![Karte Stadtgliederung Coburg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/Karte_Stadtgliederung_Coburg.svg)
Coburg () is a
town
A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world.
Origin and use
The word "town" shares an ori ...
located on the
Itz
The Itz is a river of Thuringia and Bavaria, Germany.
The Itz is long and a right tributary of the Main.
The Itz begins in Sachsenbrunn (Stelzen), Thuringia and flows southward through Bachfeld and Schalkau. It crosses into Bavaria and feeds ...
river in the
Upper Franconia
Upper Franconia (german: Oberfranken) is a ''Regierungsbezirk'' (administrative 'Regierungs''region 'bezirk'' of the state of Bavaria, southern Germany. It forms part of the historically significant region of Franconia, the others being Middle F ...
region of
Bavaria
Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total lan ...
, Germany. Long part of one of the
Thuringian states
The Thuringian states (german: Thüringische Staaten) refers to the following German federal states within the German Reich:
*The Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, officially the Grand Duchy of Saxony (''Großherzogtum Sachsen'') from 1903
*Th ...
of the
Wettin line, it joined
Bavaria
Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total lan ...
by popular vote only in 1920. Until the revolution of 1918, it was one of the capitals of the
Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and the
Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld () was one of the Saxon Duchies held by the Ernestine line of the Wettin Dynasty. Established in 1699, the Saxe-Coburg-Saalfield line lasted until the reshuffle of the Ernestine territories that occurred following the extinct ...
. Through successful dynastic policies, the ruling princely family married into several of the royal families of Europe, most notably in the person of
Prince Albert, who married
Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previo ...
in 1840. As a result of these close links with the royal houses of Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Coburg was frequently visited by the crowned heads of Europe and their families.
Coburg is also the location of
Veste Coburg
The Veste Coburg (Coburg Fortress) is one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses of Germany. It is situated on a hill above the town of Coburg, in the Upper Franconia region of Bavaria.
Geography
Location
Veste Coburg dominates the town of C ...
, one of Germany's largest castles. In 1530,
Martin Luther
Martin Luther (; ; 10 November 1483 – 18 February 1546) was a German priest, theologian, author, hymnwriter, and professor, and Augustinian friar. He is the seminal figure of the Protestant Reformation and the namesake of Lutherani ...
lived there for six months while translating the Bible into German (the
Luther Bible
The Luther Bible (german: Lutherbibel) is a German language Bible translation from Latin sources by Martin Luther. The New Testament was first published in September 1522, and the complete Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments with Apocry ...
).
Today, Coburg's population is close to 41,500. Since it was little damaged in World War II, Coburg retains many historic buildings, making it a popular tourist destination.
Geography
Location
Coburg lies about south of
Erfurt
Erfurt () is the capital and largest city in the Central German state of Thuringia. It is located in the wide valley of the Gera river (progression: ), in the southern part of the Thuringian Basin, north of the Thuringian Forest. It sits i ...
and about north of
Nuremberg
Nuremberg ( ; german: link=no, Nürnberg ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the second-largest city of the German state of Bavaria after its capital Munich, and its 518,370 (2019) inhabitants make it the 14th-largest ...
on the river
Itz
The Itz is a river of Thuringia and Bavaria, Germany.
The Itz is long and a right tributary of the Main.
The Itz begins in Sachsenbrunn (Stelzen), Thuringia and flows southward through Bachfeld and Schalkau. It crosses into Bavaria and feeds ...
. It is an
urban district
Urban district may refer to:
* District
* Urban area
* Quarter (urban subdivision)
* Neighbourhood
Specific subdivisions in some countries:
* Urban districts of Denmark
* Urban districts of Germany
* Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland) (hist ...
and is surrounded by the ''
Landkreis Coburg
Coburg () is a ''Landkreis'' (district) in Bavaria, Germany. It is bounded by (from the east and clockwise) the districts of Kronach, Lichtenfels, Bamberg and Haßberge, and by the state of Thuringia (districts Hildburghausen and Sonneberg). T ...
''. Coburg lies at the foot of the
Thuringian Highland
The Thuringian Highland, Thuringian Highlands or Thuringian-Vogtlandian Slate MountainsKohl, Horst; Marcinek, Joachim and Nitz, Bernhard (1986). ''Geography of the German Democratic Republic'', VEB Hermann Haack, Gotha, p. 7 ff. . (german: Thüring ...
. Coburg, Bavaria was part of West Germany until reunification in 1990, but on three sides it borders
Thuringia
Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a state of central Germany, covering , the sixth smallest of the sixteen German states. It has a population of about 2.1 million.
Erfurt is the capital and lar ...
which was East Germany. The border between Bavaria and Thuringia was also the
inner German border.
Subdivisions
![Bisse-Challoner crests on silver Coburg-pattern spoons - 200604](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Bisse-Challoner_crests_on_silver_Coburg-pattern_spoons_-_200604.jpg)
Coburg is divided into 15 ''
Stadtteile'':
* Coburg (town proper)
*
Beiersdorf
Beiersdorf AG is a German multinational company that manufactures and retails personal-care products and pressure-sensitive adhesives. Its brands include Elastoplast, Eucerin (makers of Aquaphor), Labello, La Prairie, Nivea, Tesa SE (Tesa t ...
*
Bertelsdorf
*
Cortendorf
*
Creidlitz
Creidlitz is a southern suburb of 1705 inhabitants (30 June 2010) of the city of Coburg in the county of Upper Franconia in the state of Bavaria in Germany.
Geography
It is 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) south of Coburg and at the northern edge of ...
*
Glend
*
Ketschendorf
*
Löbelstein
*
Lützelbuch
*
Neu- and Neershof
*
*
Rögen
*
Scheuerfeld
*
Seidmansdorf
*
Wüstenahorn
History
![Coburg-Ehrenburg1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/59/Coburg-Ehrenburg1.jpg)
Coburg was first mentioned in a monastic document dated 1056, which marked the transfer of ownership to the
Archbishop-Elector of Cologne
The Archbishop of Cologne is an archbishop governing the Archdiocese of Cologne of the Catholic Church in western North Rhine-Westphalia and is also a historical state in the Rhine holding the birthplace of Beethoven and northern Rhineland-Palati ...
,
although there was a settlement at the site that predates it called ''Trufalistat''. The origin of the name ''Coburg'' is unclear; the first element may be ''kuh'', which would give a literal meaning of "cow borough".
"Coburg" initially referred to a property centred on the hill where
Veste Coburg
The Veste Coburg (Coburg Fortress) is one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses of Germany. It is situated on a hill above the town of Coburg, in the Upper Franconia region of Bavaria.
