Dessau is a district of the independent city of

Dessau-Roßlau Dessau-Roßlau () is a '' kreisfreie Stadt'' (urban district) in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is situated at the confluence of the rivers Elbe and Mulde. The town was formed by merging the towns of Dessau and Roßlau as part of the 20 ...

in Saxony-Anhalt at the confluence of the rivers

Mulde The Mulde () is a river in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is a left tributary of the Elbe and is long. The river is formed by the confluence, near Colditz, of the Zwickauer Mulde (running through Zwickau) and the Freiberger Mulde (wit ...

and

Elbe The Elbe ( ; ; or ''Elv''; Upper Sorbian, Upper and , ) is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Giant Mountains of the northern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia (western half of the Czech Republic), then Ge ...

, in the '' Bundesland'' (Federal State) of

Saxony-Anhalt Saxony-Anhalt ( ; ) is a States of Germany, state of Germany, bordering the states of Brandenburg, Saxony, Thuringia and Lower Saxony. It covers an area of and has a population of 2.17 million inhabitants, making it the List of German states ...

. Until 1 July 2007, it was an independent city. The population of Dessau is 67,747 (Dec. 2020).

Geography

Dessau is situated on a floodplain where the

flows into the

. This causes yearly floods. The worst flood took place in the year 2002, when the Waldersee district was nearly completely flooded. The south of Dessau touches a well-wooded area called Mosigkauer Heide. The highest elevation is a 110 m high former rubbish dump called Scherbelberg in the southwest of Dessau. Dessau is surrounded by numerous parks and palaces that make it one of the greenest towns in Germany.

History

Dessau was first mentioned in 1213. It became an important centre in 1570, when the

Principality of Anhalt The Principality of Anhalt () was a Imperial State, State of the Holy Roman Empire, located in Central Germany (cultural area), Central Germany, in what is today part of the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt. Under the rule of the House of Ascania, ...

was founded. Dessau became the capital of this state within the

Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire, also known as the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation after 1512, was a polity in Central and Western Europe, usually headed by the Holy Roman Emperor. It developed in the Early Middle Ages, and lasted for a millennium ...

. In 1603, the state was split into four – later five – Anhalts, Dessau becoming the capital of the mini-state of

Anhalt-Dessau Anhalt-Dessau was a principality of the Holy Roman Empire and later a duchy of the German Confederation. Ruled by the House of Ascania, it was created in 1396 following the partition of the Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst, and finally merged into th ...

. In 1863 two of the noble lines died out, and the Duchy of Anhalt became reunited. From 1918 to 1945, Dessau was the capital of the

Free State of Anhalt The Free State of Anhalt () was a state of the Weimar Republic from 1919 to 1933 and of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. It is today part of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. The Duchy of Anhalt became the Free State of Anhalt during the Germa ...

. Dessau is famous as the second site of the

Bauhaus The Staatliches Bauhaus (), commonly known as the , was a German art school operational from 1919 to 1933 that combined Decorative arts, crafts and the fine arts.Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 4th edn., ...

school. It moved here in 1925 after it had been forced to close in

Weimar Weimar is a city in the state (Germany), German state of Thuringia, in Central Germany (cultural area), Central Germany between Erfurt to the west and Jena to the east, southwest of Leipzig, north of Nuremberg and west of Dresden. Together w ...

. Many famous artists were lecturers in Dessau in the following years, among them

Walter Gropius Walter Adolph Georg Gropius (; 18 May 1883 – 5 July 1969) was a German-born American architect and founder of the Bauhaus, Bauhaus School, who is widely regarded as one of the pioneering masters of modernist architecture. He was a founder of ...

Paul Klee Paul Klee (; 18 December 1879 – 29 June 1940) was a Swiss-born German artist. His highly individual style was influenced by movements in art that included expressionism, cubism, and surrealism. Klee was a natural draftsman who experimented wi ...

and

Wassily Kandinsky Wassily Wassilyevich Kandinsky ( – 13 December 1944) was a Russian painter and art theorist. Kandinsky is generally credited as one of the pioneers of abstract art, abstraction in western art. Born in Moscow, he spent his childhood in ...

. The

Nazis Nazism (), formally named National Socialism (NS; , ), is the far-right politics, far-right Totalitarianism, totalitarian socio-political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Germany. During H ...

