Frankfurt an der Oder

Frankfurt an der Oder (German formal name: Frankfurt (Oder), Sorbian/Lusatian: Frankobord, Polish: Frankfurt nad Odr?) is a town in Brandenburg, Germany located on the Oder River, on the German-Polish border directly opposite the city of S?ubice. It is refered to as "Frankfurt an der Oder" to distinguish it from the larger city of Frankfurt am Main.

History

The town of Frankfurt was founded in the 13th century (local government charter in 1253) at the free ford (frank furt means a free crossing) known as the Brandendamm. The early settlers lived on the western banks of the Oder: later the town was extended to the eastern bank (which is today Polish). In late medieval times the town dominated the trade on the river between Wroc?aw (Breslau) and Szczecin (Stettin). In 1430 Frankfurt joined the Hanseatic League, but was a member for only a short time.

Related Topics:
13th century - 1253 - Ford - Brandendamm - Wroc?aw - Szczecin - 1430 - Hanseatic League

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The Elector of Brandenburg founded a university here, the Viadrina, whose Chancellor, Bishop Georg von Blumenthal (1490-1550) was a thorn in the side of the Reformation.

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In the 19th century, Frankfurt played an important role in trade. Centrally positioned in the Kingdom of Prussia between Berlin and Pozna? (Poland), and on the heavily-trafficked river Oder, the city housed the second-largest annual trade fair (Messe) of the German Reich, surpassed only by that in Leipzig.

Related Topics:
19th century - Kingdom of Prussia - Berlin - Pozna? - Poland - German Reich - Leipzig

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There was intense fighting for the city in 1945 when the Germans made it a fortress blocking the Soviets from taking the direct route to Berlin. After World War II Frankfurt was located on the new Polish border; the part on the eastern bank became the Polish city of S?ubice.

Related Topics:
1945 - World War II

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The towns now have friendly relations and run several common projects and facilities. After Poland joined the European Union on 1 May 2004, Frankfurt became less of a border town. Despite this, in the post-communist era the town has been quite poor with high unemployment. Its population has fallen significantly from around 87,000 at the time of German reunification in 1990.

Related Topics:
European Union - 1 May - 2004 - Unemployment - 1990

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Frankfurt housed a university between 1506 and 1811. It was refounded in 1991 under the old name, but with a European emphasis, as the Viadrina European University, which in several respects is a common German-Polish university.

Related Topics:
1506 - 1811 - 1991 - Viadrina European University

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