Giessen, spelled Gießen in German (), is a town in the

German 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 **Ger ...

state (''Bundesland'') of Hesse, capital of both the district of Giessen and the administrative region of Giessen. The population is approximately 90,000, with roughly 37,000 university students. The name comes from ''Giezzen'', as it was first referred to in 1197, which refers to the position of the town between several rivers, lakes and streams. The largest river in Giessen is the Lahn, which divides the town in two parts (west and east), roughly north of Frankfurt am Main. Giessen is also home to the University of Giessen. In 1969, the town hosted the ninth '' Hessentag'' state festival.

History

Giessen came into being as a moated castle in 1152 built by Count Wilhelm von Gleiberg, although the history of the community in the northeast and in today's suburb called "Wieseck" dates back to 775. The town became part of

Hesse-Marburg The Landgraviate of Hesse-Marburg (german: Landgrafschaft Hessen-Marburg) was a German landgraviate, and independent principality, within the Holy Roman Empire, that existed between 1458 and 1500, and between 1567 and 1604/1650. It consisted o ...

in 1567, passing to Hesse-Darmstadt in 1604. The University of Giessen was founded in 1607. Giessen was included within the

Grand Duchy of Hesse The Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine (german: link=no, Großherzogtum Hessen und bei Rhein) was a grand duchy in western Germany that existed from 1806 to 1918. The Grand Duchy originally formed from the Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt in 1806 ...

created in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars. After the First World War, it was part of the People's State of Hesse. During the Second World War, a subcamp of the

Buchenwald concentration camp Buchenwald (; literally 'beech forest') was a Nazi concentration camp established on hill near Weimar, Germany, in July 1937. It was one of the first and the largest of the concentration camps within Germany's 1937 borders. Many actual or su ...

was in the Heil- und Pflegeanstalt Licher Straße. Heavy bombing destroyed about 75 percent of Giessen in 1944, including most of the town's historic buildings. It became part of the modern state of Hesse after the war. In 1977, Giessen was merged with the neighbouring city Wetzlar to form the new city of Lahn. However, this attempt to reorganize the administration was reversed in 1979. It was part of the Darmstadt region (regierungsbezirk) between 1945 and 1981, until the Giessen (region) was founded on 1 January 1981. A U.S. military base was located in Giessen after the Second World War. The U.S. Army Garrison of Gießen had a population of up to 10,000 American soldiers and their families. Gießen was also the site of the central US army depot for all of Europe as well as the site of a special ammunition depot. The base is a converted German Army Air Field which is reflected in some of the buildings including the housing area. A theatre, known as the Keller Theatre, is a converted German Army Officers' Club. As of 28 September 2007, the Giessen Depot and all other U.S. facilities in the greater Giessen area were returned to local German authorities. The former U.S. Army buildings were used to house refugees after the large influx of 2016. After the war, the city was twinned with

Winchester Winchester is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in Hampshire, England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government Districts of England, district, at the western end of the South Downs Nation ...

, UK.

International relations

Giessen is twinned with:

Points of interest

Akademischer Forstgarten Gießen The Akademischer Forstgarten Gießen is a historic arboretum and botanical garden in the Schiffenberger Wald on Schiffenberger Weg, Gießen, Hesse, Germany. It opens daily with free admission. The garden dates to 1778 when the University of Giesse ...

, botanical gardens *

Botanischer Garten Gießen The Botanischer Garten Gießen (4 hectares), more formally the Botanischer Garten der Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, is a historic botanical garden maintained by the University of Giessen. It is the oldest botanical garden in Germany still a ...

, established in 1609, is the oldest botanical garden in Germany still at its original location. * Old Cemetery, (German: Alter Friedhof), is the resting place of Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen and

Hugo von Ritgen Hugo or HUGO may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Hugo'' (film), a 2011 film directed by Martin Scorsese * Hugo Award, a science fiction and fantasy award named after Hugo Gernsback * Hugo (franchise), a children's media franchise based on a ...

