Gotha, Germany: sights and interesting places, how to get there and what to visit. The city of Gotha is the historical and cultural center of Thuringia Gotha thuringia

Category: Thuringia

Gotha (German: Gotha) is one of the oldest cities in Germany, located in the federal state of Thuringia. This administrative center district of the same name, located in the heart of the region. According to the latest census (31 December 2014), the city has a population of 44,682 people. Covering an area of 69.52 km², it is subdivided into seven municipal districts.

City near the famous Thuringian Forest

Gotha is located near the famous mountain range Thuringian Forest. It is rightfully considered the historical and cultural center of Thuringia. The first mention of it is found in sources dated back to October 775. Then Emperor Charles I the Great of the Carolingian dynasty gave the Hersfeld Monastery fields and forest lands in the vicinity of Villa Gothaha (the name translates as “Good Water”).

The city, due to its favorable location at the intersection of two roads, has long been the center of economic life. Trade flourished here. Especially wine, which was the main source of income for local merchants.

The 17th century was marked by an increase in the political and administrative status of Gotha: it was proclaimed the seat of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, a Protestant duchy that was part of the German Empire. Its rulers literally transformed this locality, which has become exemplary both in administrative and financial and economic terms. The status of the residence of the duchy, and then the Saxe-Coburg dynasty, remained outside the city until 1918.

Gotha as a scientific, cultural and financial center

The rulers of the duchy were enlightened people. Therefore, they paid increased attention to the development of science and culture. Under them, the city became the cartographic and publishing "capital" of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Compulsory for children - and both sexes - schooling for the first time in Germany was introduced here.

Gotha is also the birthplace of the first German theatre. He appeared in the city castle, had a permanent troupe. It was a real breakthrough, a step ahead of the curve. Especially considering that theatrical art in the then German lands was in its infancy. Today, the first German theater bears the name of the actor Konrad Eckhof, one of its founders, who died in 1778 at the age of 57 in Gotha.

By order of Duke Ernst II von Saxe-Coburg-Altenburg, the city fortifications were demolished. In their place is an English-style landscaped garden. He ordered the construction of an observatory here. In his will, he ordered to protect it as a monument.

One of Germany's financial industries also originated in Gotha. Namely, the insurance business in its modern sense. The German industrialist Ernst-Wilhelm Arnoldi created the first insurance bank Gothaer Feuerversicherungsbank in the city, which was based on the principle of reciprocity. It happened in 1820. Now this bank is called Gothaer Allgemeine Versicherung AG, its headquarters is in Cologne (North Rhine-Westphalia).

Historical sights of Gotha

During the Allied air raids in 1945, Gotha suffered little or no damage. The head of the commandant's office of the city managed to hand it over to the advancing American units in time. Later, it ended up in the Soviet occupation zone and after the Second World War, like the whole of Thuringia, became part of the newly formed GDR.

In modern Gotha, there are many museums: natural history, insurance business, the first German theater. Tourists enjoy visiting its underground casemates. The historical center of the city is formed Market Square and adjacent houses, and its complex is protected at the state level.

The symbol of Gotha and its main attraction is Friedenstein Castle. Informal name: "Residence of Science and Art".

Friedenstein Castle - the "oldest" of all ancient fortresses in Germany, notable for its bizarre shape. Here, in the castle, world-famous collections of porcelain, art objects are stored. ancient egypt are the oldest in Europe. Within its walls are also collected collections of paintings and furniture, old coins, there is a cabinet of curiosities and much more.

Another historical attraction of Gotha is the Lane Canal. It, 12 km long, was built back in 1369 by order of the Margrave of Meissen and Landgrave of Thuringia Balthazar. With the task set then - to provide the city with water - the canal successfully copes today.

Official website of the city of Gotha: www.gotha.de

Coat of arms of Gotha
A country	Germany
Earth	Thuringia
Area	Gotha (district)
Timezone	UTC+1, summer UTC+2
car code	GTH
Telephone code	+49 3621
Postcode	99867
Coordinates	Coordinates: 50°56′56″ s. sh. 10°43′06″ E / 50.948889° N sh. 10.718333° E (G) (O) (I) 50°56′56″ s. sh. 10°43′06″ E / 50.948889° N sh. 10.718333° E d. (G) (O) (I)
internal division	7 urban areas and 4 sub-districts
Official code	16 0 67 029
Center height	300 m
Official site	http://www.gotha.de/ (German)
Population	46,497 people (2006)
Square	69.52 km²
Oberburgomaster	Knut Kroich (SPD)

Gotha (German Gotha) - a city in Germany, a regional center, located in the state of Thuringia.