Geography
Location
Veste Coburg dominates the town of C ...
was later built. Its oldest remains date to the 12th or 13th century. In 1248, the castle came into possession of the
House of Henneberg
The House of Henneberg was a medieval German comital family (''Grafen'') which from the 11th century onwards held large territories in the Duchy of Franconia. Their county was raised to a princely county (''Gefürstete Grafschaft'') in 1310.
Upo ...
and in 1353 it passed to the
House of Wettin
The House of Wettin () is a dynasty of German kings, prince-electors, dukes, and counts that once ruled territories in the present-day German states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The dynasty is one of the oldest in Europe, and its ori ...
with the marriage of
Frederick III with
Catherine of Henneberg
Catherine of Henneberg (german: Katharina von Henneberg ; c. 1334, in Schleusingen – 15 July 1397, in Meissen) was a Countess of Henneberg by birth and from 1347 by marriage Margravine of Meissen, Landgravine of Thuringia, etc. She was the wi ...
and was initially regarded by them as a
Saxon outpost within
Franconia
Franconia (german: Franken, ; Franconian dialect: ''Franggn'' ; bar, Frankn) is a region of Germany, characterised by its culture and Franconian languages, Franconian dialect (German: ''Fränkisch'').
The three Regierungsbezirk, administrative ...
.
During the
Diet of Augsburg
The Diet of Augsburg were the meetings of the Imperial Diet of the Holy Roman Empire held in the German city of Augsburg. Both an Imperial City and the residence of the Augsburg prince-bishops, the town had hosted the Estates in many such sessi ...
in 1530 reformer
Martin Luther
Martin Luther (; ; 10 November 1483 – 18 February 1546) was a German priest, theologian, author, hymnwriter, and professor, and Augustinian friar. He is the seminal figure of the Protestant Reformation and the namesake of Lutherani ...
spent six months at the castle (located at the southernmost point of the Saxon duchy) while his
liege lord,
John, Elector of Saxony
Johann (30 June 146816 August 1532), known as Johann the Steadfast or Johann the Constant (''Johann, der Beständige''), was Elector of Saxony from 1525 until 1532 from the House of Wettin.
He is notable for organising the Lutheran Church in th ...
, attended the Diet. Luther was forbidden to attend by the Elector, who feared that he would be imprisoned and burned as a heretic. While quartered at the castle Luther continued with his translation of the Bible into German.
In 1547, the princely residence was moved from the Veste to a former monastery, rebuilt as a
Renaissance palace, the
Ehrenburg.
In 1596, Coburg was raised to the status of capital of one of the dynasty's splintered
Saxon-Thuringian territories, the newly created
Duchy of Saxe-Coburg under the leadership of
Duke John Casimir (ruled 1596–1633). From 1699 to 1826, it was one of the two capitals of the
Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld () was one of the Saxon Duchies held by the Ernestine line of the Wettin Dynasty. Established in 1699, the Saxe-Coburg-Saalfield line lasted until the reshuffle of the Ernestine territories that occurred following the extinct ...
, and from 1826 to 1918 it was a capital of the
Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (german: Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha), or Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (german: Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha, links=no ), was an Ernestine, Thuringian duchy ruled by a branch of the House of Wettin, consisting of territories in the present- ...
.
Ernest Frederick, the fourth Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, moved his capital from
Saalfeld
Saalfeld (german: Saalfeld/Saale) is a town in Germany, capital of the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district of Thuringia. It is best known internationally as the ancestral seat of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha branch of the Saxon House of Wettin.
Geography ...
to Coburg in 1764. Coburg then became capital of the
Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld () was one of the Saxon Duchies held by the Ernestine line of the Wettin Dynasty. Established in 1699, the Saxe-Coburg-Saalfield line lasted until the reshuffle of the Ernestine territories that occurred following the extinct ...
and later of the
Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
In the early 19th century, the town's medieval fortifications were demolished and replaced by parks.
The duke also started the collection of copperplate engravings that is today part of the Veste Coburg museum. Under his son,
Ernest
Ernest is a given name derived from Germanic word ''ernst'', meaning "serious". Notable people and fictional characters with the name include:
People
* Archduke Ernest of Austria (1553–1595), son of Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
* Ernest, ...
, the ' with what is today the ''
Landestheater Coburg
Landestheater Coburg (Coburg State Theatre) is a medium-sized three-division (opera / operetta, drama, ballet) theatre in Coburg, Bavaria, Germany. Located on , a central square, the Neoclassical building has 550 seats. In 2008, the theatre ...
'' was created. He also rebuilt the Ehrenburg in
Gothic revival style
Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic, neo-Gothic, or Gothick) is an architectural movement that began in the late 1740s in England. The movement gained momentum and expanded in the first half of the 19th century, as increasingly ...
.
In the mid-19th century,
Duke Ernest II supported national and liberal ideas and Coburg hosted the first meeting of the
German National Association
The German National Association, or ''German National Union'' (german: Deutscher Nationalverein) was a liberal political organisation, precursor of a party, in the German Confederation that existed from 1859 to 1867. It was formed by liberals and ...
, the founding of the ' and the first ' (national sports festival).
During the 19th century, dynastic marriages created ties with the royal families of Belgium, Bulgaria, Portugal and Britain. This turned the ducal family from the rulers of a fairly obscure backwater duchy into one playing an influential role in European politics. The era of political influence peaked with
Leopold Frederick; born Prince of
Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld () was one of the Saxon Duchies held by the Ernestine line of the Wettin Dynasty. Established in 1699, the Saxe-Coburg-Saalfield line lasted until the reshuffle of the Ernestine territories that occurred following the extinct ...
, becoming the King of
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
in 1831 and
Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (Franz August Karl Albert Emanuel; 26 August 1819 – 14 December 1861) was the consort of Queen Victoria from their marriage on 10 February 1840 until his death in 1861.
Albert was born in the Saxon duch ...
, born in
Schloss Rosenau, marrying his first cousin,
Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previo ...
in 1840. The marriage between Albert and Victoria established the present British royal house, which renamed itself
Windsor
Windsor may refer to:
Places Australia
* Windsor, New South Wales
** Municipality of Windsor, a former local government area
* Windsor, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland
**Shire of Windsor, a former local government authority around Wi ...
during
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. This marriage in turn led to a union with Germany's ruling dynasty, the
Hohenzollerns
The House of Hohenzollern (, also , german: Haus Hohenzollern, , ro, Casa de Hohenzollern) is a German royal (and from 1871 to 1918, imperial) dynasty whose members were variously princes, electors, kings and emperors of Hohenzollern, Brandenb ...
