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Heidenheim an der Brenz

Heidenheim an der Brenz, or just Heidenheim (German pronunciation: [ˈhaɪdn̩ˌhaɪm] ; Swabian: Hoidna or Hoirna), is a town in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. It is located near the border with Bavaria, approximately 17 km south of Aalen and 33 km north of Ulm. Heidenheim is the largest town and the seat of the district of Heidenheim, and ranks third behind Aalen and Schwäbisch Gmünd in size among the towns in the region of East Württemberg. Heidenheim is the economic center for all the communities in Heidenheim district and is the headquarters of the Voith industrial company. The town's population in 2021 was just below the 50,000 mark. Heidenheim collaborates with the town of Nattheim in administrative matters.

For Heidenheim in the district of Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen, see Heidenheim, Bavaria.

Heidenheim an der Brenz

Michael Salomo[1] (SPD)

107.10 km2 (41.35 sq mi)

504 m (1,654 ft)

50,025

470/km2 (1,200/sq mi)

89501–89522

The residents of Heidenheim and its surrounding area speak the distinct German dialect of Swabian.

History[edit]

There is evidence that human life existed within the city limits of Heidenheim as far back as 8,000 years ago. However, a permanent settlement was not established until approximately 1300 BC. Extensive ruins remain of settlements dating, predominantly, to the period from 1200 to 800 BC.


At the time of the Roman Empire from about 85 AD onwards, Heidenheim was the location of Castle Aquileia with attached cavalry of more than 1,000 mounted soldiers. The unit, called ala II flavia milliaria was later, around 159 AD, moved further North to Aalen. At first, the castle marked the Eastern end of the Alb Limes. But it did not take long until a civilian settlement was founded at this strategically important spot, marked by the intersection of five Roman roads. This settlement was the largest Roman city in what is today Baden-Württemberg and archeological finds suggest that it covered an area of approximately 37 - 50 acres (20.23 ha) (15 - 20 hectares). More recently, excavations have found the remains of a representative Roman administrative building. Its exact function was not fully understood as of May 2005, but given Aquileia's size, location and other indicators, it is believed that it was probably the capital of a Roman administrative district (see also Civitas). From 233 on, the Alamanni repeatedly attacked the Roman limes fortifications. The Roman surrender of the limes in 260 spelled the end of the Roman city of Heidenheim. It is not clear to what extent Romans stayed on under the new Alammanic rule but it is very likely that some remained.


Nothing is known about Aquileia/Heidenheim during the period of the Great Migration. However, in the 8th century Heidenheim was mentioned (again) for the first time in official documents. The creation of the city in the Middle Ages went hand in hand with the construction of Hellenstein Castle. The city wall was built in segments in 1190 and 1420 and Emperor Charles IV granted or confirmed the city's status as a market town in 1356. Through the rule of the von Helfenstein family, the city became part of the Duchy of Teck, ruled by Württemberg, in 1448. It temporarily belonged to the dukes of Bavaria between 1462 and 1504. Later still, albeit for only a short period, the city belonged to Ulm. During Württemberg times, it was always the seat of an administrative unit. This unit was an exclave of the dukes of Württemberg until 1803 when Württemberg's territorial gains connected the city with the main part of the duchy's territory. In 1807 Heidenheim was promoted to district status and then again to County status in 1938. The district reform of the 1970s did not change the county limits by much.


The economic development of the village and city is founded mainly on the area's ore deposits that were already being exploited in Roman times. However, the importance of this branch of the city's economy diminished near the turn of the 19th century due to great competition, first from Wasseralfingen and later from the Rhineland.


Heidenheim also played an important part in the textile industry. Flax grown in the Eastern Swabian Alps was used to manufacture linen. The business grew into an industry at the dawn of the 19th century with the help of cotton imports but declined after World War II due to international competition. During the war, a subcamp of the Dachau concentration camp was located here. It provided slave labour to local industry.[6]


After World War II ended in 1945, a displaced persons camp was established in the city to help relocate Jewish displaced persons. The camp, housing at times up to 2,300 individuals, was dissolved in August 1949.