The city is part of the Gotha region. The population is 46,497 (31 December 2006). It occupies an area of 69.52 km. The city is subdivided into 7 urban areas. The official code is 16 0 67 029.

Story

The first written mention of this city near the famous Thuringian forest is dated October 775. It was then that Emperor Charlemagne donated forest land and fields near the Villa Gothaha to the monastery of Hersfeld (“ good water"). The city was founded on the intersection of two roads, thanks to which it has long been an important shopping mall. Wine was the main commodity that brought substantial profits to local merchants.

In the 17th century, the city became the seat of the Protestant duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. This status remained with him until 1918. As historians note, the dukes turned Gota into an exemplary city, both administratively and financially and economically.

Duke Ernst II ordered the city fortifications to be demolished and an English garden laid out in their place. Here, at his command, an observatory was erected, which he ordered to protect as a monument in his will.

At the end of World War II, the city was not actually damaged, as the German commandant surrendered it to the approaching American troops in a timely manner. Later, it became part of the Soviet occupation zone and, accordingly, ended up on the territory of the GDR.

From 1945 to 1991, units were located in Gotha Soviet army(GSVG) of the 39th Guards Motor Rifle Division:

172nd Guards Motor Rifle Gnezny Red Banner Orders of Suvorov and Kutuzov Regiment
87th Guards Self-Propelled Artillery Poznan Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Regiment, military unit 38862.
272nd separate order of Alexander Nevsky and the Red Star, engineering battalion, military unit 38871.
anti-aircraft missile regiment hch pp 41516.

Creation

The unit was formed in 1942. From its inception to the end of the Great Patriotic War- as part of the 57th Guards Rifle Novobugskaya Order of Suvorov and Bogdan Khmelnitsky Division.

Participation in the Great Patriotic War

The 172nd Guards Rifle Regiment took part in the Izyum-Barvenkovskaya offensive operation, the Donbass operation, the Nizhnedneprovsk offensive operation, the Dnepropetrovsk operation, the Dnieper-Carpathian offensive operation, the Nikopol-Krivoy Rog offensive operation, the Bereznegovato-Snigirevskaya offensive operation, the Odessa offensive operation, the Belarusian offensive operation, Lublin-Brest offensive operation, Vistula-Oder offensive operation, Warsaw-Poznan offensive operation, Berlin offensive operation, Zelovsko-Berlin operation and Sturme of Berlin.

During the years of the Great Patriotic War, 9 soldiers of the regiment were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, 26 soldiers were full holders of the Order of Glory.

By order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR, in the post-war years, in the lists 1st Motorized Rifle Company, 1st MB, 172nd Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment was forever enrolled Hero of the Soviet Union senior sergeant of the guard Turunov Gennady Sergeevich.

Combat period of the regiment

31.12.1942 - 07.06.1944;

15.06.1944 - 09.05.1945.

Awards and honorary titles

Gnezno

For courage, courage and heroism shown by the personnel during the liberation of the city of Gniezno, Poland.

Order of the Red Banner

For the exemplary performance of command assignments in battles with the German invaders, for the capture of the city of Deblin and the valor and courage shown in this. Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of August 9, 1944, Order of the Deputy. NCO of the USSR dated August 25, 1944 No. 0282

Order of Suvorov

Order of Kutuzov 3rd class

Regiment commanders (1943 - 1945)

Aleinikov (April 1943) - Guard Major

Evdokhov Fedor Timofeevich (09/03/1943 - 10/02/1943), wounded

Silin Fedor Iosifovich (10/08/1943 - 10/23/1943), wounded

Pelevin Mikhail Maksimovich (10/30/1943 - 10/30/1943);

Khazov Nikolai Panfilovich (11/17/1943 - 01/04/1944) - Guard Lieutenant Colonel, Hero of the Hero of the Soviet Union

Lvov Sergey Dmitrievich (since 01/04/1944)

Regiment commanders (1946 - 1991)

Lvov Sergey Dmitrievich (until 07/31/1946) - Guard Colonel

Gladky Alexey Petrovich (from 07/31/1946 to?)