, when the couple's eldest child,
Victoria
Victoria most commonly refers to:
* Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia
* Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada
* Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory
* Victoria, Seychelle ...
, married the future Kaiser
Friedrich III Frederick III may refer to:
* Frederick III, Duke of Upper Lorraine (died 1033)
* Frederick III, Duke of Swabia (1122–1190)
* Friedrich III, Burgrave of Nuremberg (1220–1297)
* Frederick III, Duke of Lorraine (1240–1302)
* Frederick III of S ...
.
After her marriage, Queen Victoria said of Coburg:
Due to the royal connections among the royal houses of Europe, Coburg was the site of many royal Ducal weddings and visits. Britain's Queen Victoria made six visits to Coburg during her 63-year reign. In 1894 the wedding of
Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse
, spouses =
, issue =
, house = Hesse-Darmstadt
, father = Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine
, mother = Princess Alice of the United Kingdom
, birth_date =
, birth_place = New Palace, Darmstadt, Gra ...
and
Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha , later Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna of Russia (25 November 1876 – 2 March 1936), was the third child and second daughter of Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and of Grand Duchess M ...
brought together
Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previo ...
, her son
Edward (future Edward VII), her second son
Alfred (Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha), her daughter the German
Dowager Empress Friedrich (Victoria), and many of her grandchildren, such as future
Tsar Nicholas and
Alexandra of Russia (Alix of Hesse), Kaiser
Wilhelm II
, house = Hohenzollern
, father = Frederick III, German Emperor
, mother = Victoria, Princess Royal
, religion = Lutheranism (Prussian United)
, signature = Wilhelm II, German Emperor Signature-.svg
Wilhelm II (Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor ...
of Germany, and the future
King George V
George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936.
Born during the reign of his grandmother Qu ...
of the United Kingdom.
![VesteCoburgNight](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/VesteCoburgNight.jpg)
In November 1918, the last Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha,
Charles Edward Charles Edward may refer to:
*Charles Edward (horse), a racehorse
*Charles Edward Stuart, aka Bonnie Prince Charlie
*Charles E. Stuart, Charles Edward Stuart, American politician
*Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
*Charles Edward Callwe ...
, abdicated. The ''
Freistaat Coburg'' which now came into being had to decide whether to become part of
Thuringia
Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a state of central Germany, covering , the sixth smallest of the sixteen German states. It has a population of about 2.1 million.
Erfurt is the capital and lar ...
or
Bavaria
Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total lan ...
. In a November 1919 referendum, the locals voted to join
Bavaria
Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total lan ...
with an 88% majority. On 1 July 1920, Coburg joined Bavaria.
In 1929, Coburg was the first German town in which the
Nazi Party
The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party (german: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP), was a far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that created and supported t ...
won the absolute majority of the popular vote during municipal elections. In 1932, Coburg was the first German town to make
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Nazi Germany, Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his death in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the le ...
an
honorary citizen
Honorary citizenship is a status bestowed by a city or other government on a foreign or native individual whom it considers to be especially admirable or otherwise worthy of the distinction. The honour usually is symbolic and does not confer an ...
.
Coburg had Jewish citizens as early as the 14th century. In the 1870s they were granted permission to lease permanently the Church of St. Nicholas for conversion into a synagogue. In 1931 an unofficial boycott was imposed against Jewish businesses. In 1932 the municipal council abrogated the lease of St. Nicholas Church, and a year later the synagogue was closed down (it still remains standing). On 25 March 1933, 40 Jews in Coburg were arrested and tortured. They were not released until the affair became internationally known. On 9 November 1938 (
Kristallnacht
() or the Night of Broken Glass, also called the November pogrom(s) (german: Novemberpogrome, ), was a pogrom against Jews carried out by the Nazi Party's (SA) paramilitary and (SS) paramilitary forces along with some participation fro ...
), all Jewish men were interned and Jewish homes, shops, and the school were destroyed. Coburg's Jewish community numbered 68 in 1869, 210 (1.3% of the total population) in 1880, 316 (1.3%) in 1925, and 233 (0.9%) in 1933. Around 150 managed to leave by 1942, either emigrating from Germany or moving to other German cities. The rest were deported to
Riga,
Izbica
Izbica ( yi, איזשביצע ''Izhbitz, Izhbitze'') is a village in the Krasnystaw County of the Lublin Voivodeship in eastern Poland. It is the seat of the gmina administrative district called Gmina Izbica. It lies approximately south of Kr ...
, and
Theresienstadt
Theresienstadt Ghetto was established by the SS during World War II in the fortress town of Terezín, in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia ( German-occupied Czechoslovakia). Theresienstadt served as a waystation to the extermination ca ...
in three transports between November 1941 and September 1942. The memorial book of the German Federal Archives for the victims of the Nazi persecution of Jews in Germany lists in particular 63 Jewish inhabitants of Coburg, who were deported and mostly murdered. Coburg's Jewish community was not reestablished after the war.
After
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, which Coburg survived largely undamaged, the town faced the challenge of integrating over 15,000
refugees. In addition, whilst the other Saxon-Thuringian principalities were incorporated into the
German Democratic Republic
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
** Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**G ...
, Bavarian Coburg became part of
West Germany
West Germany is the colloquial term used to indicate the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG; german: Bundesrepublik Deutschland , BRD) between its formation on 23 May 1949 and the German reunification through the accession of East Germany on 3 O ...
. As a result, the town spent the
Cold War years lying right next to the
Iron Curtain, surrounded by East German territory on three sides and cut off from much of its natural back country.
In 1946, Polish ambassador
Oskar R. Lange alleged that Coburg was a base for the
Western Allies
The Allies, formally referred to as the United Nations from 1942, were an international military coalition formed during the Second World War (1939–1945) to oppose the Axis powers, led by Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, and Fascist Italy ...
to organize a Polish armed insurgency led by
Władysław Anders
)
, birth_name = Władysław Albert Anders
, birth_date =
, birth_place = Krośniewice-Błonie, Warsaw Governorate, Congress Poland, Russian Empire
, death_date =
, death_place = London, England, United Kingdom
, serviceyear ...
against the Soviet-backed communists in
Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populou ...
.
Demographics
Over two-thirds of Coburg's population live in the core town of Coburg rather than in one of the ''Stadtteile'' merged with it in the 20th century. Some of those retain a largely rural character.
Religion
Most residents of Coburg are members of the
Evangelical Church
Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide interdenominational movement within Protestant Christianity that affirms the centrality of being " born again", in which an individual exper ...
(
Lutheran
Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Cathol ...
). Other Christian communities are
Baptists,
Seventh-day Adventists
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is an Adventist Protestant Christian denomination which is distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the seventh day of the week in the Christian (Gregorian) and the Hebrew calendar, as the Sabbath, and i ...
