Nuremberg (German/Deutsch: Nürnberg)#

Nuremberg is with about 511.000 inhabitants the second largest city of Bavaria after Munich and is part of the administrative region of Middle Franconia. The city is situated at the river Pegnitz and the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal approximately 170 kilometres north of Munich. In 1050 Nuremberg was mentioned for the first time in a document as the site of an Imperial castle between the East Franks and the Bavarian March of the Nordgau. Because of its strategic location on key trade routes the city expanded rapidly and gained importance during the period of 1050 to 1571. During the time of the Holy Roman Empire Nuremberg was often mentioned as the "unofficial capital" because the Imperial Diet, an important part of the administrative structure of the empire, and courts met at Nuremberg Castle. Starting in the early 16th century, the trade slowly declined as trade routes were shifted. Together with the high financial costs of war the city was dealt a heavy, irreparable blow which nearly halved the population. The decline of its importance lasted nearly three centuries until the 19th century in which the city grew as an industrial centre. Soon after the fall of Napoleon trade and commerce revived and once again turned Nuremberg into a prosperous city. During World War II the city was severely damaged by bombs and heavy fighting in the streets. Subsequently most of the city was rebuilt and to some extent restored, some of the medieval buildings were reconstructed too.

Comment by community member: Die ganz besonders extreme Bombardierung Nürnbergs im Zweiten Weltkrieg ist darauf zurückzuführen, dass Nürnberg die Stadt der Reichsparteitage war und daher die Nationalsozialisten dort eine sehr umfangreiche Bautätigkeit durchführten. Trotz der Angriffe blieb aber der Justizpalast nahezu unversehrt.

International und damit weltweit bekannt wurde Nürnberg als Austragungsort der zahlreichen Nürnberger Kriegsverbrecherprozesse nach 1945, über die besonders die US-Presse intensivst berichtete.

-- Glaubauf Karl, Dienstag, 27. Jänner 2015, 17:11