Wesel is a city (population about 61,689 in 2004) in Germany, located at the point where the Lippe River empties into the Rhine. It is the capital of the Wesel district in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Different suburbs are Lackhausen, Obrighoven, Ginderich, Büderich, Flüren and Blumenkamp.

History

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The city originates from a Franconian manor that was first mentioned in the 8th century. In the 12th century Wesel came into the possession of the Duke of Cleves. The city was given extensive privileges and became a member of the Hanseatic League during the 15th century. Within the duchy of Cleves, Wesel was second only to Cologne in the lower Rhine region as an entrepôt. It was an important commercial centre: a clearing station for the transhipment and trading of goods.

Wesel's mayors: 1808–1814: Johann Hermann Westermann 1814–1840: Christian Adolphi 1841–1862: Franz Luck 1863–1870: Wilhelm Otto van Calker 1870–1881: Carl Friedrich August von Albert 1881–1891: Caspar Baur 1891–1902: Josef Fluthgraf (1896 Lord mayor) 1903–1931: Ludwig Poppelbaum 1931–1933: Emil Nohl 1933–1945: Otto Borgers

1945: Jean Groos 1945: Wilhelm Groos 1946–1947: Anton Ebert (CDU) 1947–1948: Paul Körner (CDU) 1948–1952: Ewald Fournell (CDU) 1952–1956: Helmut Berckel (CDU) 1956–1966: Kurt Kräcker (SPD) 1967–1969: Willi Nakaten (SPD) 1969–1979: Günther Detert (CDU) 1979–1984: Wilhelm Schneider (SPD) 1984–1989: Volker Haubitz (CDU) 1989–1994: Wilhelm Schneider (SPD) 1994–1999: Bernhard Gründken (SPD) 1999–2004: Jörn Schroh (CDU) since 2004: Ulrike Westkamp (SPD)

Prussian period

World War II

During the war, Wesel became a target of the Allies particularly in its capacity as a strategic depot. On the 16, 17 and 19 February 1945, the town was attacked with impact and air-burst weapons and almost entirely destroyed. The Rhine and Lippe bridges were blown by the Wehrmacht; among others, on 10 March, the 1,950m long railway bridge, the last Rhine bridge remaining in German hands. On 23 March, Wesel came under the fire of over 3,000 guns when it was bombarded anew, in preparation for Operation Plunder. 97% of the town was destroyed before it was finally taken by allied troopsRAF campaign diary March 1944 See the entry for 23/24 March 1944.

Buildings and places of interest in Wesel

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• Berliner Tor
• Willibrordi-Dom (Cathedral)
• Zitadelle Wesel (Citadel)
• Broadcasting Mast Wesel, one of Germany's tallest constructions

People born in Wesel

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• Jan Joest - 1455-1519
  painter
• Hans Lipperhey - 1550-1619
  Inventor of the telescope
• Peregrine Bertie, 12th Baron Willoughby de Eresby - 1555-1601
  English diplomat and soldier
• Peter Minuit - 1580-1641
  Founder of New Amsterdam (New York)
• Johann Friedrich Welsch - 1796-1871
  painter
• Konrad Duden - 1829-1911
  Author of the first Duden
• Friedrich Geselschap - 1835-1898
  painter
• Ida Noddack-Tacke - 1896-1978
  Discover with her husband Walter Noddack the chemical elements rhenium and technetium

Sister Cities

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Hagerstown, Maryland (USA) Felixstowe (GB) Kętrzyn (Poland) Salzwedel (Germany)

Miscellaneous

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One of Germany's highest radio masts is situated in the district of Büderich on the left bank of the Rhine. It measures 320.08 metres.

Further reading

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Wesel

Footnotes

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Towns in North Rhine-Westphalia | Hanseatic League

Wesel | Wesel (stad) | Wesel | Wesel | Wesel