, the
ICF Movement,
Jehovah's Witnesses,
Catholics,
Old Catholics
The terms Old Catholic Church, Old Catholics, Old-Catholic churches or Old Catholic movement designate "any of the groups of Western Christians who believe themselves to maintain in complete loyalty the doctrine and traditions of the undivide ...
and the
New Apostolic Church, as well as
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a nontrinitarian Christian church that considers itself to be the restoration of the original church founded by Jesus Christ. The ch ...
. There are also three communities of
Muslims. Coburg had a large Jewish community until the 1940s. Jews had lived there since the 14th century. The old synagogue was a former church. Today it is used by
Old Catholics
The terms Old Catholic Church, Old Catholics, Old-Catholic churches or Old Catholic movement designate "any of the groups of Western Christians who believe themselves to maintain in complete loyalty the doctrine and traditions of the undivide ...
. Coburg became Protestant after the
Reformation
The Reformation (alternatively named the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation) was a major movement within Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the Catholic Church and in ...
. All Catholics were persecuted. A new Catholic community was founded in the 19th century.
Economy
In 1919 and Ernst Jüngling established the metal works ''Max Brose & Co.'' to manufacture car parts. The company is still in operation today, as ''
Brose Fahrzeugteile''.
In 1950, the ''Haftpflicht-Unterstützungs-Kasse kraftfahrender Beamter Deutschlands a. G.'' (today ) relocated from
Erfurt
Erfurt () is the capital and largest city in the Central German state of Thuringia. It is located in the wide valley of the Gera river (progression: ), in the southern part of the Thuringian Basin, north of the Thuringian Forest. It sits i ...
to Coburg. HUK is today the largest employer and largest payer of ' (local corporate tax) in Coburg.
''
Kapp Werkzeugmaschinen
KAPP Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH is a manufacturer of machines and tools for finishing of gears and profiles. About a third of the turnover is made in Germany and two-thirds in international operations. The company headquartered in Coburg (Bavaria ...
'' has been a manufacturer of gear-milling machines since 1953, after taking over the production assets of COMAG (Coburger Maschinenbau GmbH).
Waldrich-Coburg, founded in 1920, manufactures
CNC-milling machines in a range of sizes, the largest of which can handle an object of size 50 x 14 x 10 metres.
Founded in 1919,
Kaeser Compressors produces air compressors in various sizes.
Coburg has an above-average share of goods-producing employees. In 2013, out of 32,962 employees 10,421 worked in the manufacturing or construction sectors (31% vs. a national average of 24%), 4,853 in trade, transport and tourism, 10,381 in professional services and 7,230 in public and private services.
Hotels in Coburg counted over 61,000 overnight visitors in 2014 (of which around 53,000 were from Germany). They stayed for a total of almost 120,000 nights, or close to two nights per stay on average.
In 2017, the
GDP
Gross domestic product (GDP) is a monetary measure of the market value of all the final goods and services produced and sold (not resold) in a specific time period by countries. Due to its complex and subjective nature this measure is ofte ...
per inhabitant was €91,506 in Coburg, placing it 5th among the 96 urban and rural districts (Bavarian average: €46,698).
Twin towns – sister cities
Coburg is
twinned with:
*
Cobourg, Canada
*
Gais, Italy
*
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight ( ) is a Counties of England, county in the English Channel, off the coast of Hampshire, from which it is separated by the Solent. It is the List of islands of England#Largest islands, largest and List of islands of England#Mo ...
, England, United Kingdom
*
Niort
Niort (; Poitevin: ''Niàu''; oc, Niòrt; la, Novioritum) is a commune in the Deux-Sèvres department, western France. It is the prefecture of Deux-Sèvres.
The population of Niort is 58,707 (2017) and more than 177,000 people live in the ...
, France
*
Oudenaarde
Oudenaarde (; french: Audenarde ; in English sometimes ''Oudenarde'') is a Belgian municipality in the Flemish province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Oudenaarde proper and the towns of Bevere, Edelare, Eine, Ename, H ...
, Belgium
*
Toledo, United States
Coat of arms
Coburg's
coat of arms
A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in its ...
, honouring the town's German
patron
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings, popes, and the wealthy have provided to artists su ...
Saint Maurice
Saint Maurice (also Moritz, Morris, or Mauritius; ) was an Egyptian military leader who headed the legendary Theban Legion of Rome in the 3rd century, and is one of the favorite and most widely venerated saints of that martyred group. He is the ...
, was granted in 1493. In 1934, the Nazi government forbade any glorification of the African race, and they replaced the coat of arms with one depicting a vertical sword with a Nazi
swastika on the pommel. The original coat of arms was restored in 1945 at the end of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
. Today, the silhouette of the patron saint of the city of Coburg can be found mainly on manhole covers and the city coat of arms.
Attractions
Coburg has the typical features of a former capital of a German princely state. There are numerous houses from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The most important landmarks include:
![Coburg-Stadthaus1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/Coburg-Stadthaus1.jpg)
*
Ehrenburg, a former Franciscan convent built in 1220 and turned into a palace in 1543–1549. It was repeatedly renovated until the 19th century. Ehrenburg was gutted by fire in 1690 and rebuilt in a Baroque style, with stucco work by North Italian craftsmen that includes a "Hall of the Giants" (which contains a plaque that states it was the location of the first meeting between Britain's
Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previo ...
and
Franz Josef
Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I (german: Franz Joseph Karl, hu, Ferenc József Károly, 18 August 1830 – 21 November 1916) was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and the other states of the Habsburg monarchy from 2 December 1848 until his ...
Emperor of Austria in 1860). The internal decoration dates from the late 17th to early 18th centuries. Its
Gothic Revival exterior was remodelled by
Karl Friedrich Schinkel
Karl Friedrich Schinkel (13 March 1781 – 9 October 1841) was a Prussian architect, city planner and painter who also designed furniture and stage sets. Schinkel was one of the most prominent architects of Germany and designed both neoclassic ...
in the 19th century. It now also houses a museum as well as a library.
* ''
Stadtkirche St. Moriz'' ("St. Maurice", 14th–16th centuries), is a
Gothic
Gothic or Gothics may refer to:
People and languages
*Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes
**Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths
**Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...
edifice on the ''
Hallenkirche'' plan with two towers. The interior, remade in the 18th century, include the notable funerary moment of
Duke Johann Casimir for his parents, a 13 m-tall alabaster sculpture painted with statue and reliefs (1595–1598).
* The medieval
Veste Coburg
The Veste Coburg (Coburg Fortress) is one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses of Germany. It is situated on a hill above the town of Coburg, in the Upper Franconia region of Bavaria.