Piven (1969 - 1971) - Guard Lieutenant Colonel

Terekhin Mikhail Ivanovich (1971-1973) - Guard Colonel

Boyarsky (1973-197?) - Guard Lieutenant Colonel

Chekalenko (197? - 197?) - Guard Lieutenant Colonel

Smolnyakov Vladimir Mikhailovich (1985 - 1988) - Guard Colonel

Nestyak (1988-1990), - Guard Colonel

Oleinik Ivan Ivanovich (1990 - 1991) - Guard Colonel (last regiment commander)

Regiment in the post-war period

In the period from 1945 to 1957, the regiment was part of 57th Guards Rifle Novobugskaya Division, after 1957 as part of the 27th Guards Tank Division and until 1965 as part of the 79th guards tank division.

In May 1965, the regiment was transferred to the 39th Guards Barvenkovskaya Order of Lenin, twice the Red Banner Orders of Suvorov and Bogdan Khmelnitsky Division.

From 1949 to October 1991, the regiment was stationed in the city of Gotha, on the front lines of defense of the USSR and the countries of the socialist camp. The first strategic echelon of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany (GSOVG, ZGV) on the territory of the state of Thuringia.

The regiment was reorganized from rifle to motorized rifle in 1957. The main global reforms (the reduction of Soviet troops in Germany in 1955-1956, the reorganization of troops and changes in unit names in the 1960s, the reduction of Soviet troops in Germany in the 1970s) did not concern the 172nd GMP.

Armament of the regiment in 1991

147 BMPs (48 BMP-2s, 94 BMP-1s, 5 BRM-1Ks);

18 −2 C1 "Carnation";

18 - 2 C12 "Sled";

3 PU-12 "Support";

4 ZSU-23-4 (until 1989)

4 SAM "Strela-10" (until 1989)

6 SAM "Strela-10" (after 1989)

6 ZSU 2S6 "Tunguska" (since 1989)

1 PPRU 9S80 "Gadfly" (since 1989)

6 TZM 2F77M based on KAMAZ

27 MANPADS "Igla"

1 MRTO 2V110 based on Ural-4320

1 MTO 2F55 based on Ural-4320

1 MRTO 1P10 based on Ural-4320

Withdrawal and disbandment

The 172nd GMSP was one of the first to be withdrawn from the territory of Germany to the territory of Ukraine, to the city of Bila Tserkva in 1991 and disbanded in 1993.

The battle banner and orders of the 172nd GMSP are in National Museum history of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 (Kyiv, Ukraine).

Gotha (German: Gotha) is a city in Germany, a regional center, located in the state of Thuringia. The city is part of the Gotha region. The population is 46,497 (31 December 2006). It occupies an area of 69.52 km². The city is subdivided into 7 urban areas. The official code is 16 0 67 029. Gotha is one of the oldest cities in Germany and is the cultural and historical center of Thuringia. The symbol of the city is the ancient castle Friedenstein (German) Russian, built in 1567 in the Baroque style.

The first written mention of this city near the famous Thuringian forest is dated October 775. It was then that Emperor Charlemagne donated forest land and fields near the Villa Gothaha ("good water") to the monastery of Hersfeld. The city was founded on the intersection of two roads, thanks to which it was an important trading center for a long time. Wine was the main commodity that brought substantial profits to local merchants.

One of the historical sights of the city is the 12-kilometer Lane Canal (German) Russian, laid in 1369. It was built by order of Count Balthasar (German) Russian. to provide Gotha with water and is still used for this purpose.

Enlightened rulers paid no less attention to the development of science and culture. That is why the city became the center of cartographic and publishing. In 1826, in Gotha, Joseph Meyer organized the publishing house of the Bibliographic Institute. In addition, it was here that ""compulsory schooling for boys and girls" was introduced for the first time in Germany. A court theater with the first permanent troupe was set up in the city castle. Today, the first German theater bears the name of Konrad Eckhof (German) Russian. - in honor of one of its founders.

Gotha is considered the birthplace of the modern insurance business in Germany. In 1820, Ernst-Wilhelm Arnoldi founded the reciprocity-based insurance bank Gothaer Feuerversicherungsbank, now Gothaer (German) Russian, in this city. headquartered in Cologne.