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Friesoythe, in Saterland Frisian language Ait or Äit, is a town in the district of Cloppenburg, Lower Saxony, Germany, on the river Soeste, 25 kilometres (16 mi) northwest of Cloppenburg, and 30 kilometres (19 mi) southwest of Oldenburg.

Friesoythe
Town
Church
Flag
Coat of arms
Location of Friesoythe within Cloppenburg district
Essen
Friesoythe
Friesoythe
Coordinates: 53°01′14″N 07°51′31″E
CountryGermany
StateLower Saxony
DistrictCloppenburg
Government
 • Mayor (2021–26) Sven Stratmann[1] (SPD)
Area
 • Total247.14 km2 (95.42 sq mi)
Elevation
6 m (20 ft)
Population
 (2020-12-31)[2]
 • Total22,512
 • Density91/km2 (240/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
26169
Dialling codes0 44 91
Vehicle registrationCLP
Websitewww.friesoythe.de

History


In 1227, Count Otto von Tecklenburg made Oite Castle in Friesoythe, which had just been built, his residence. Farmers, merchants and craftsmen quickly settled near the castle. As early as the first half of the 13th century, Friesoythe had extensive trade relations, as evidenced by the coin find from Friesoythe, whose more than 300 silver coins from Cologne, Münster, Osnabrück and other cities were only in circulation until 1235. Today's city center was soon surrounded by a massive city wall and was long considered impregnable. 1308 Friesoythe was first mentioned as a town. Friesoythe is occasionally referred to as a "Hanseatic town" and is said to have enjoyed Hanseatic privileges. It is unclear whether Friesoythe actually belonged to the Hanseatic League.

Friesoythe shares a diverse culture in Lower Saxony history. Many cultural influences of German, Anglo-Saxon, Dutch, East Frisian, Danish and Swedish culture are noticeable in the town and citizens. The town has a large following of Roman Catholicism and small percentages of Calvinism and Lutheranism. It was part of the Duchy of Oldenburg and also under rule to the French Empire in the 18th century.


Second World War


Main article: Razing of Friesoythe

In April 1945, the town of Friesoythe was evacuated and then occupied by the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division, under General Christopher Vokes. Most of the town's population of 4,000 had moved out to the surrounding countryside on about April 11–12, 1945.[3]

The town was defended by some 200 paratroopers of Battalion Raabe of the 7th German Parachute Division.[4] These paratroopers repelled the first attack by the Lake Superior Regiment (Motor) on April 13. The Lake Superior Regiment suffered two dead and nineteen wounded. German casualties are not known.

Vokes ordered the resumption of the attack the next day by The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's) commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Frederick E. Wigle. The attack went well, with the Argylls securing the town by 10:30 hours. However, at 08:30 a small number of German soldiers caught Wigle's tactical headquarters by surprise, killing Wigle and several other soldiers.[5] Lieutenant Alan Earp survived a bullet through the head.[6]

Vokes ordered an immediate reprisal. "A first-rate officer of mine, for whom I had a special regard and affection, and in whom I had a particular professional interest because of his talent for command, was killed. Not merely killed, it was reported to me, but sniped in the back".[7] According to Vokes, "I summoned my GSO1 . . 'Mac,' I roared at him, 'I'm going to raze that goddam town.'"[8]

Units and soldiers of the Argylls had spontaneously begun burning buildings in Friesoythe as revenge for the death of their colonel,[9] but Vokes later issued a direct order,[clarification needed] and the town was systematically set on fire with flamethrowers mounted on Wasp Carriers. The rubble was used to reinforce district roads for the division's tanks.[10] According to German estimates, 85% to 90% of the town was destroyed, making it one of the most devastated towns in Germany at the time.[11] Vokes commented that he had "No feeling of remorse over the elimination of Friesoythe."[10][self-published source?] The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and the Lake Superior Regiment (Motor) were awarded the battle honour "Friesoythe".


21st century


Friesoythe has grown from a village to a small city and shares traditional and modern style buildings of German architecture, Bauhaus, Victorian style, Renaissance and Baroque style. Large multinational companies are settled giving the city a modern appearance and lively feeling. Hospital, schooling, bus service, health service are all available in the city centre. The city has good communication and infrastructure and many American Germans, Poles and Russians integrated into its population.


Mayors



Notable people



References


  1. "Direktwahlen in Niedersachsen vom 12. September 2021" (PDF). Landesamt für Statistik Niedersachsen. 13 October 2021.
  2. Landesamt für Statistik Niedersachsen, LSN-Online Regionaldatenbank, Tabelle A100001G: Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes, Stand 31. Dezember 2020.
  3. The Friesoythe Amtsgericht, or District Court, was closed on April 11th. If the District Court ceased to function on April 11, 1945, the evacuation of the bulk of the civilian population probably took place between April 11th through April 12th 1945. It was clearly a German and not a Canadian initiative. Ferdinand Cloppenburg, Die Stadt Friesoythe im zwanzigsten Jahrhundert, 173.
  4. War Diary, General Staff, 4th Canadian Armoured Division, 1 April 1945-30 April 1945. Appendix 38; dated April 14th, 1945. National Archives of Canada, Ottawa, ON, RG 24, vol. no. 13794. Intelligence report signed: E. Sirluck, Capt.
  5. Mark Zuehlke, On To Victory: The Canadian Liberation Of The Netherlands, p. 308
  6. War Diary, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada, April 14, 1945, pp. 10-11. Ottawa, ON, Canada. National Archives of Canada, RG 24, v. 15,005. The same entry for April 14th, 1945, is also reprinted in Robert L. Fraser's Black Yesterdays; the Argylls’s War, p. 431. Interview with Alan Earp.
  7. All the published accounts relate that Col. Wigle was shot in the back. However, Dr. Doug Bryce, the Medical Officer of the Argylls, said that he was shot in the head. Dr. Bryce thought very highly of Wigle ("the most wonderful man I have ever met"). Interview with Dr. Bryce, May 11, 1998.
  8. Chris Vokes, Vokes: My Story, 194-195. A similar account of Vokes and his role in the destruction of Friesoythe is found in Tony Foster’s Meeting of Generals, 437.
  9. Robert L. Fraser, Black Yesterdays; the Argylls' War. See the section entitled "The Burning of Friesoythe?" on pp. 435–437.
  10. Tony Foster, Meeting of Generals, iUniverse, 2000, ISBN 978-0595137503, p. 437.
  11. Cloppenburg, Ferdinand (1996). "Die Stadt Friesoythe im zwanzigsten Jahrhundert". Brockhaus Enzyklopädie. Vol. 7 (20th ed.). Leipzig: Brockhaus. pp. 165, 189.

Bibliography




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На других языках

[de] Friesoythe

Friesoythe (plattdeutsch: Aithe) ist eine Stadt und eine selbständige Gemeinde an der Soeste im Landkreis Cloppenburg in Niedersachsen und gehört zum Oldenburger Münsterland. Friesoythe ist das nördlichste Mittelzentrum und die flächengrößte Kommune im Oldenburger Münsterland. Die Stadt ist seit 2004 Mitglied des Ringes der Europäischen Schmiedestädte und hat sich daher den Beinamen Eisenstadt gegeben.[2]
- [en] Friesoythe

[ru] Фризойте

Фризойте (нем. Friesoythe) — город в Германии, в земле Нижняя Саксония.


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