’ control of Dessau city council forced the closure of the Dessau Bauhaus in 1932. The school moved to

Bernau bei Berlin Bernau bei Berlin (English ''Bernau by Berlin'', commonly named Bernau) is a town in the Barnim district in Brandenburg in eastern Germany, located about northeast of Berlin. History Archaeological excavations of Mesolithic-era sites indicate th ...

and closed its doors for the last time in 1933. The town was almost completely destroyed by Allied air raids in

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

on 7 March 1945, six weeks before American troops occupied the town. Afterwards, it was rebuilt with typical

GDR East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe from its formation on 7 October 1949 until its reunification with West Germany (FRG) on 3 October 1990. Until 1989, it was generally vie ...

concrete slab architecture (''

Plattenbau A large-panel-system building is a building constructed of large, prefabricated concrete slabs. Such buildings are often found in housing developments. Although large-panel-system buildings are often considered to be typical of Eastern Bloc c ...

'') and became a major industrial centre of

East Germany East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe from Foundation of East Germany, its formation on 7 October 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with West Germany (FRG) on ...

. Since

German reunification German reunification () was the process of re-establishing Germany as a single sovereign state, which began on 9 November 1989 and culminated on 3 October 1990 with the dissolution of the East Germany, German Democratic Republic and the int ...

in 1990, many historic buildings have been restored. The composer

Kurt Weill Kurt Julian Weill (; ; March 2, 1900April 3, 1950) was a German-born American composer active from the 1920s in his native country, and in his later years in the United States. He was a leading composer for the stage who was best known for hi ...

was born in Dessau. Since 1993, the city has hosted an annual Kurt Weill Festival. Dessau was also the birthplace of the philosopher

Moses Mendelssohn Moses Mendelssohn (6 September 1729 – 4 January 1786) was a German-Jewish philosopher and theologian. His writings and ideas on Jews and the Jewish religion and identity were a central element in the development of the ''Haskalah'', or 'J ...

(in 1729), and

Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (3 July 1676 – 7 April 1747) was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the Principality of Anhalt-Dessau from 1693 to 1747. He was also a ''Generalfeldmarschall'' in the Prussian Army. Nicknam ...

(''der alte Dessauer'') (on 3 July 1676), a lauded field marshal for the

Kingdom of Prussia The Kingdom of Prussia (, ) was a German state that existed from 1701 to 1918.Marriott, J. A. R., and Charles Grant Robertson. ''The Evolution of Prussia, the Making of an Empire''. Rev. ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1946. It played a signif ...

. In January 2005, Dessau gained notoriety for the mysterious death of a Sierra Leonean drug trafficker and asylum seeker,

Oury Jalloh Oury Jalloh (1969 – 7 January 2005) was an asylum seeker who died in a fire in a police cell in Dessau, Germany. The hands and feet of Jalloh, who was alone in the cell, were tied to a mattress. A fire alarm went off, but was initially turned ...

. Jalloh died in police custody, however, the official version of events released by the police was found to have many inconsistencies.

Sights

Castles and gardens

Dessau asv2022-08 img24 Schloss Georgium

Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the cultivation, display, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The single feature identifying even the wildest wild garden is ''control''. The garden can incorporate both ...

, (''Dessau-Wörlitzer Gartenreich'') is a

World Heritage Site World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...

landscape garden. It is an exceptional example of 18th century

Age of Enlightenment The Age of Enlightenment (also the Age of Reason and the Enlightenment) was a Europe, European Intellect, intellectual and Philosophy, philosophical movement active from the late 17th to early 19th century. Chiefly valuing knowledge gained th ...

landscape design in the English style. *

Dresden Elbe Valley The Dresden Elbe Valley is a cultural landscape and former World Heritage Site stretching along the Elbe river in Dresden, the state capital of Saxony, Germany. The valley, extending for some and passing through the Dresden Basin, is one of two m ...

*Zoo at Mausoleumspark *Wallwitzburg *Rondell *remains of the

Dessau Palace The Dessau Palace () in Dessau in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt was a princely palace which mostly served as the main residence of the princes of Anhalt-Dessau and later the Dukes of Duchy of Anhalt, Anhalt. The palace was one of the f ...

(Johannbau) *Georgium Palace and Park *Kühnau Palace and Park *Mosigkau Palace and Park *Luisium Palace and Park *

Erbprinzliches Palais Dessau The Erbprinzliches Palais ('Palace of the hereditary prince') was a palace in Dessau, Saxony-Anhalt. It was on the Kavalierstrasse. The palace was also known as the Erbprinzenpalais or the Herzogliches Palais (ducal palace). Originally built f ...

(demolished)

The Bauhaus

There are several examples of

architecture in Dessau, some of which are part of the

Bauhaus and its Sites in Weimar, Dessau and Bernau Bauhaus and its Sites in Weimar, Dessau and Bernau are World Heritage Site, World Heritage Sites in Germany, comprising six separate sites which are associated with the Bauhaus art school. It was designated in 1996 with four initial sites, and i ...

