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Knittelfeld was first mentioned in a document of 1224 (Chnvtelveld). It obtained the freedom of the city in 1302 from King Rudolf I. In the second half of the 19th century Knittelfeld developed to an important industrial town. The heavy industry was the reason for the intense bomb raids during World War II (especially in 1944 and 1945) which led to the almost complete destruction of the old town.