. * Liebig-Museum was established in 1920 to honor the chemist

Justus von Liebig Justus Freiherr von Liebig (12 May 1803 – 20 April 1873) was a German scientist who made major contributions to agricultural and biological chemistry, and is considered one of the principal founders of organic chemistry. As a professor at t ...

. * Mathematikum was established in 2002, offering a wide variety of mathematical hands-on exhibits. * University of Giessen *

Rubber Island Rubber Island (Gummiinsel) is the nickname of an estate in the western part of Giessen (Germany). Due to its location close to the Lahn river, and because it was close to the rubber factory Poppe & Co. The area was then isolated from the rest of ...

is a residential area near the Lahn River.

Sport

Giessen is home to the basketball club Giessen 46ers, five-time champion of the

Basketball Bundesliga The Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) (English language: ''Federal Basketball League''), for sponsorship reasons named easyCredit BBL, is the highest level league of professional club basketball in Germany. The league comprises 18 teams. A BBL season ...

. Its home games take place at the

Sporthalle Gießen-Ost Sporthalle Gießen-Ost is an indoor sporting arena located in Gießen, Germany. The gym was built in the 1960s both as the gym of a nearby high school as well as the gym for the city's professional basketball team, the Giessen 46ers The JobSta ...

. Also, Giessen has an American football team called Giessen Golden Dragons.

Religion

The

Catholic Scouts of Europe The Katholische Pfadfinderschaft Europas (KPE; roughly ''Catholic Guides and Scouts of Europe'') is a German Catholic Scouting organization with 2,500 members. It is part of the International Union of Guides and Scouts of Europe. ''Katholische Pfa ...

were founded in Giessen in 1975.

Gallery

File:Marktplatz in Giessen (gezeichnet von P. Weber).jpg, Historical drawing of the marketplace, 1844 File:Akademischer Forstgarten Giessen Plan.jpeg, Historical drawing of the

, 1877 File:Botanical garden Giessen Germany 01.jpg,

Botanical garden Gießen Botany, also called plant science (or plant sciences), plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany ...

File:2005-08 Gießen - Theater.jpg, Theater Gießen File:Giessen-arch1.jpg, Architecture in Gießen File:Denkmal Röntgen (Gießen) 01.JPG, Röntgen memorial File:PSM V74 D619 Liebig laboratory at giessen.png, Liebig laboratory, 1909 File:Gießen ElephantLoo766.jpg, Multiway pedestrian bridge "Elefantenklo" ("Elephant loo")

Notable people

* Samuel Adler (1809–1891), noted rabbi in the United States, attended the University of Giessen * Werner A. Baum (1923–1999), meteorologist and college administrator * Annika Beck (born 1994), professional tennis player * Stefan Bellof (1957–1985), Formula One and Sportscar driver, who was killed during a race held in

Spa-Francorchamps The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (), frequently referred to as ''Spa'', is a motor-racing circuit located in Stavelot, Belgium. It is the current venue of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix, hosting its first Grand Prix in 1925, and has he ...

* Christa Blanke (born 1948), theologist, founder of Animals' Angels e.V. *

Volker Bouffier Volker Bouffier (born 18 December 1951) is a German politician of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) who served as Minister President of the German state of Hessen from 31 August 2010 to 31 May 2022. From 1 November 2014 until 31 October 2015 ...

(born 1951), politician (CDU) * Helge Braun (born 1972), politician (CDU) * Georg Büchner (1813–1837) studied two years at the University of Gießen * Daniel Davari (born 1988), Iranian footballer. *

Ernst Dieffenbach Johann Karl Ernst Dieffenbach (27 January 1811 – 1 October 1855), also known as Ernest Dieffenbach, was a German physician, geologist and naturalist, the first trained scientist to live and work in New Zealand, where he travelled widely under t ...

, born Johann Karl Ernst Dieffenbach (1811–1855), German physician, geologist and naturalist *

Georg Christian Dieffenbach Georg Christian Dieffenbach (4 December 1822 Schlitz, Hesse - 10 May 1901 Schlitz) was a German poet and theologian. Biography Dieffenbach was educated at Giessen Giessen, spelled Gießen in German (), is a town in the German state (''Bundesla ...