Mergelstetten was first mentioned in an official document by Bishop Walter von Augsburg in 1143 in which he confirmed that the nearby Cloister of Anhausen owned a mill, a fish pond and a farm. However, it is estimated that the first settlement was founded in the 7th or 8th century by the Alamanni. Other important dates for the local economy are 1828 when Jakob Zoeppritz from Darmstadt founded a woolen blanket factory and 1901 when Carl Schwenk of Ulm built the concrete factory.

Sport[edit]

The city's main sport club is Heidenheimer Sportbund (SB), which offers a number of different sports. Its football division is led by FC Heidenheim 1846, which plays at the Voith-Arena. The team has experienced success in recent years, rising two tiers in the German football league system after winning the Regionalliga Süd in 2009. From the 2023–24 season, it will compete in the Bundesliga.


Heidenheimer SB's baseball division, Heidenheim Heideköpfe, plays in the first division of the Baseball Bundesliga. The club has made the playoffs in almost every year since it reached the first division in 2001, and won the championship in 2009.[10]

Economy and industry[edit]

Industry[edit]

In economic terms, Heidenheim's main claim to fame is being the headquarters of Voith, an industrial company specializing in turbines and machinery for the paper-making industry. Voith is Heidenheim's largest employer and employs 7,500 people in and around the town.


In May 2006, the world's first Paper Technology Centre was opened in Heidenheim at the cost of 75 million euros.[11] Voith bills the centre as "the most important center for paper research in the world".

Transport[edit]

Heidenheim is a stop along the Brenz Railway that runs from Aalen via Heidenheim to Ulm. The regional train line is also part of Heidenheim's local public transport system. The town has a second train station on this line at the suburb of Schnaitheim.


Several bus lines also serve residents and visitors inside city limits.


Heidenheim is located near the Autobahn A 7 just off the Exit Heidenheim and is also easily accessible by car and truck via the federal highways B 19 and B 466 that traverse the city.

Media[edit]

"Heidenheimer Zeitung" and "Heidenheimer Neue Presse" are daily newspapers published in the city. In addition, the "Neue Woche" is published weekly (Thursday), as is the "Sunday Newspaper" (Sunday).


The Südwestrundfunk (SWR) operates a relay station for four of its FM stations and the television channel Das Erste. The Schmittenberg radio tower emits programs for two more radio stations.

(1702–1782), Lutheran theologian, worked in Heidenheim 1743–1746

Friedrich Christoph Oetinger

(1717–1788), Prussian general of infantry

Johann Jakob von Wunsch

(1863–1952), botanist, writer and anthroposophist

Alfred Meebold

(1891–1944), officer in World War I and II, father of Manfred Rommel

Erwin Rommel

(1906–1990), Protestant church musician, composer, organ expert, and writer, worked (1937–1971), lived (1937–1990), and died in Heidenheim

Helmut Bornefeld

(1911–1994), architect in Hannover

Dieter Oesterlen

(born 1933), Roman Catholic Cardinal

Walter Kasper

(born 1953), physicist and former astronaut

Gerhard Thiele

(born 1947), footballer who won the European Cup with Ajax three times in a row

Horst Blankenburg

Qianjiang, China (1994)

China

Papeete, French Polynesia, France (2022)

France

Württembergisches Städtebuch; Vol IV Part Baden-Württemberg vol 2 from Deutsches Städtebuch. Handbuch städtischer Geschichte - Commissioned by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft der historischen Kommissionen with the support of the Deutschen Städtetag, the Deutschen Städtebund and the Deutschen Gemeindetag, publisher , Stuttgart, 1961

Erich Keyser

Website of Heidenheim an der Brenz

NEUER KAMMERCHOR Heidenheim

Opera Festival

Nature Theater Heidenheim

Sasse-Theater Heidenheim-Schnaitheim

State Botanical Show Heidenheim 2006

Heidenheim Infoportal

Protestant Church Heidenheim

Heidenheimer Zeitung

Displaced Persons Camp Heidenheim

Voith

YIVO Archives, Guide to the Records of the Displaced Person Camps and Centers in Germany, 1945-1952

YIVO Archives, Guide to the Displaced Persons Camps and Centers Photograph Collection, 1920s-1959