Rostock
| Coat of Arms | Map of Germany |
|---|---|
| Data | |
| State | Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania |
| County | no county; free city |
| Area | 180.99 km² |
| Population | 198,000 (2003) |
| Population Density: | 1094.33 people per km² |
| Altitude: | 13 m above sea level |
| Postal Code | 18001-18147 |
| Telephone Code | +49.381 |
| Location | 54° 04' North 12° 07' East |
| Car Code | HRO |
| City Council | Neuer Markt 1 18055 Rostock |
| Homepage | www.rostock.de |
| info@rostock.de | |
| Administration | |
| Mayor: | Arno Pöker |
Rostock (slavic origin: roztoc) is a city in northern Germany. It is the largest city in the State of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Rostock is located on the Warnow river; the quarter of Warnemünde 12 km north of the city centre lies directly on the coast of the Baltic Sea.
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2 Sights 3 See also 4 External links |
In the 11th century there was a Slavic settlement at the Warnow river called Roztoc; the name Rostock is derived from that designation. The Danish king Valdemar I set the town aflame in 1161. Afterwards the place was settled by German traders.
The rise of the city began with its membership in the Hanseatic League. In the 14th century it was a powerful seaport town with 12,000 inhabitants. Ships for cruising the Baltic Sea were constructed in Rostock. In 1419 the oldest university in Northern Europe, the University of Rostock, was founded.
At the end of the 15th century the dukes of Mecklenburg succeeded in capturing the town of Rostock, which had until then been independent. They took advantage of a riot known as Domfehde, a failed uprising of the impoverished population. Subsequent quarrels with the dukes and persistent plundering led ultimately to a loss of power.
In the 19th century Rostock regained much of its power, due to its shipyards, constructing the first propeller-driven steamers in Germany. The city grew, was almost entirely destroyed in World War II and became a major industrial centre of East Germany with the port being developed as the primary gate to the world.
In the 20th century, Rostock was the place of Heinkel airplane construction until the end of the Second World War.
Historical Notes
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External links