DEUTSCHLAND	GERMANY
Bundesland: Brandenburg
Stadt: Frankfurt (Oder)

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Frankfurt (Oder) is situated at an elevation of 40 m on the left bank of the river Oder in eastern Brandenburg at the border to Poland. The first settlement seems to have been founded around 1226 at a ford across the river. The place was named after the church of St. Nikolai. Around 1253 it received the status of a town. At that time the place was already called Vrankenvorde. It soon developed into an important trading town and from 1430 or earlier until around 1500 belonged to the Hanse federation of trading towns. The university was opened in 1506. Among the first students were later humanist Ulrich von Hutten and the later reformer Thomas Müntzer. During the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) the town was besieged and occupied several times and its population dropped from about 12,000 to less than 2,400 in 1653. Nevertheless, trading remained an important economic factor for the town in the following centuries. After the opening of the university in Berlin, the university of Frankfurt (Oder) was closed and transferred to Breslau (today Wrocław in Poland). Among its last students were Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Alexander and Wilhelm von Humboldt, and Heinrich von Kleist. During the 18th and 19th century, it also became an important garrison of the Prussian army. After World War II and the Potsdam Agreement the river formed the new border to Poland; the parts of the town on the right bank of the river Odra, formerly named 'Dammvorstadt', now are the Polish town Słubice. After the reunification of Germany in 1990, the 'Europa-Universität Viadrina' was founded in 1991.

The Town Hall [left, no. 3953] goes back to a first construction that was started probably in 1253. It is likely that at first only the basement and ground floor were completed. The larger, southern part with the vending hall, the archives and the splendid Gothic front (depicted on glass no. 3953) were added only in about the mid-14th century. In 1607–1609 the town hall was remodeled in Baroque style, but in 1906 1911 it was remodeled again in Neo-Gothic style. During World War II, the town hall was largely destroyed and finally burnt out. After the war, it was restored in 1951–1953. [https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rathaus_Frankfurt_(Oder)]

The monument for Emperor Wilhem I [left, no. 956: centre, and no. 936, below: bottom right picture] on the square Wilhelmsplatz (today 'Platz der Republik') was created by the sculptor Max Unger in 1900. The bronze equestrian statue of Wilhelm I (1797–1888), King of Prussia since 1861 and first German Emperor after the foundation of the German Empire in 1871 had a height of 4.5 metres, the total height of the monument including the pedestal had a height of 8.5 metres. The monument was destroyed during World War II in 1944, the pedestal was removed after 1945. [https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_der_Kaiser-Wilhelm-I.-Reiterdenkm%C3%A4ler]
Several glasses of this collection show other monuments for Wilhelm I.

The Stadttheater (municipal theatre) [background right] was built in 1842. The building was destroyed in 1945.

Heinrich von KLEIST (1777–1811), one of the greatest dramatists of German literature, was born in Frankfurt an der Oder. His comedies include Der zerbrochne Krug (1806, The Broken Pitcher) and Amphitryon (1807). Among his passionate tragedies is Penthesilea (1808). Käthchen von Heilbronn is a tale of chivalry. His masterpiece is Der Prinz von Homburg (1821), a historical tragedy. The best-known of his novellas are Michael Kohlhaas (1810/11) and Die Marquise von O. (1810/11). Kleist led an unhappy life that ended in his suicide together with Henriette Vogel near Potsdam at the lake Kleiner Wannsee (today part of Berlin).

The picture on glass no. 1774 [right] shows a panoramic view of Frankfurt (Oder) with the old Oder bridge. The oldest bridge at this place was constructed in 1253. The glass shows the stone bridge that was built in 1895. This bridge was blown up by the German Wehrmacht in January of 1945. Already in May of the same year a provisional bridge was set up. Today, a modern concrete and steel bridge, constructed in 2000–2002, connects Frankfurt (Oder) with the former 'Dammvorstadt', now Słubice, Poland.

The Nikolaikirche [right, no. 1774: background] was begun before 1253 and thus is the oldest church of Frankfurt (Oder). The nave and choir date from the 14th and 15th century. After 1540 the church fell out of use and in 1557 was converted into a granary. In 1881–1893 the church was thoroughly rebuilt; since then the church is also called Friedenskirche (Peace church).

Glass no. 3936 [left] shows views of the Oder bridge and Nikolai church [top picture] and the monument for Emperor Wilhelm I [bottom right picture] already described above.

The bottom left picture on glass no. 3936 [left] and the bottom right picture on glass no. 3937 [right] show a view of the Kleist Tower, a lookout tower constructed in 1891 in the 'Dammvorstadt', the part of Frankfurt (Oder) located on the right bank of the river Oder. As this part since 1945 is part of Poland (Słubice), this sight is decribed there.

The bottom left picture on glass no. 3937 [right] shows a view of the barracks of the Leib-Grenadier-Regiment. The grenadier regiment "King Friedrich Wilhelm III" Nr. 8 (1st Brandenburg regiment) was formed in 1808. 'Owner' of the regiment was always the respective King of Prussia (Friedrich Wilhelm III 1808–1840), Friedrich Wilhelm IV 1840–1861, Wihelm I 1861–1888, Friedrich III 1888, Wilhelm II 1888–1918). The regiment was finally demobilised in 1918.