World Heritage Site. This includes the Bauhaus Dessau school building, designed by

, which is one of the iconic modernist buildings of the 20th century. In addition to the buildings that are part of the World Heritage Site, other notable Bauhaus architecture in Dessau includes: * Dessau-Törten Estate, designed by Walter Gropius in 1926–1928. *''Stahlhaus'' (Steel House), designed by

Georg Muche Georg Muche (8 May 1895 – 26 March 1987) was a German painter, printmaker, architect, author, and teacher. Early life and education Georg Muche was born on 8 May 1895 in Querfurt, in the Prussian Province of Saxony, and grew up in the Rhön ...

and Richard Paulick in 1926–1927. *''Fieger Haus'', designed by Carl Fieger in 1927. * The ''Kornhaus'', a restaurant overlooking the river Elbe designed by Carl Fieger in 1929–1930. * ''Arbeitsamt'' (Employment office), designed by Walter Gropius in 1928–1929. It is now the Dessau-Roßlau ''Amt für Ordnung und Verkehr'' (Authority of Public Security and Regulations).

Churches

*St. Mary's Church *St. John's Church *Georgenkirche *Petruskirche *Auferstehungskirche *Pauluskirche *Christuskirche *Propsteikirche St. Peter and Paul *Dreieinigkeit *St. Josef

Other sights

* Townhall, built in 1901 * The palaces of Waldersee and Dietrich, today used as libraries * General post office * New water tower * ''Umweltbundesamt'' (formerly Wörlitzer Bahnhof) * Footbridge crossing the river Mulde

Culture

Theatres and museums

Anhaltisches Theater Anhaltisches Theater Dessau is a theatre in Dessau, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, which was called Landestheater Dessau until 1984. It is offering drama, musical theatre (operas, operettas, musicals), ballets, concerts of the orchestra, and puppet ...

including

Gregor Seyffert Gregor is a masculine given name. Notable people and fictional characters with the name include: * Gregor (musician) (1898–1971), Armenian bandleader * Gregor Abel (born 1949), Scottish footballer * Gregor Adlercreutz (1898–1944), Swedish eq ...

& Compagnie * City history museum * Anhalt Art Gallery at Georgium Palace with park (currently closed) * Mosigkau Palace museum * Luisium Castle museum with park * Oranienbaum Palace museum with park * Museum of Natural- and Prehistory *

-Centre *

Hugo Junkers Hugo Junkers (3 February 1859 – 3 February 1935) was a German aircraft engineer and aircraft designer who pioneered the design of all-metal airplanes and flying wings. His company, Junkers Flugzeug- und Motorenwerke AG (Junkers Aircraft and ...

Technical Museum * UCI Cinema Complex * Kiez-Cinema (one of the smallest Cinemas in Germany)

Regional media

* ''Mitteldeutsche Zeitung'' (daily newspaper, Monday-Saturday) * ''Wochenspiegel'' (free newspaper on Wednesday) and ''Supersonntag'' (free newspaper on Sunday) * ''REGJO'' (quarterly Economy Journal for the Region of

Leipzig Leipzig (, ; ; Upper Saxon: ; ) is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Saxony. The city has a population of 628,718 inhabitants as of 2023. It is the List of cities in Germany by population, eighth-largest city in Ge ...

/ Halle) * ''leo'' (monthly, regional Event- and Culture Magazine) * local Studios of the

MDR MDR may refer to: Biology * MDR1, an ATP-dependent cellular efflux pump affording multiple drug resistance * Mammalian diving reflex * Medical device reporting * Multiple drug resistance, when a microorganism has become resistant to multiple drugs ...

and SAW (Radiostations) * local TV Stations: RAN 1 and Offener Kanal Dessau

Transport

Public transport

The Dessau tramway network has three lines and is supplemented by numerous bus lines. Dessau's public transport is operated by (DVG), which transports around 6 million people each year.

Railway stations

Dessau Hauptbahnhof Dessau Hauptbahnhof is the main passenger station in the city of Dessau-Roßlau in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. Location The station is located to the south of the Elbe and to the west of central Dessau. It is a through station, orientat ...

(main station) has connections to

Magdeburg Magdeburg (; ) is the Capital city, capital of the Germany, German States of Germany, state Saxony-Anhalt. The city is on the Elbe river. Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, Otto I, the first Holy Roman Emperor and founder of the Archbishopric of Mag ...