(1822–1901), German poet and theologian * Johann Friedrich Dieffenbach (1792–1847), German surgeon * Walter Dornberger (1895–1980), rocket scientist *

Peter Düttmann Peter "Bonifazius" Düttmann (23 May 1923 – 9 January 2001) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and fighter ace during World War II. He is credited with 152 aerial victories achieved in 398 combat missions, all of which claimed on the Ea ...

(1923–2001), Luftwaffe Ace * Landgravine Elisabeth Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt (1635–1709),

Electress Palatine The Electress of the Palatinate () was the wikt:consort, consort of the Prince-elector of the Electorate of the Palatinate, one of the Holy Roman Empire's greatest princes. First Electorate, 1356–1648 House of Wittelsbach, Main branch, 1356 ...

* Charles Friedek (born 1971), triple jumper, gold medallist at the

1999 World Championships in Athletics The 7th World Championships in Athletics, a World Athletic Championships event held under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held at the Estadio Olímpico, Seville, Spain, between the August 20 and Augu ...

* Jesko Friedrich (born 1974), comedy television actor and writer *

Adolph Hansen Karl Adolph Hansen (1851 in Hamburg – 1920 in Giessen) was a German botanist. He graduated in 1887 at the University of Würzburg on a thesis entitled "Geschichte der Assimilation und Chlorophyllfunktion" (supervised by Julius Sachs). He was prof ...

(1851–1920), botanist and professor at University of Giessen * Fritz Pfeffer (1889–1944), dentist, hid in the Anne Frank House during WWII *

Fritz Heichelheim Fritz Moritz Heichelheim (May 6, 1901 – April 22, 1968) was a Germany, German-born ancient historian, who specialized in ancient economic history, at the University of Gießen and as Professor of Greek and Roman History at the University of Tor ...

(1901–1968), economic historian * August Wilhelm von Hofmann (1818–1892), chemist * Juli, rock band *

Friedrich Kellner August Friedrich Kellner (1 February 1885 – 4 November 1970) was a German mid-level official and diarist who worked as a justice inspector in Laubach from 1933 to 1945. Kellner was an infantryman in a Hessian regiment during the First Worl ...

(1885–1970), Chief Regional Auditor in Giessen 1948–1950, and Chief Justice Inspector of Laubach, where he wrote his secret WWII diary. The Holocaust Research Unit of Justus Liebig University of Giessen has established the Kellner Project * Karl Kling (1910–2003), racing driver and head of

Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Throughout its long history, Mercedes-Benz has been involved in a range of successful motorsport activities, including sportscar racing, touring car racing, Grand Prix racing, and rallying. It is currently active in GT racing, Formula E and Form ...

* Jonathan Koch (born 1985), rower * Harald Lesch (born 1960), physicist, astronomer, natural philosopher, author, television presenter, professor of physics * Chris Liebing (born 1968) techno/electronic music producer and DJ *

(1803–1873), chemist, professor. The official name of the University of Giessen is now ''Justus Liebig University'' * Wilhelm Liebknecht (1826–1900), founder of the

Social Democratic Party of Germany The Social Democratic Party of Germany (german: Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands, ; SPD, ) is a centre-left social democratic political party in Germany. It is one of the major parties of contemporary Germany. Saskia Esken has been the ...

Sigmund Livingston Sigmund G. Livingston (December 27, 1872 – June 13, 1946) was a German-born American Jewish attorney working in Chicago, Illinois. Livingston was the founder and first president of the Anti-Defamation League, and the author of the book ''Mu ...

(1872–1946), American lawyer, founder and first president of the

Anti-Defamation League The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), formerly known as the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, is an international Jewish non-governmental organization based in the United States specializing in civil rights law. It was founded in late Septe ...

