Hohnstein

Hohnstein (German pronunciation: [ˈhoːnˌʃtaɪ̯n] ) is a town located in the Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge district of Saxony, in eastern Germany. As of 2020, its population numbered a total of 3,262.

This article is about the town in Saxon Switzerland. For the nearby castle, see Hohnstein Castle (Saxon Switzerland). For the ruined castle in the Harz, see Hohnstein Castle (Harz).
Hohnstein
Town
General view of the town
Coat of arms
Location of Hohnstein within Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge district
Hohnstein
Hohnstein
Coordinates: 50°59′N 14°07′E
CountryGermany
StateSaxony
DistrictSächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge
Government
 • Mayor (2022–29) Daniel Brade[1]
Area
 • Total64.61 km2 (24.95 sq mi)
Elevation
330 m (1,080 ft)
Population
 (2022-12-31)[2]
 • Total3,201
 • Density50/km2 (130/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
01848
Dialling codes035975
Vehicle registrationPIR
Websitewww.hohnstein.de

Geography

It is situated in Saxon Switzerland, 12 km east of Pirna, and 28 km southeast of Dresden (centre). It is dominated by its castle, standing on a sandstone rock.

The municipal territory includes the villages (Ortsteile) of Cunnersdorf, Ehrenberg, Goßdorf, Lohsdorf, Rathewalde, Ulbersdorf and Waitzdorf.

History

In 1900, the town had a population of 1,321.[3]

During the German invasion of Poland at the start of World War II, in September 1939, the Oflag IV-A prisoner-of-war camp for Polish officers was established at the local castle, and from 1940 it also held French and Belgian officers and orderlies.[4] In 1941, the Oflag IV-A was dissolved, and the Stalag IV-A POW camp was relocated to Hohnstein from Elsterhorst.[4] It held Polish, French, British, Belgian, Serbian, Dutch, Soviet, Italian, American, Slovak, Czech and Bulgarian POWs, and was liberated by the Soviets in April 1945.[4]

  • View of the town and the castle.
  • Town's church
  • Church in Rathewalde
  • The Amsel Falls near Rathewalde
  • Shelter on the Hockstein in the Saxon Switzerland National Park

See also

References
  1. Gewählte Bürgermeisterinnen und Bürgermeister im Freistaat Sachsen, Stand: 17. Juli 2022, Statistisches Landesamt des Freistaates Sachsen.
  2. "Einwohnerzahlen nach Gemeinden als Excel-Arbeitsmappe" (XLS) (in German). Statistisches Landesamt des Freistaates Sachsen. 2024.
  3. Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon. Vol. 9. Leipzig und Wien. 1906. p. 467.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. Megargee, Geoffrey P.; Overmans, Rüdiger; Vogt, Wolfgang (2022). The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos 1933–1945. Volume IV. Indiana University Press, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. pp. 236, 413. ISBN 978-0-253-06089-1.

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