, Berlin,

, Halle,

Bitterfeld Bitterfeld () is a town in the district of Anhalt-Bitterfeld, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 July 2007 it has been part of the town of Bitterfeld-Wolfen. It is situated approximately 25 km south of Dessau, and 30 km northeast of Hall ...

and Lutherstadt

Wittenberg Wittenberg, officially Lutherstadt Wittenberg, is the fourth-largest town in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, in the Germany, Federal Republic of Germany. It is situated on the River Elbe, north of Leipzig and south-west of the reunified German ...

. The line from Berlin was opened on 1 September 1840. The Dessau-Bitterfeld line (opened on 17 August 1857) was electrified in 1911, the first fully electrified long-distance railway in Germany. Dessau was part of the

InterCity InterCity (commonly abbreviated ''IC'' on timetables and tickets) is the train categories in Europe, classification applied to certain long-distance passenger train services in Europe. Such trains (in contrast to InterRegio, regional train, r ...

long-distance network until the year 2002. Regional trains also stop at the stations Dessau-Süd, Dessau-Alten, Dessau-Mosigkau and Rodleben. The ''Dessau-Wörlitzer-Eisenbahn'' (railway) connects Dessau to

Wörlitz Wörlitz () is a town and a former municipality in the district of Wittenberg, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2011, it has been part of the town Oranienbaum-Wörlitz. It is situated on the left bank of the Elbe, east of Dessau. The ...

, a town situated 15 km to the east, and the Wörlitzer Park. The starting point of this railway is the main station. This train also stops at the stations Dessau-Waldersee and Dessau-Adria.

Roads

In 1938 the

autobahn The (; German , ) is the federal controlled-access highway system in Germany. The official term is (abbreviated ''BAB''), which translates as 'federal motorway'. The literal meaning of the word is 'Federal Auto(mobile) Track'. Much of t ...

A9 (Munich-Berlin) was built southeast of the town area. The two exits to Dessau on the A9 are called Dessau-Ost and Dessau-Süd. Dessau is also crossed by the Bundesstrassen (federal roads) B 184 and B 185.

Airfield

The

airfield An aerodrome, airfield, or airstrip is a location from which aircraft flight operations take place, regardless of whether they involve air cargo, passengers, or neither, and regardless of whether it is for public or private use. Aerodromes in ...

of Dessau (ICAO: EDAD) is situated northwest of the town between the districts Kleinkühnau, Alten, and Siedlung. A destination with a charter airplane is possible. The runway has a length of 1000 m. The

Technical Museum is situated in the neighbourhood directly east of the airfield, with the eastern end of the modern runway almost directly abutting the historical World War II Junkers factory airstrip's western end.

Water

Today the Leopoldshafen (harbour) is used for annual international motorboat racing events. The "Wallwitzhafen" is used as a private pleasure boat harbour and the Elbehafen near the Grain House is used for cruisers. The next harbour for goods is situated in Rosslau.

Bikes

Dessau is located in the flat landscape of the Saxon Lowland. The local bike paths have a length of about 146 km and connect all major parks and sights.

Sports

Sports like soccer, cycling, handball, volleyball, gymnastics, table tennis and tennis have a long tradition and are very popular in Dessau. The former soccer team SG Waggonbau Dessau won the

soccer cup in 1949. The handball team played in the

Oberliga and since 1990 they are playing in the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga. Currently, Dessau has around 80 sport clubs with over 13,500 members. Next to the traditional sports, Dessau has active sport clubs in the following disciplines: aikido, badminton, basketball, canoeing, chess, climbing, cycling, dancing, fishing, horse riding, karate, judo, jiu-jitsu, motorboat, rowing, speedskating, sailing, skittles, skydiving, squash, swimming, table tennis, water polo, wrestling and others.

Facilities

* Numerous sports fields (more than 10) * Skittle alleys (6) * Tennis courts (3) * Boathouses (3) * Indoor swimming pools (2) * Paul-Greifzu-Stadion (22,000 capacity) * Speedskating course * Zuckerturm climbing tower * Anhalt Arena Dessau (3,600 capacity) * Airfield Dessau * Rifle range

Governance

The borough of Dessau was first mentioned in 1372. The head of the town of Schultheiss was appointed by the count. Together with a few assessors, the Schultheiss formed the town council. As of 1372, the town council was divided into two agencies, as of 1600 into three agencies, and as of 1785 again into two agencies. The Schultheiss of Dessau changed nearly every year until the town council constitution was cancelled in 1832. Afterwards Dessau became a Town Council and a Town Delegation Constitution. Since 1852 the town leader has the title of mayor. During the National Socialist period the mayor was appointed by the party (

NSDAP The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party ( or NSDAP), was a far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that created and supported the ideology of Nazism. Its precursor, the German Workers ...