Geography
Location
Veste Coburg dominates the town of C ...
, one of the biggest castles in Germany, built starting in 1225 (upon the site of an 11th-century chapel). It was mostly rebuilt in the 19th century. It has a triple line of walls with numerous towers. Today the Veste Coburg is home to three museums. One is the ''Fürstenbau'' (ducal palace), with many furnished rooms of the Dukes of Coburg, including the apartment where Martin Luther lived in 1530. Probably the most notable room in the castle (unique in all of Germany) is the ''Jagdzimmer'' (hunting room) of 1632, which is entirely made of marquetry wood inlay, done up with over 60 marquetry panels, deeply coffered marquetry ceilings and a wood paneled floor. Another museum is the ''Rüstkammer'' (armory), containing the largest collection of medieval armour and weaponry in Germany, with over 10,500 items. The third is the ''Kunstsammlungen'', which contains a collection of 300,000 copperplate engravings (''Kupferstich-Kabinett''), a 20,000 piece coin collection (''Münzkabinett''), a 7,000 piece documentation collection (''Briefe & Urkunden''), and a 3,500 piece glassware collection (''Gläser-Sammlung'').
*
Gymnasium Casimirianum, a Renaissance building begun in 1601
* Arsenal (1616–21).
* ''
Landestheater Coburg
Landestheater Coburg (Coburg State Theatre) is a medium-sized three-division (opera / operetta, drama, ballet) theatre in Coburg, Bavaria, Germany. Located on , a central square, the Neoclassical building has 550 seats. In 2008, the theatre ...
'', a
Neoclassical theatre on Schlossplatz, whose other landmarks include the Ehrenburg, the ''Palais Edinburgh'' (1865), the ''Arkaden'' (1840), ''Reithalle'' (1852) and ''Marstall'' (rebuilt in 1920).
* The Coburg Doll Museum is located near the Schlossplatz and the city centre. It was once the residence of the poet
Friedrich Rückert
Friedrich Rückert (16 May 1788 – 31 January 1866) was a German poet, translator, and professor of Oriental languages.
Biography
Rückert was born in Schweinfurt and was the eldest son of a lawyer. He was educated at the local '' Gymnasium'' ...
. It houses over 1,000 dolls, including the grandmother of the world-famous "
Barbie
Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by American toy company Mattel, Inc. and launched on March 9, 1959. American businesswoman Ruth Handler is credited with the creation of the doll using a German doll called Bild Lilli as her inspiration. ...
".
* .
* ', the town hall, part of the ensemble of structure on the market that also includes the ''Stadthaus'' (see below), the former ''Beyersches Haus'', the ', the ''Stadtbrunnen'' (fountain) and the central statue of Prince Albert. The seat of the public administration of Coburg was moved here in 1438. The original Gothic building proved to be too small and after 1570 the town bought additional properties and erected a Renaissance building at the corner with Ketschengasse. In another rebuilding in 1750-2 both structures were merged. The appearance of the town hall changed, only the round bay on the corner remained. The old roofs were replaced by the current garret roof and the colourful paintings were added to the façade in the 18th century. Another renovation took place in 1903, when the balcony to the market square was added and stairwell and entrance were redesigned.
* ', a late Renaissance building from 1597 to 1599 built under Duke Johann Casimir to house the ducal administration. It occupies the complete northern side of the market square.
*
Rose Garden
A rose garden or rosarium is a garden or park, often open to the public, used to present and grow various types of garden roses, and sometimes rose species. Most often it is a section of a larger garden. Designs vary tremendously and roses m ...
, park.
*
Callenberg Castle, with Saxe-Coburg family art collection and National Shooting Museum.
* ''Schloss Rosenau'' near Coburg.
*
St. Augustin, Catholic parish church opened in 1860.
* The Baroque
Basilica of the Vierzehnheiligen, outside the town.
The Coburg Bay Windows a variant of the corner bay window, so only in Coburg was built. It dates from the end of the 16th century and is characterized by three architectural features. These are a supporting pillar in front of the corner of the house, a two-story construction and the closure with a Welsche hood.
Arts and culture
Coburg is home to two major festivals: ' and ''Johann Strauss Musiktage''. Coburg is referred to as "Europe's Capital of Samba."
As a result of the large presence of the US Army prior to German re-unification, Americans and American culture are still present in Coburg and the surrounding area. This influence ranges from American-style pubs and restaurants to two sports clubs sponsoring baseball teams.
Trivia
The
National Hot Dog and Sausage Council
The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) is an American trade association that promotes the hotdog, hot dog and sausage industry.
It was founded in 1994 by the American Meat Institute. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C. Eric Mittenth ...
asserts that
Frankfurt
Frankfurt, officially Frankfurt am Main (; Hessian: , " Frank ford on the Main"), is the most populous city in the German state of Hesse. Its 791,000 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located on it ...
is traditionally credited with originating the
frankfurter. According to the council, this claim is disputed and the hot dog was created in the late 17th century by Johann Georghehner, a butcher, living in Coburg.
A popular local delicacy is the Coburger
bratwurst
Bratwurst () is a type of German sausage made from pork or, less commonly, beef or veal. The name is derived from the Old High German ''Brätwurst'', from ''brät-'', finely chopped meat, and ''Wurst'', sausage, although in modern German it is o ...
, a sausage (the official measure of which is denoted by the marshall's staff held by the statue of the town's patron,
Sankt Mauritius, located on the town hall and overlooking the square) roasted over a pine cone fire.
The sausage is served in a
semmel
The Kaiser roll (''Emperor roll'', german: Kaisersemmel), also called a Vienna roll (; as made by hand also: , sl, kajzerica), or a hard roll, is a typically crusty round bread roll, originally from Austria. It is made from white flour, yeas ...
(a small bread bun, a third the size of the sausage itself), and is highly popular with locals and tourists alike. According to rumours, the Coburger bratwurst was first produced in 1530 on the occasion of a stay and boarding of
Martin Luther
Martin Luther (; ; 10 November 1483 – 18 February 1546) was a German priest, theologian, author, hymnwriter, and professor, and Augustinian friar. He is the seminal figure of the Protestant Reformation and the namesake of Lutherani ...
and the Electoral Train.
Coburg Peak
Coburg Peak ( bg, връх Кобург, vrah Koburg, ) is the rocky peak rising to 754 m[Trinity Peninsula
Trinity Peninsula is the northernmost part of the Antarctic Peninsula. It extends northeastward for about 130 km (80 mi) to Cape Dubouzet from an imaginary line connecting Cape Kater on the north-west coast and Cape Longing on the ...]
in
Graham Land
Graham Land is the portion of the Antarctic Peninsula that lies north of a line joining Cape Jeremy and Cape Agassiz. This description of Graham Land is consistent with the 1964 agreement between the British Antarctic Place-names Committee an ...