* Christopher Ludwick (1720–1801) Baker General for the American Revolutionary War Army – Philadelphia * Alfred Milner (1854–1925), British statesman * Demis Nikolaidis (born 1973), Greek footballer *

James J. O'Donnell James Joseph O'Donnell (born 1950) is a classical scholar and University Librarian at Arizona State University. He formerly served as University Professor at Georgetown University (2012-2015) and as Provost of Georgetown University from 2002– ...

(born 1950), American scholar and university administrator, born in Giessen *

Albert Osswald Albert Osswald (16 May 1919 – 15 August 1996) was a German politician (SPD). He served as the 3rd Minister President of the state of Hesse from 1969 to 1976 and as the 27th President of the Bundesrat in 1975/76. Biography Oswald was bor ...

(1919–1996), politician * Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen (1845–1923), physicist, professor of physics from 1879 until 1888 at the University of Giessen. He was buried at the "Alte Friedhof", where his tomb can still be found * Johann Georg Rosenmüller (1736–1815), professor of theology at the university * Jochen Schropp (born 1978), German actor and television entertainer * Til Schweiger (born 1968), actor, director and producer. Grew up, went to school and started studying in Giessen *

Wilhelm Sievers Friedrich Wilhelm Sievers (3 December 1860 – 11 June 1921) was a German geologist and geographer. He served as professor of geography at the University of Giessen. His field work focussed on South America, and his ''Allgemeine Länderkunde'' was ...

(1860–1921), geographer, explorer, professor at the university *

Henrietta Skelton Henrietta Skelton (, Hedderich; pen names, H. S.; Madame Skelton; November 5, 1839/1842 – August 22, 1900) was a 19th-century German-born Canadian-American social reformer, writer, organizer, and lecturer in the German Spanish, and English langu ...

(1839/1842–1900), social reformer, writer, organizer, lecturer *

Dieter Strack Dieter Strack (born in Gießen, West Germany) is a retired German professional basketball player who had a nine-year career at LTi Gießen 46ers where plays in the Basketball Bundesliga the highest German basketball division. Overall Gießen go ...

, retired German professional basketball player * Julian Theobald (born 1984), racing driver *

Tabea Waßmuth Tabea Sellner (; born 25 August 1996) is a German footballer who plays as a forward for Frauen-Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg and the Germany national team. Club career Sellner began her career with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and won the German B-Juni ...

(born 1996), footballer * Marie Wittich (1868–1931), opera singer *

Willy Zschietzschmann Willy or Willie is a masculine, male given name, often a diminutive form of William or Wilhelm, and occasionally a nickname. It may refer to: People Given name or nickname * Willie Aames (born 1960), American actor, television director, and scr ...

(1900–1976), Classical archeologist and author

Education

* MBML: The International Graduate Programme "Molecular Biology and Medicine of the Lung" of the University of Giessen Lung Center *

University hospital Giessen und Marburg The University Hospital of Giessen and Marburg (') is a German university hospital based in Giessen and Marburg. The Giessen site is the teaching hospital of the University of Giessen whereas the Marburg site is the teaching hospital of the ...

* Mittelhessen University of Applied Sciences * University of Giessen

Manisch

Manisch Manisch refers either to a dialect of Rotwelsch (especially in the vicinity of greater Gießen, Germany) or a speaker thereof (plural: ''Manische'' or ''Manen''). The term ''Manisch'' however, is also understood primarily throughout much of the Ger ...

is a dialect of rotwelsch spoken in and around Giessen by people in lower income neighbourhoods, some of which are known as "Eulenkopf", "Gummiinsel", "Heyerweg" and "Margaretenhütte". Approximately 700–750 residents spoke the dialect fluently as of 1976.Hans-Günter Lerch, "Tschü lowi...Das Manische in Gießen", 1976/2005, pages 16-22. Although the dialect still influences the Giessen vernacular, it is nearly extinct in terms of fluent speakers.

Geography

Climate

Climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is " Cfb". (Marine West Coast Climate).

References

;Notes

External links

*
City Services Giessen (SWG)

Express Magazine – Current events and news from Giessen
{{DEFAULTSORT:Giessen