). After

, the

Soviets The Soviet people () were the citizens and nationals of the Soviet Union. This demonym was presented in the ideology of the country as the "new historical unity of peoples of different nationalities" (). Nationality policy in the Soviet Union ...

formed an executive council with a mayor. The town council constitution was elected by the people. Since

this committee has been freely elected. Since 1994 it has been called the Stadtrat. Since 1994, the mayor is directly elected by the people. In 2007, Dessau became part of the municipality of Dessau-Roßlau.

Mayor

Peter Kuras (born 1958) was elected mayor of Dessau-Roßlau in June 2014 with 75.82% of the votes for a term of seven years. He is the successor of Klemens Koschig (born 1957, independent), who was elected in 2007 with 56.8% of the votes.

Town Council (Stadtrat)

Consists of the following parties: (Local elections from 25 May 2014) * CDU (14 seats) * The Left (11 seats) * The Greens (3 seats) * SPD (7 seats) * Pro Dessau (5 seats) * AfD (3 seats) * FDP (2 seats) * Neues Forum (2 seats) * Bürgerliste (2 seats) * NPD 1 seat

Town twinning

Dessau is twinned with:

Education

* Anhalt University of Applied Sciences (Architecture, Facility Management, Design and Geoinformatics) * Learning Centre from the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (Halle/ Dessau) * Anhalt Vocational School Centre

I, II, and III (Chapon-School) * Grammar School

* Grammar School Liborius * Grammar School "Philantropinum"

European subsidies

Dessau is part of the EU-URBAN programme. This programme is based on the integrated approach that is used for tackling the environmental, economical and social problems, affecting the deprived urban areas. There are several projects in Dessau sponsored via this subsidy.

Notable people

Academics

Peter Lebrecht Schmidt Peter Lebrecht Schmidt (28 July 1933, in Dessau, Germany – 22 October 2019, in Germany) was a German classical scholar. He was an authority on Cicero. Publications * ''Handbuch der lateinischen Literatur der Antike'' by Reinhart Herzog and Pete ...

(1933–2019), German classical scholar

Aristocracy and military

George III, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau George III, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (15 August 1507 – 17 October 1553), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau, and also a Protestant Reformer. After 1544 he became the first ruler of the ...

(1507–1553), prince *

Bernhard VII, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst Bernhard VII of Anhalt-Zerbst (17 March 1540 – 1 March 1570), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst. He was born and died in Dessau, and was the third and youngest son of John V, Prince o ...

(1540–1570), prince *

John Casimir, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau John Casimir, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (17 December 1596 – 15 September 1660), was a German prince of the House of Ascania. He was ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau from 1618 to 1660. During his reign the tasks of government were carr ...

(1596–1660), prince *

John George II, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau John George II (17 November 1627 – 7 August 1693) was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau from 1660 to 1693. A member of the Fruitbearing Society, he also served as a field marshal of Branden ...

(1627–1693), prince and Prussian field marshal *

(1676–1747), ruler of Anhalt-Dessau from 1693 to 1747 *

Leopold II, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau Leopold II Maximilian, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (25 December 1700 – 16 December 1751), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau from 1747 to 1751; he also was a Prussian general. Life Leopold wa ...

(1700–1751), prince and Prussian general *

Dietrich of Anhalt-Dessau Dietrich of Anhalt-Dessau (b. Dessau, 2 August 1702 - d. Dessau, 2 December 1769), was a German prince of the House of Ascania and later regent of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau. He was also a Prussian ''Generalfeldmarschall''.Anton Balthasar ...

(1702–1769), prince and Prussian field marshal *

Princess Adelheid-Marie of Anhalt-Dessau Princess Adelheid-Marie of Anhalt-Dessau (; ) (25 December 1833 – 24 November 1916) was a Princess of Anhalt-Dessau and member of the House of Ascania. As the wife of Adolphe of Nassau, she was Duchess of Nassau from 1851 until 1866 and Grand ...

(1833–1916), Duchess of Nassau and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg *

Eduard, Duke of Anhalt Eduard Georg Wilhelm Maximilian (18 April 1861 – 13 September 1918) was a German prince of the House of Ascania and the penultimate ruler of the Duchy of Anhalt from April to September 1918.Ralf Regener: Der Sturz der Askanier 1918 in Anhalt ...