,
Antarctica
Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean, it contains the geographic South Pole. Antarctica is the fifth-largest cont ...
, is named after the town, in connection with the Bulgarian
royal house of Coburg (
Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (german: Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha), or Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (german: Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha, links=no ), was an Ernestine, Thuringian duchy ruled by a branch of the House of Wettin, consisting of territories in the present- ...
).
Coburg Peak.
SCAR Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica.
Infrastructure
Transport
Car
Coburg can be reached by car via B 303 Schweinfurt
Schweinfurt ( , ; ) is a city in the district of Lower Franconia in Bavaria, Germany. It is the administrative centre of the surrounding district (''Landkreis'') of Schweinfurt and a major industrial, cultural and educational hub. The urban ag ...
-Coburg-Schirnding, B 4 Hamburg
(male), (female) en, Hamburger(s),
Hamburgian(s)
, timezone1 = Central (CET)
, utc_offset1 = +1
, timezone1_DST = Central (CEST)
, utc_offset1_DST = +2
, postal ...
-Coburg-Nuremberg
Nuremberg ( ; german: link=no, Nürnberg ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the second-largest city of the German state of Bavaria after its capital Munich, and its 518,370 (2019) inhabitants make it the 14th-largest ...
or motorway A 73 Suhl
Suhl () is a city in Thuringia, Germany, located SW of Erfurt, NE of Würzburg and N of Nuremberg. With its 37,000 inhabitants, it is the smallest of the six urban districts within Thuringia. Together with its northern neighbour-town Zella- ...
-Coburg-Nuremberg.
Railways
Coburg has four train stations:
*Coburg-Neuses
*Coburg-Nord
*Coburg main station
*Coburg-Creidlitz
From the main station one can go to Lichtenfels, Bamberg, Forchheim
Forchheim () is a town in Upper Franconia (german: Oberfranken) in northern Bavaria, and also the seat of the administrative district of Forchheim. Forchheim is a former royal city, and is sometimes called the Gateway to the Franconian Switz ...
, Erlangen
Erlangen (; East Franconian: ''Erlang'', Bavarian: ''Erlanga'') is a Middle Franconian city in Bavaria, Germany. It is the seat of the administrative district Erlangen-Höchstadt (former administrative district Erlangen), and with 116,062 inhab ...
, Fürth
Fürth (; East Franconian: ; yi, פיורדא, Fiurda) is a city in northern Bavaria, Germany, in the administrative division ('' Regierungsbezirk'') of Middle Franconia. It is now contiguous with the larger city of Nuremberg, the centres of the ...
and Nuremberg, to Neustadt bei Coburg
Neustadt bei Coburg (also written ''Neustadt b. Coburg'') is a town in the district of Coburg in northern Bavaria, Germany. It is situated 15 km northeast of Coburg, as its name indicates.
Local subdivisions
Neustadt bei Coburg is subdivide ...
, Sonneberg
Sonneberg in Thuringia, Germany, is the seat of the Sonneberg district. It is in the Franconian south of Thuringia, neighboring its Upper Franconian twin town Neustadt bei Coburg.
Sonneberg became known as the "world toy city", and is home to ...
, to Bad Rodach and to Kulmbach, Neuenmarkt-Wirsberg.
Since December 2017, the Coburg station is served by Intercity Express
The Intercity Express (commonly known as ICE ()) is a system of high-speed trains predominantly running in Germany. It also serves some destinations in Austria, Denmark (ceased in 2017 but planned to resume in 2022), France, Belgium, Switzerl ...
high speed trains of the Munich-Nuremberg-Coburg-Erfurt-Berlin(-Hamburg) line (Nuremberg–Erfurt high-speed railway
The Nuremberg–Erfurt high-speed railway is a German high-speed railway, between Nuremberg and Erfurt. The line is listed in Germany's federal transport plan as '' Verkehrsprojekt Deutsche Einheit Nr.'' ("German Unity transport project no") ''8 ...
).
Airports
Small planes can land on the two airfields
An aerodrome (Commonwealth English) or airdrome (American English) is a location from which aircraft flight operations take place, regardless of whether they involve air cargo, passengers, or neither, and regardless of whether it is for publi ...
:
* Coburg Brandensteinsebene ( ICAO-Code: EDQC, founded in 1912)
* Coburg Steinrücken (ICAO-Code: EDQY)
Large airports nearby are in Frankfurt
Frankfurt, officially Frankfurt am Main (; Hessian: , " Frank ford on the Main"), is the most populous city in the German state of Hesse. Its 791,000 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located on it ...
, Erfurt
Erfurt () is the capital and largest city in the Central German state of Thuringia. It is located in the wide valley of the Gera river (progression: ), in the southern part of the Thuringian Basin, north of the Thuringian Forest. It sits i ...
and Nuremberg
Nuremberg ( ; german: link=no, Nürnberg ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the second-largest city of the German state of Bavaria after its capital Munich, and its 518,370 (2019) inhabitants make it the 14th-largest ...
.
Local public transport system
The public transport system in Coburg is operated by SÜC (''Stadt- und Überlandwerke Coburg'') with 9 bus lines. The OVF (''Omnibus Verkehr Franken'') covers Coburg's surrounding countryside with an additional 11 bus lines.
Notable people
Born in Coburg
Before 1900
* Princess Charlotte Wilhelmine of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Princess Charlotte Wilhelmine of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (14 June 1685 in Coburg - 5 April 1767 in Hanau) was a German princess by birth and Countess of Hanau-Münzenberg by marriage.
Life
She was the daughter of the John Ernest IV, Duke of Saxe-C ...
(1685–1767), Princess and Countess of Hanau-Münzenberg
* Princess Luise Dorothea of Saxe-Meiningen
Luise Dorothea of Saxe-Meiningen (10 August 1710 – 22 October 1767) was a member of German royalty. She was born in Meiningen, the daughter of Ernst Ludwig I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Dorothea Marie of Saxe-Gotha. She was Duchess of Sa ...
(1710–1767), Duchess of Saxony-Gotha and Altenburg
* Anton Schweitzer
Anton Schweitzer (6 June 1735 in Coburg – 23 November 1787 in Gotha) was a German composer of operas, who was affiliated with Abel Seyler's theatrical company.
He was a child prodigy who obtained the patronage of the duke of Saxe-Hildburghause ...
