Greifswald

Greifswald (German Greif=griffin, Wald=forest) is a city in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. Greifswald is located at the southern end of the Baltic Sea, between the islands of Rügen and Usedom, at the mouth of the river 'Ryck'. The population is roughly 55,000. The city is officially known as Hansestadt Greifswald, which means Hanseatic City of Greifswald.

Historical notes

The first settlers were Danish Cistercian monks, who founded the Brick Gothic Eldena monastery in 1199. The salt trade helped the monastery grow to a monumental religious centre. The earliest known document that refers to Greifswald was written in 1248. Enjoying a steady increase in population, Greifswald also became one of the earliest members of the Hanseatic League at the end of the 13th century, which further increased trade and wealth.

Related Topics:
Danish - Cistercian - Brick Gothic - 1199 - Salt - 1248 - Hanseatic League - 13th century

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In 1456, Greifswald's mayor Heinrich Rubenow layed the foundations of the second oldest university in Northern Europe, which is one of the oldest in Germany, and was, periodically, the oldest in Sweden and Prussia respectively.

Related Topics:
1456 - University - Sweden - Prussia

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As a result of the Thirty Years War Greifswald became part of the Kingdom of Sweden in 1631 and remained Swedish until 1815.

Related Topics:
Sweden - 1631 - 1815

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During the period of communist dictatorship that followed the Second World War, parts of the historic city saw little effort towards renovation. After the German reunification in 1989/1990 this situation has changed substantially.

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The largest nuclear powerplant in the former East Germany was located near Greifswald.

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It had four reactors which were successively brought online starting in 1974. The plant was promptly shut down after the reunification of Germany due to safety concerns, particulary in regard to the near-meltdown on November 24, 1989.

Related Topics:
1974 - November 24 - 1989

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