(1861–1918), Prince of the House of Ascania and the penultimate ruler of the

Duchy of Anhalt The Duchy of Anhalt () was a historical German duchy. The duchy was located between the Harz Mountains in the west and the River Elbe and beyond to the Fläming Heath in the east. The territory was once ruled by the House of Ascania, and is now ...

in 1918 *

Oswald Boelcke Oswald Boelcke PlM (; 19 May 1891 – 28 October 1916) was a World War I German professional soldier and pioneering flying ace credited with 40 aerial victories. Boelcke is honored as the father of the German fighter air force, and of air ...

(1891-1916), World War I air ace *

Joachim Ernst, Duke of Anhalt Joachim Ernst, Duke of Anhalt (11 January 1901 – 18 February 1947) was the last ruler of the Duchy of Anhalt. Biography He was born in Dessau, the son of Duke Eduard of Anhalt (1861–1918) and Princess Louise Charlotte of Saxe-Altenburg ...

(1901–1947), the last ruler of the

Science and philosophy

(1729–1786), German Jewish philosopher, father of Haskalah *

Heinrich Schwabe Samuel Heinrich Schwabe (25 October 1789 – 11 April 1875) was a German amateur astronomer remembered for his work on sunspots. He observed sunspots and made drawings of them from 1825 to 1867 and suggested in 1838 that there may be a ten-year cy ...

(1789–1875), astronomer and botanist, worked on

sunspots Sunspots are temporary spots on the Sun's surface that are darker than the surrounding area. They are one of the most recognizable Solar phenomena and despite the fact that they are mostly visible in the solar photosphere they usually affe ...

Karl Adolph von Basedow Carl Adolph von Basedow (28 March 1799 – 11 April 1854) was a German physician most famous for reporting the symptoms of what could later be dubbed Graves-Basedow disease, now technically known as exophthalmic goiter. Biography Basedow was bo ...

(1799–1854), a German physician *

Max Müller Friedrich Max Müller (; 6 December 1823 – 28 October 1900) was a German-born British comparative philologist and oriental studies, Orientalist. He was one of the founders of the Western academic disciplines of Indology and religious s ...

(1823–1900), philologist and Orientalist *

Franz Woepcke Franz Woepcke (6 May 1826 – 25 March 1864) was a German historian, Orientalist and mathematician. He is remembered for publishing editions and translations of medieval Arabic mathematical manuscripts and for his research on the propagation o ...

(1826–1864), an historian, Orientalist and mathematician *

Friedrich Preisigke Friedrich Preisigke (14 February 1856 in Dessau – 8 February 1924 in Heidelberg) was a German Egyptologist and papyrologist. Life Born in Dessau, he attended the Cathedral gymnasium at Brandenburg an der Havel, later became a clerk in the G ...

(1856–1924), a German Egyptologist and papyrologist *

(1859–1935), German engineer and airplane designer, constructed first airplane made from metal, founded the Junkers & Co *

Gustav Lindau Gustav Lindau (2 May 1866 in Dessau – 10 October 1923 in Berlin), was a German mycologist and botanist. Biography Gustav Lindau was born on 2 May 1866 in Dessau (Saxony-Anhalt, Germany). He studied natural history in University of Heidelberg ...

(1866–1923), mycologist and botanist *

Johannes Winkler Johannes Winkler (29 May 1897 – 27 December 1947) was a German rocket pioneer who co-founded with Max Valier of Opel RAK the first German rocket society "Verein für Raumschiffahrt" and launched, after Friedrich Wilhelm Sander's successful ...

(1897–1947), launched the first liquid-fuelled rocket in Europe at Dessau *

Hans von Ohain Hans Joachim Pabst von Ohain (14 December 191113 March 1998) was a German physicist, engineer, and the designer of the first aircraft to use a turbojet engine. Together with Frank Whittle and Anselm Franz, he has been described as the co-invent ...

(1911–1998), physicist, designer of the first jet engine *

Gernot Böhme Gernot Böhme (3 January 1937 – 20 January 2022) was a German Philosophy, philosopher and author, contributing to the philosophy of science, theory of time, aesthetics, ethics, and philosophical anthropology. He is the main pioneer of German ec ...

(1937–2022), philosopher and author

The arts

Wilhelm Karl Rust Wilhelm Karl Rust (29 April 1787 – 18 April 1855) was a German pianist. Rust was born in Dessau to Friedrich Wilhelm Rust, a prominent musician and composer. He was praised for his precocious musical abilities, being dubbed "A New Musical C ...

(1787–1855), a German pianist *

Friedrich von Olivier Woldemar Friedrich von Olivier (23 April 1791 in Dessau – 5 September 1859 in Dessau) was a German history painter in the Romanticism (art), Romantic style, often associated with the Nazarene movement. Life His father was head of the De ...

