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Wittmund | |
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 Flag  Coat of arms | |
Location of Wittmund within Wittmund district  | |
 Location of Wittmund | |
  Wittmund  Wittmund | |
| Coordinates:53°34′30″N7°46′51″E / 53.57500°N 7.78083°E /53.57500; 7.78083 | |
| Country | Germany |
| State | Lower Saxony |
| District | Wittmund |
| Subdivisions | 14 districts |
| Government | |
| • Mayor(2021–26) | Rolf Claußen[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 210.16 km2 (81.14 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 4 m (13 ft) |
| Population (2023-12-31)[2] | |
• Total | 20,835 |
| • Density | 99.139/km2 (256.77/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| Postal codes | 26409 |
| Dialling codes | 04462 |
| Vehicle registration | WTM |
| Website | www.wittmund.de |
Wittmund (German pronunciation:[ˈvɪtˌmʊnt]ⓘ) is a town and capital of thedistrict of Wittmund, inLower Saxony,Germany.
Wittmund is a town of 21,000 inhabitants located in Germany's historic coastal district ofEast Frisia, between the towns ofAurich andJever. The town's borough covers an area of 52,000 acres (210 km2) which make it one of the largest boroughs inLower Saxony.
While the town of Wittmund is about 9 miles (14 km) from theNorth Sea coast, its borough includes the little port of Harlesiel which is the starting point for ferries to the island ofWangerooge. Harlesiel is named after the Harle, a small river that starts and finishes within Wittmund borough. (Asiel is asluice in adyke. At low tide, water from the river may flow into the sea.)
Villages:- Ardorf- Asel- Blersum- Berdum- Burhafe- Buttforde- Carolinensiel- Eggelingen- Funnix- Hovel- Leerhafe- Uttel- Willen
Towns:- Wittmund
Since November 1, 2006, Rolf Claußen is the mayor of Wittmund. He was reelected in 2014.
The town of Wittmund, on the edge of thegeest, and its surroundings are an ancient area of settlement. It was linked to inland East Frisia's network of roads early on and commercially oriented to the nearby coast. Around 1200, Wittmund was the hub of the rural parish (Landgemeinde) of Wangerland and was calledWiedemund orWiedemundheim at that time. The territorial units of the rural parishes were based roughly on old Frisian districts. Esens was the administrative centre of the Harlingerland.
The chieftain family of Kankena lived in a castle in the town in the late 14th century. Around 1400,Hamburg forces occupied the castle grounds as a result of allegations that the Kankenas had supported piracy against theHanseatic city. The release of the castle into the hands of the ruling chieftain family oftom Brok saw the Kankenas regaining possession of their estate.
The subsequent ruler of theBrokmerland,Focko Ukena, cleverly took advantage of the weakness of the Kankenas and enlisted them for military operations in the Battle of the Wild Fields, which he won. In 1454 the castle fell to the ruler of Harlingerland, Sibet Attena. In the same year, Sibet Attena united the rulers of Esens, Stedesdorf and Wittmund in order to ensure the independence of Harlingerland against the East Frisian counts. Not until 1600 was the Harlingerland, including Wittmund, finally joined to East Frisia through political and family mergers.
In 1584, the place is recorded on a card asWitmondt. Later, the town was given a district (Amt) constitution and made into anAmt as part of the new comital order. In 1730Witmundt is recorded within theAmt of Witmundt on another map. In 1744, East Frisia was absorbed byPrussia, and then, after a brief period under Dutch/French rule, became part of theKingdom of Hanover in 1815.
Under Hanoverian rule, theLanddrostei emerged, with theLanddrost as the highest state representative in the province. In 1866, East Frisia once again became part of Prussia. The state of Prussia initially took over theAmt structure with its existingÄmter of Aurich, Berum, Emden, Esens, Leer, Stickhausen, Weener and Wittmund. From 1884 they were transferred into the new district (Landkreis) structure. In East Frisia the new districts of Aurich, Emden (independent), Leer, Norden, Weener and Wittmund (1885) were created. Even the former HanoverianLanddrostei were transformed into administrative provinces (Regierungsbezirke). The district hall was built in Wittmund in 1903.
Wittmund was given town rights as early as 1567 by Agnes, Countess of Rietberg. In the 17th century these rights were rescinded and were not granted again until 1929.
The Luftwaffe's71st Tactical Fighter Squadron ( Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 71 "Richthofen") is based atWittmundhafen Air Base.
A public event is organized each year by theLuftwaffe.
Wittmund istwinned with:
Towns and municipalities inWittmund (district) | ||
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