(1735–1787), composer
* Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Prince Frederick Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (german: Friedrich Josias von Sachsen-Coburg-Saalfeld) (26 December 1737 – 26 February 1815) was an Austrian nobleman and military general.
Biography
Born at Schloß Ehrenburg in Coburg, he wa ...
(1737–1815), Austrian field marshal
* Johann Christian August Clarus (1774–1854), physician
* Leopold I of Belgium
* nl, Leopold Joris Christiaan Frederik
* en, Leopold George Christian Frederick
, image = NICAISE Leopold ANV.jpg
, caption = Portrait by Nicaise de Keyser, 1856
, reign = 21 July 1831 –
, predecessor = Erasme Lou ...
(1790–1865), born to Francis, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld en, Francis Frederick Anthony
, house =
, father = Ernest Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
, mother = Princess Sophie Antoinette of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
, birth_date =
, birth_place = Coburg, ...
, first king of the Belgians
* Gustav König (1808–1869), painter
* Prince Albert (1819–1861), husband of Queen Victoria, was born in Schloss Rosenau.
* William Frishmuth
William Frishmuth (April 22, 1830–August 1, 1893) was a German-born American architect and metallurgist.
William Frishmuth was born Johann Wilhelm Gottfried Frischmuth in 1830 in Coburg in the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (now Germany). Fr ...
(1830–1893), architect and metallurgist
* Ernst Marlier
Ernst Ferdinand Emil Marlier (28 July 1875 – 1948) was a German pharmaceutical manufacturer who built the Wannsee Villa, where the Wannsee Conference was held.
Early years
Ernst Marlier was the son of Philipp Marlier (died c. 1902), a postal of ...
(1875–1948), German pharmaceutical manufacturer who built the Wannsee Villa, venue of the Wannsee Conference.
* Alexander von Mensdorff-Pouilly
Count Alexander Konstantin Albrecht von Mensdorff-Pouilly, 1st Prince von Dietrichstein zu Nikolsburg (german: Alexander Konstantin Albrecht Graf von Mensdorff-Pouilly, 1. Fürst von Dietrichstein zu Nikolsburg; 4 August 1813 in Coburg – 14 F ...
(1813–1871), Austrian statesman
* Fritz Mollwitz
Frederick August "Fritz" Mollwitz (June 16, 1890 – October 3, 1967) was a German–American first baseman who played in Major League Baseball.
Mollwitz was drafted in 1913 by the Chicago Cubs from the minor leagues, where he had been playing i ...
(1890–1967), professional baseball player, was born here.
* Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Ernest II (german: Ernst August Karl Johann Leopold Alexander Eduard, link=no; 21 June 181822 August 1893) was Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha from 29 January 1844 to his death in 1893. He was born in Coburg to Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfel ...
(1818–1893)
* Heinrich Rückert (1823–1875), historian and Germanist
* Felix Draeseke
Felix August Bernhard Draeseke (7 October 1835 – 26 February 1913) was a composer of the "New German School" admiring Franz Liszt and Richard Wagner. He wrote compositions in most forms including eight operas and stage works, four symphonies, ...
(1835–1913), composer
* Max Brückner
Johannes Max Brückner (5 August 1860 – 1 November 1934) was a German geometer, known for his collection of polyhedral models.
Education and career
Brückner was born in Hartau, in the Kingdom of Saxony, a town that is now part of Zittau, ...
(1836–1919), theater painter
* Princess Amalie of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
, title = Duchess Maximilian Emanuel in Bavaria
, image =Princess Amalie of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.jpg
, caption = Princess Amalie during the 1870's
, spouse = Duke Maximilian Emanuel in Bavaria
, issue ...
(1848–1894), Princess and Duchess in Bavaria
* Bernhard Fischer
Johann Friedrich Bernhard Fischer (19 February 1852 Coburg - 2 August 1915 Dadizele) was a German bacteriologist noted for his classification system for bacteria.
Biography
After attending Casimirianum from 1862 to 1871, he was educated at the ...
(1852–1915), hygienist
* Eduard Study
Eduard Study ( ), more properly Christian Hugo Eduard Study (March 23, 1862 – January 6, 1930), was a German mathematician known for work on invariant theory of ternary forms (1889) and for the study of spherical trigonometry. He is also known f ...
(1862–1930), mathematician
* Anna Ritter
Anna Ritter (February 23, 1865 – October 31, 1921) was a German poet and writer.
Biography
Ritter was born Anna Nuhn in Coburg, Bavaria, (then part of the duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha) on February 23, 1865, but she was only a young child w ...
(née Nuhn, 1865–1921), poet and writer
* Otto Appel (1867–1952), phytomedicine doctor
* Anna Bernhardine Eckstein (1868–1947), champion of world peace
World peace, or peace on Earth, is the concept of an ideal state of peace within and among all people and nations on Planet Earth. Different cultures, religions, philosophies, and organizations have varying concepts on how such a state would ...
* Hans Berger
Hans Berger (21 May 1873 – 1 June 1941) was a German psychiatrist. He is best known as the inventor of electroencephalography (EEG) in 1924, which is a method used for recording the electrical activity of the brain, commonly described in terms ...
(1873–1941), neurologist and psychiatrist
* Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Princess Alexandra Louise Olga Victoria of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, (1 September 1878 – 16 April 1942) was the fourth child and third daughter of Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia. As the wife o ...
(1878–1942), Princess of Great Britain and Ireland and a member of the House of Saxony-Coburg and the Gotha family and later by marriage Princess to Hohenlohe-Langenburg
* Louis Oppenheim (1879–1936), utility graphic artist
* Fred Immler
Ferdinand "Fred" Immler (10 December 1880 –20 February 1965) was a German stage and film actor.
Life
Born in Coburg, as a young adult he worked from 1900 to 1902 at Deutsche Bank in Berlin and from 1902 to 1904 at Dresdner Bank. 1905 he returne ...
(1880–1965), actor
* Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
''
, house = Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
, father = Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany
, mother = Princess Helen of Waldeck and Pyrmont
, birth_name = Prince Charles Edward, Duke of Albany
, birth_date =
, birth_place = Cl ...
(1884–1954), the last Duke of Saxony-Coburg and Gotha
* Fritz Mollwitz
Frederick August "Fritz" Mollwitz (June 16, 1890 – October 3, 1967) was a German–American first baseman who played in Major League Baseball.
Mollwitz was drafted in 1913 by the Chicago Cubs from the minor leagues, where he had been playing i ...
(1890–1967), baseball player in the USA
After 1900
* Hans Morgenthau
Hans Joachim Morgenthau (February 17, 1904 – July 19, 1980) was a German-American jurist and political scientist who was one of the major 20th-century figures in the study of international relations. Morgenthau's works belong to the tradition o ...