(1791–1859), a German history painter in the Romantic style *

Wilhelm Müller Johann Ludwig Wilhelm Müller (7 October 1794 – 30 September 1827) was a German lyric poet, best known as the author of ''Die schöne Müllerin'' (1821) and ''Winterreise'' (1823). These would later be the source of inspiration for two song cy ...

(1794–1827), lyric poet, best known for the

Lieder In the Western classical music tradition, ( , ; , ; ) is a term for setting poetry to classical music. The term is used for any kind of song in contemporary German and Dutch, but among English and French speakers, is often used interchangea ...

Franz Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (; ; 31 January 179719 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical period (music), Classical and early Romantic music, Romantic eras. Despite his short life, Schubert left behind a List of compositions ...

Ludwig Philippson Ludwig Philippson (28 December 1811 – 29 December 1889) was a German rabbi and author. Early life and education Ludwig Philippson was born in Dessau, the son of Moses Philippson, a printer, writer, teacher, translator, publisher and a member o ...

(1811–1889), writer and rabbi, founder of

Allgemeine Zeitung des Judentums ''Allgemeine Zeitung des Judentums'' (until May 1903: ''Allgemeine Zeitung des Judenthums'') was a Jewish German magazine devoted to Jewish interests, founded in 1837 by Ludwig Philippson (1811–89), published first in Leipzig and later in Berli ...

Wilhelm Rust Wilhelm Rust (15 August 1822 – 2 May 1892) was a German musicologist and composer. He is most noted today for his substantial contributions to the Bach Gesellschaft edition of the works of Johann Sebastian Bach. Born in Dessau, Rust studied pia ...

(1822–1892), composer, musicologist, Bach researcher and choirmaster * Bernhard Cossmann (1822–1910), a German cellist *

Friedrich Grützmacher Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Grützmacher (1 March 1832 – 23 February 1903) was a German cellist and composer in the second half of the 19th century. He composed mostly for cello (including several concertos and many technical studies), but also wr ...

(1832–1903), cellist and composer *

Leopold Grützmacher Leopold Grützmacher (born in Dessau, Germany on 4 September 1835, died in Weimar Germany on 26 February 1900) was a German cellist and composer. He was a member of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. Early life and education He was the younger b ...

(1835-1900), a German cellist and composer. *

Erna Schorlemmer Erna Schorlemmer Loebell (30 June 1875 – 1945) was a German composer who published ballet music, marches, music for piano, and songs under the name Erna Schorlemmer and the pseudonym Erny Chaloix. Schorlemmer was born in Dessau to Mathilde Hipp ...

(1875-1945), a German composer * Julius Schubring (1839–1914), classical scholar * Henriette Johanne Marie Müller (1841–1916), a street character identified with Hamburg *

August Klughardt August Friedrich Martin Klughardt (30 November 1847 – 3 August 1902) was a German composer and conductor. Life Klughardt, who was born in Köthen, took his first piano and music theory lessons at the age of 10. Soon he began to compose his fir ...

(1847–1902), composer and conductor *

(1900–1950), composer, grew up in Dessau, worked with

Bertolt Brecht Eugen Berthold Friedrich Brecht (10 February 1898 – 14 August 1956), known as Bertolt Brecht and Bert Brecht, was a German theatre practitioner, playwright, and poet. Coming of age during the Weimar Republic, he had his first successes as a p ...

, *

Gerhard Nebel Gerhard Nebel (1903–1974) was a German writer and conservative cultural critic. Nebel studied philosophy and classical philology in Freiburg, Marburg and Heidelberg from 1923 to 1927, under Martin Heidegger and Karl Jaspers. He worked as a ...

(1903–1974), writer, essayist and cultural critic *

Ursula Herking Ursula Herking (28 January 1912 – 17 November 1974) was a German film actress. She appeared in more than 130 films between 1933 and 1972. She was born in Dessau, Germany and died in Munich, West Germany. Selected filmography * '' Susanne ...

(1912–1974), actress and cabaret artist * Anne-Marie Lauenstein (1923–2010), first German war bride to emigrate to the US in 1946 *

Herbert Tobias Herbert Tobias (14 December 1924 – 17 August 1982) was a German photographer who first became well known for his fashion photography during the 1950s. His portrait studies, his photographs of Russia during World War II and his homoerotic picture ...

(1924–1982), fashion photographer *

Horst Bollmann Horst Bollmann (11 February 1925 – 7 July 2014) was a German film and television actor. He was born in Dessau Dessau is a district of the independent city of Dessau-Roßlau in Saxony-Anhalt at the confluence of the rivers Mulde and Elbe, ...

