Demmin (IPA: [dɛˈmiːn]) is a town in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. It is the capital of the Demmin Rural District.
World War II [change]
German troops destroyed the bridges over the Peene while retreating from Demmin during World War II. This way, the advance of the Soviet Red Army was slowed down when they arrived in Demmin on April 30, 1945. During that night and the following morning, Demmin was handed over to the Red Army largely without fighting, similar to other cities like Greifswald.
Although there were only a few pockets of resistance, nearly 900 people committed mass suicides in fear of the Red Army. Coroner lists show that most drowned in the nearby River Tollense and River Peene, where others poisoned themselves.[1] This was fuelled by atrocities and rapes committed by Red Army soldiers until the city commander had the access to the rivers blocked on May 3.
Famous residents [change]
Literature [change]
- Norbert Buske, Das Kriegsende in Demmin 1945 (German) - The End of the War in Demmin 1945
References [change]
- ↑ MDR Fakt from September 22, 2003 (mostly German, English in parts)]
Other websites [change]
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Wendish and
Pomeranian circle |
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Saxony, Thuringia,
Brandenburg circle |
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Poland, Prussia,
Livonia, Sweden circle |
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Rhine, Westphalia,
Netherlands circle |
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Principal Kontore
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