prussia - Schleswig Plebiscite - World War I - Second World War - Karl Dönitz - 1945 - Flensburg government - Berlin - May 23

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~