 | This article has multiple issues. Please helpimprove it or discuss these issues on thetalk page.(Learn how and when to remove these messages) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
|
Ohrdruf | |
|---|---|
 Railway station | |
 Coat of arms | |
Location of Ohrdruf within Gotha district  | |
 Location of Ohrdruf | |
  Ohrdruf  Ohrdruf | |
| Coordinates:50°49′41″N10°43′58″E / 50.82806°N 10.73278°E /50.82806; 10.73278 | |
| Country | Germany |
| State | Thuringia |
| District | Gotha |
| Government | |
| • Mayor(2024–30) | Stefan Schambach[1] (SPD) |
| Area | |
• Total | 113.6 km2 (43.9 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 375 m (1,230 ft) |
| Population (2023-12-31)[2] | |
• Total | 9,476 |
| • Density | 83.42/km2 (216.0/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| Postal codes | 99885 |
| Dialling codes | 03624 |
| Vehicle registration | GTH |
| Website | www.ohrdruf.de |
Ohrdruf (German:[ˈoːɐ̯dʁʊf]ⓘ) is a small town in the district ofGotha in theGerman state ofThuringia. It lies some 30 km southwest ofErfurt at the foot of the northern slope of theThuringian Forest. The former municipalitiesCrawinkel,Gräfenhain andWölfis were merged into Ohrdruf in January 2019.
Ohrdruf was reportedly founded in 724–726 by SaintBoniface, as the site of the first monastery in Thuringia, dedicated toSaint Michael. It was the first of several religious foundations in the town, the latest of which is theCarmelite monasteryKarmel St. Elija (founded 1991).
Ohrdruf received municipal rights in 1399.[3] In 1550, underGeorg II von Gleichen [de] work began onSchloss Ehrenstein at the site of the former 8th century monastery.[4]
During the 17th century, theSchloss fell to theGrafen von Hohenlohe who after 1760 made alterations to it inBaroque style.[4]
In 1695, the orphanedJohann Sebastian Bach came to live and attend school at Ohrdruf, under the care of his older brotherJohann Christoph Bach (1671–1721), who had come here in 1690 as organist at theSt. Michaelis Kirche (St Michael's Church) and as a teacher at theLyceum. Johann Sebastian lived in Ohrdruf from the ages of 10 to 15.[4][5]
In the 19th century, the town became a centre oftoy manufacturing. TheKewpie doll was produced here from 1913. There are still some oldmolds embedded in the facades of Ohrdruf buildings.
In 1869, the Hohenlohe family sold theGrafschaft Gleichen including the castle and town of Ohrdruf to theDuchy of Saxe-Gotha.[4]
The nearbyTruppenübungsplatz Ohrdruf [de] (military training area) served as aPOW camp duringWorld War I, housing around 20,000 prisoners.[6] It was later used by theWehrmacht and in the fall of 1944 a section of it became theOhrdruf concentration camp.[7] The prisoners were used to construct roads, railways and tunnels. The latter were to include a temporary headquarters for the Nazi leadership following the evacuation of Berlin (Führerhauptquartier).[8][9]
According to German historianRainer Karlsch, the facility built at nearbyJonastal was one of two locations whereKurt Diebner's team tested itsnuclear energy project. During this process, according to Karlsch,prisoners of war were killed under the supervision of theSS.[citation needed]
Ohrdruf is believed to be the place where the historicalCompiègne Wagon was blown up in an air attack in 1944. Ohrdruf was the first Nazi concentration camp to be liberated by the US Army, on 4 April 1945. Shortly thereafter, GeneralsEisenhower,Patton andBradley came here to look at the piles of dead bodies left behind by the SS.[7]
The military training area ofTruppenübungsplatz Ohrdruf was taken over in July 1945 by theRed Army, sinceThuringia became part of the Soviet occupation zone. TheNordlager -part of the concentration camp was razed. Two memorials to the dead were erected at around this time. In 1991, ownership was transferred to theGerman Defence Ministry. Since 1993, theBundeswehr has been in charge of the area.[10]
The Soviet troops also usedSchloss Ehrenstein from 1956 until 1971, leaving it in a desolate condition.[4]
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Ohrdruf".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 20 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 35.
Towns and municipalities inGotha (district) | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
