Grabow () is a town in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. It is situated on the river Elde, 7 km (4.35 mi) southeast of Ludwigslust, and 34 km (21.12 mi) northwest of Wittenberge. It is twinned with Whitstable, in Kent.

History

The name Grabow is of Slavic Polabian origin, ''grab'' means " hornbeam". Names with this root occur often in Mecklenburg. It was only slightly changed as ''Grabowe'' (1186, 1252, 1275) and ''Grabow'' (1189, 1298). Pope Urban III. mentions castle Grabow for the first time in a letter from February 23, 1186. The city received city law in 1252 from the

Count of Dannenberg The County of Dannenberg (german: Grafschaft Dannenberg) was a fief in the Duchy of Saxony. Its heartland was largely identical with the present-day collective municipality of Elbtalaue in north Germany. Its historical origins go back to the midd ...

. On 3 June 1725 the city was destroyed by a great fire. The palace was never rebuilt. At least since the 18th century there were Jews in the city, who left behind a synagogue and a cemetery. Both of them were damaged during the Kristallnacht. The Jews were murdered during the Nazi occupation of the town that began in 1939. Most were sent to nearby Chelmno and gassed there. The historical center of Grabow is distinguished by its close core of timber-framed houses of the 18th century. From 1815 to 1918, Grabow was part of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. On 1 January 2016, the former municipality

Steesow Steesow is a former municipality in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. Since 1 January 2016 it is part of the town Grabow Grabow () is a town in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomera ...

became part of Grabow. The painter

Wilhelm Langschmidt Wilhelm Heinrich Franz Ludwig Langschmidt, or ''Willem Langschmidt'', (10 January 1805 Grabow, Gustrow - 5 October 1866 Caledon) was a German-born South African painter and drawing master of 59 Long Street, Cape Town. He was the seventh child ...

was born in Grabow. He settled in the Elgin valley in South Africa. The town which grew around his trading store there still bears the name Grabouw, after his hometown.G. de Beer, A. Paterson, H. Olivier: ''160 Years of Export''. PPECB. Plattekloof, South Africa. 2003.

Number of inhabitants

* 1877: 4,200 * 1910: 5,500 * 1939: 5,900 * 1946: 8,900 * 1970: 8,500 * 1984: 8,600 * 1990: 8,098 * 1995: 7,240 * 1997: 6,934 * 2000: 6,741 * 2005: 6,231

Pictures

Image:Grabow_Zwerchhaus.jpg, Pferdemarkt 5 Image:Grabow Germany cityview.jpg Image:Grabow_Gr_Strasse.jpg, Große Straße File:Grabow Rathaus.jpg, Grabow Town hall File:GrabowWandrahmMarktCanalstr.jpg, Grabow

Notable people

Ludwig, Hereditary Prince of Mecklenburg-Schwerin by Georg David Matthieu (Schweriner Schloss)

Frederick, Duke of Mecklenburg-Grabow Frederick I of Mecklenburg-Grabow, Duke of Mecklenburg-Grabow (13 February 1638, Schwerin – 28 April 1688, Grabow) Life He was the son of Adolf Frederick I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and his second wife Marie Katharina (1616-1665), dau ...

also '' Friedrich zu Grabow '' (1638–1688), Duke's Grave in the crypt of the castle at Grabow. * Karl Leopold, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1678–1747), duke at the time of the Grabower Brandes of 1725 * Karl Leopold, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1678–1747), reigning duke in Mecklenburg-Schwerin *

Christian Ludwig II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Christian Ludwig II of Mecklenburg (15 May 1683 – 30 May 1756) was the Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin from 1747 to 1756. He was the son of Frederick, Duke of Mecklenburg-Grabow, and Landravine Christine Wilhelmine of Hesse-Homburg. Mecklenbur ...

(1683–1756), reigning duke in Mecklenburg-Schwerin *

Sophia Louise of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Sophia Louise of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (Sofie Luise; 6 May 1685 – 29 July 1735) was Queen consort in Prussia by marriage to King Frederick I of Prussia. She was famed for her beauty. Life Sophia Louise was the fourth child of Frederick, Duke ...

(1685–1735), Queen of Prussia * Duke Louis of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1725–1778), Hereditary Prince of Mecklenburg-Schwerin *

Marco Küntzel Marco Küntzel (born 22 January 1976 in Ludwigslust) is a German former professional footballer who played as a forward. International career He represented Germany at the 1995 FIFA World Youth Championship The 1995 FIFA World Youth Championsh ...

(born 1976), footballer, played from 1981 to 1990 at Empor Grabow *

(1805–1866), German-South African painter * (1909–1987), politician ( FDP) *

(1638-1688), resided from 1669 until his death in Grabow * The Mann family, a Hanseatic family * (born 1936), architect *

Bastian Reinhardt Bastian Reinhardt (born 19 November 1975 in Ludwigslust) is a former German footballer. He is the currently managing the Under-17 squad of Hamburger SV. Career Reinhardt began his career 1983 with Empor Grabow/Grabower FC and joined 1. FC Magd ...

(born 1975), footballer, played at Empor Grabow / Grabower FC, now sports director of Hamburger SV

References

External links

Official website (German)
{{Authority control Cities and towns in Mecklenburg Ludwigslust-Parchim Populated places established in the 13th century 1250s establishments in the Holy Roman Empire 1252 establishments in Europe Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Holocaust locations in Germany