(1904–1980), jurist and political scientist
* Kurt Eccarius (1905-died after 1969), head of the detention area in Sachsenhausen concentration camp
* Ernst Kupfer
Ernst Kupfer (2 July 1907 – 6 November 1943) was a ground-attack pilot in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany during World War II who commanded a wing (StG 2) of Junkers Ju 87, Stuka aircraft. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cro ...
(1907–1944), fighter pilot in the Second World War
* Yvonne Desportes (1907–1993), French composer
* Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (Sibylla Calma Marie Alice Bathildis Feodora; 18 January 1908 – 28 November 1972) was a member of the Swedish royal family and the mother of the current king of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf.
Born into the Ho ...
(1908–1972), Princess of Sweden, married to hereditary prince Gustav Adolf of Sweden and mother of King Carl XVI Gustav of Sweden
Carl XVI Gustaf (Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus; born 30 April 1946) is King of Sweden. He ascended the throne on the death of his grandfather, Gustaf VI Adolf, on 15 September 1973.
He is the youngest child and only son of Prince Gustaf Adolf, D ...
* Günther Weißenborn (1911–2001), pianist, composer and conductor
* Eva Ahnert-Rohlfs
Eva Ahnert-Rohlfs (11 August 1912 – 9 March 1954) was a German astronomer. She made key observations of variable stars.
Eva Ahner-Rohlfs was born in Coburg (Duchy Saxe-Coburg-Gotha). She studied in Würzburg, Munich and Kiel from 1931 to 1933 ...
(1912–1954), astronomer
* Wolfgang Stammberger
Wolfgang Stammberger (14 July 1920 – 1 May 1982) was a German jurist and politician. He served as German Minister of Justice from 1961 to 1962.
Born in Coburg
Coburg () is a town located on the Itz river in the Upper Franconia region o ...
(1920–1982), politician (FDP, SPD), Member of Bundestag, Federal Minister of Justice, Lord Mayor of Coburg
* Heinrich Strecker
Heinrich Strecker (24 February 1893, Vienna - 28 June 1981, Baden bei Wien) was an Austrian composer of operettas and popular Viennese music.
Biography
As a young child, Strecker was sent to Theux in Belgium, where he was educated on a boarding ...
(1922–2013), composer of operettas and Viennese music
* Werner Scheler (born 1923), physician and pharmacologist
* Tatunca Nara (born 1941), German-Brazilian impostor
* Klaus Volk
Klaus Volk (born 29 April 1944) is a German jurist, professor at University of Munich and defense lawyer specialized in commercial-law-related criminal cases.
His doctorate thesis at University of Munich 1970 was about philosophy of law.
Among ...
(born 1944), lawyer and criminal lawyer
* Klaus-Peter Göpfert
Klaus-Peter Göpfert (born 22 October 1948 in Coburg) is a German former Greco-Roman wrestler who competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics and in the 1976 Summer Olympics
Events January
* January 3 – The International Covenant on Econom ...
(born 1948), wrestler
* Michael Stoschek (born 1948/1949), businessman and entrepreneur
* Klaus Janson (born 1952), American comic artist
* Martin May (born 1961), actor, author and narrator
* Bernd Friedmann (born 1965), musician and producer
* Frank Greiner
Frank Greiner (born 3 July 1966) is a German association football, football coach and a former player.
Playing career
Frank Greiner was born in Coburg on 3 July 1996. Beginning in 1987, he played professional football for sixteen years, almost ...
(born 1966), footballer
* Claudia Porwik
Claudia Porwik, born on 14 November 1968, is a former professional tennis player.
She played on the WTA Tour from 1986 to 1996 and reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in 1988 and the semifinals in 1990. Porwik retired with a 195 ...
(born 1968), tennis player
* Andreas Hackethal
Andreas Hackethal is a Professor of Finance and the Dean of the Goethe Business School at Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.
Life
Andreas Hackethal earned his degrees in Business Administration from Goethe University in Frankfurt and the Un ...
(born 1971), professor
* Julia Stoschek
Julia Stoschek (born 1975) is a German socialite and art collector.
Career
Julia Stoschek was born in 1975, the daughter of Michael Stoschek, the German billionaire businessman and chairman of Brose Fahrzeugteile.
Stoschek first began buyi ...
(born 1975), art collector
*Cevat Yerli
Cevat Yerli (born 1978 in Coburg, Germany to Turkish immigrants from Giresun) is a computer game developer. He co-founded Crytek, one of the largest video game developers in Germany, and served as its CEO and President until February 2018.
Cry ...
(born 1978), computer game developer
* Martin Forkel
Martin Forkel (born 22 July 1979) is a German football manager and former defender.
Career
Youth career
Forkel was born in Coburg. He played as a youth for two clubs in his hometown, Viktoria DJK Coburg and VfB Coburg, before joining TSV Veste ...
(born 1979), footballer
* Andreas Wolf
Andreas Wolf (Cyrillic script, Cyrillic: Андрей Андреевич Вольф, Romanization of Russian, romanized: ''Andrey Andreyevich Volf''; born 12 June 1982) is a German former professional Association football, footballer who played ...
(born 1990), handball player
* Marius Wolf (born 1995), footballer
Lived at Coburg
* Baroness Louise Lehzen (1784–1870), governess and confidante of Queen Victoria
*Walter von Boetticher
__NOTOC__
Walter von Boetticher (11 December 1853 – 3 July 1945) was a German historian, genealogist and physician.
Walter von Boetticher was born at Riga, the son to the art historian Friedrich von Boetticher (1826–1902) and his wife Euge ...
(1853–1945), historian, genealogist and physician
*Hans Berger
Hans Berger (21 May 1873 – 1 June 1941) was a German psychiatrist. He is best known as the inventor of electroencephalography (EEG) in 1924, which is a method used for recording the electrical activity of the brain, commonly described in terms ...
(1873–1941), psychiatrist
*Johann Strauss
Johann Baptist Strauss II (25 October 1825 – 3 June 1899), also known as Johann Strauss Jr., the Younger or the Son (german: links=no, Sohn), was an Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas. He composed ove ...
, he lived the last 13 years of his life in Coburg, and buried in Vienna
*Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Nazi Germany, Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his death in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the le ...
in 1922 led several hundred stormtroopers in a march through the city, fighting pitched street battles with communists. During the Nazi era, the Coburg Badge (made to honor the participants) was one of the most prestigious party medals.
References
Further reading
*
External links
Coburg Tourist Board
World sites atlas
Schloss- und Gartenverwaltung Coburg
Twin towns of Coburg
{{Authority control
Saxe-Coburg and Gotha