(1925–2014), a German film and television actor *

Gerhard Stolze Gerhard Stolze (1 October 1926, Dessau – 11 March 1979, Garmisch-Partenkirchen) was a German operatic tenor. He was a character tenor best known as a Wagner singer. His signature role was Mime (''Das Rheingold'', ''Siegfried''). Other impo ...

(1926–1979), a German operatic tenor *

Karl-Heinz Kämmerling Karl-Heinz Kämmerling (6 May 1930 – 14 June 2012) was a notable German academic teacher of classical pianists, who trained pianists at the Mozarteum in Salzburg and the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover for careers as performer ...

(1930–2012), professor of piano *

Brigitte Grothum Brigitte Grothum (born 26 February 1935) is a German film actress. She has appeared in 50 films since 1955. She was born in Dessau, Germany. Selected filmography *'' Ripening Youth'' (1955), as Dora *'' The First Day of Spring'' (1956), as Tr ...

(born 1935), a German film actress *

Dieter Hallervorden Dieter "Didi" Hallervorden (born 5 September 1935) is a German actor, comedian, cabaret artist and singer. He achieved great popularity in German-speaking countries in the mid-1970s with the slapstick series ''Nonstop Nonsens'' and his characte ...

(born 1935), comedian, cabaret artist and singer, hon. citizen of Dessau *

Imi Knoebel Imi Knoebel (/i:mi: kno:ʊbəl/) (born Klaus Wolf Knoebel; 31 December 1940) is a German artist. Knoebel is known for his minimalist, abstract painting and sculpture. The "Messerschnitt" or "knife cuts," is a recurring technique he employs, al ...

(born 1940), a German artist of minimalist, abstract painting and sculpture *

Emil Schult Emil Schult (born 10 October 1946) is a German painter, poet and audio-visual artist. Biography After studying Sinology in Münster, Schult joined the Academy of Art in Düsseldorf in 1969 to study Fine Arts in the printmaking class of Diet ...

(born 1946), painter, poet and musician *

Thomas Kretschmann Thomas Kretschmann (; born 8 September 1962) is a German actor who has appeared in many European and American films. His notable roles include Lieutenant Hans von Witzland in ''Stalingrad'' (1993), Hauptmann Wilm Hosenfeld in '' The Pianist'' (2 ...

(born 1962), actor IMDb Database
retrieved 21 September 2019 *

Annette Schlünz Annette Schlünz (born 23 September 1964) is a German musician and composer. Biography Schlünz was born in Dessau, East Germany. She studied music at the Dresden Music School from 1983 to 1987 with Udo Zimmermann and at the Academy of Arts in Ber ...

(born 1964), a German musician and composer * Michael Flade (born 1975), German composer of electronic music

Sports

Ameli Koloska Ameli Koloska, née Isermeyer (born 28 September 1944) is a retired West German javelin thrower who competed at two Olympic Games. Biography Koloska who competed for the VfL Wolfsburg, USC Mainz and TSV Nieder-Olm sports clubs during her a ...

(born 1944), javelin thrower, competed in the

1968 Summer Olympics The 1968 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad () and officially branded as Mexico 1968 (), were an international multi-sport event held from 12 to 27 October 1968, in Mexico City, Mexico. These were the first Ol ...

Danny Fuchs Danny Fuchs (born 25 February 1976) is a German former professional footballer who played as a midfielder In the sport of association football, a midfielder takes an Glossary of association football terms#O, outfield position primarily in t ...

(born 1976), retired Bundesliga football player *

Carsten Rump Carsten Rump (born 31 March 1981) is a German former professional footballer and manager. In his active career, he played as a defender for Arminia Bielefeld and VfB Lübeck VfB Lübeck is a German association football club playing in Lüb ...

(born 1981), a retired German footballer with 436 club caps

Gallery

File:Dessau mit Mulde.jpg, Dessau with the remains of the

and Mulde river File:Jagdbrücke über die Mulde bei Dessau 2.JPG, Hunting bridge over the Mulde (b. 1993) File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-R14718, Dessau, Junkers-Werke.jpg, Junkers-works in Dessau and portrait of its founder File:Anhaltisches Theater Dessau.jpg,

File:Seitenansicht Dessauer Rathaus.jpg, Side view of the Rathaus Dessau

References

External links

*
Official Website of Dessau
(English and German) {{Authority control Populated places disestablished in 2007 Former municipalities in Saxony-Anhalt Historic Jewish communities Populated riverside places in Germany Populated places on the Elbe