Anklam

Anklam is a town in the Western Pomerania region of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in north-eastern Germany. It sits on the banks of the Peene river, just 8 km from where the river meets the Kleines Haff, which is part of the Szczecin Lagoon.

Historically, the town was also known by the names Tanglim and Wendenburg. As of 2021, Anklam was home to 12,177 people. It used to be the capital of the Ostvorpommern district but has been part of the Vorpommern-Greifswald district since September 2011.

History

In the early Middle Ages, an important Scandinavian and Wendish settlement existed near where the town of Altes Lager Menzlin is today. Anklam began as a Wendish fortress. During the Middle Ages, the town was part of the Duchy of Pomerania. It grew from an old fortress into a place called Tanglim and became a town in 1244. That same year, or perhaps in 1483, it joined a group of trading towns known as the Hanseatic League.

Anklam faced tough times during wars. It was fought over for twenty years during the Thirty Years' War and caught fire many times. After the war, it became part of Swedish Pomerania. Over the years, it changed hands many times, being ruled by different groups including Sweden, Brandenburg, the Tsardom of Russia, and Prussia.

In the 1800s, Anklam connected to major cities by rail and built factories for making clothes, leather, beer, and soap. By World War I, it had factories for iron and sugar, and a military school.

During World War II, Anklam was heavily bombed and much of the town was destroyed. After the war, it became part of East Germany and was rebuilt in a simple style. After Germany reunited in 1990, Anklam became part of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern once again.

Population development

Sights

Anklam was a busy city in medieval times, but it faced tough times during the Thirty Years' War, the Seven Years' War, and the Second World War, along with some damaging fires. Even so, Anklam still has some important buildings left. One of them is the church of St Mary, which dates back to the 12th century. It was rebuilt in the 15th century, got a new spire in the 19th century, and was fixed up again in 1947.

Museums

Anklam has interesting places to visit called museums. One is called Museum im Steintor, where you can learn about the town's history. Another is the Otto-Lilienthal-Museum, which tells the story of a famous person from the area.

Transport

Anklam is linked to the Autobahn 20 coastal highway.

The Anklam railway station offers train services to many places, including Angermünde, Berlin, Dresden, Eberswalde, Frankfurt, Munich, Prague, and Stralsund.

Notable people

• Johann Franz Buddeus (1667–1729), philosopher, theologian, and professor.
• Paschen von Cossel (1714–1805), lawyer and church official.
• Friedrich Albrecht Karl Herrmann, Reichsgraf von Wylich und Lottum (1720–1797), Prussian officer.
• Carl August Wilhelm Berends (1759–1826), physician and leader of a major hospital.
• Ludwig von Henk (1820–1894), high-ranking naval officer and politician.
• Otto Lilienthal (1848–1896), pioneer in aviation.
• Gustav Lilienthal (1849–1933), architect and social reformer.
• Johanna Gadski (1872–1932), opera singer.
• Heinrich Sahm (1877–1939), lawyer and mayor of a major city.
• Ulrich von Hassell (1881–1944), diplomat who opposed a harmful regime.
• Günter Schabowski (1929–2015), politician.
• Dixon (born Steffen Berkhahn in 1975), music producer and DJ.
• Matthias Schweighöfer (born 1981), actor, director, and producer.

Sport

• Peter Hein (born 1943), rower who competed in the Olympics.
• Sandro Stallbaum (born 1981), former football player.
• Florian Stritzel (born 1994), football player.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany

Anklam has partnerships with other towns around the world. These partnerships help the towns work together and learn from each other.