Zossen

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Zossen is a German city in the district of Teltow-Fläming in Brandenburg, south of Berlin, and next to the B96 highway. Zossen consists of several smaller municipalities, which were grouped together in 2003 to form the city. Zossen, like most places in Brandenburg, was originally a Slavic settlement.

1 History
- 1.1 Timeline
2 Geography
- 2.1 Subdivisions
3 External links

[edit] History

Between 1901 and 1904, Zossen adopted the use of different high-speed vehicles, such as electric locomotives and trams, for transportation to and from Berlin-Marienfeld. These vehicles were powered by an alternating current of 15kV and used a variable frequency. The power was channelled through three overhead lines.

It had been the site of a military camp in World War I, and Muslim prisoners who had fought on the side of the British were interned there as POW's, in the so-called "Half Moon Camp". These prisoners usually came from North and West Africa and India. A wooden mosque was erected specially for the captured Muslims, who it was hoped that the favorable treatment the Germans provided along with propaganda would cause the Muslim POW's to consider changing sides. French and Russian prisoners, on the other hand, were accommodated in the so-called "Weinbergelager".

From 1939 to 1945, the underground headquarters of the German Wehrmacht (OKW) and Army's High Command (OKH) was in the Zossen, (Waldstadt section of the Wünsdorf community) .

There is a large area in Zossen (Waldstadt section of Wünsdorf community) which, from 1945 to 1994, was the site of a Soviet military camp, and since then has been returned to civilian use.

[edit] Timeline

1809/1810: Kietz and the vineyards of Zossen are suburbanised
1885: Monument to the fallen soldiers of the 1864, 1866, and 1870 wars is erected in Kietz
1906: School on Kirchplatz is expanded
1910: Military area between Zossen and Wünsdorf is developed
1932: Flyers of the town councillor and deacon Emil Phillip regarding the threatening change in the Protestant community and the city Zossen
1933: As a result of the Nazis' rise to power, Socialists and Communists in Zossen are arrested by SS troops and mistreated in the school on Kirchplatz. Emil Phillip is removed from his post, upon the order of Pastor Eckerts
1934: Expansion of the town hall
1939: The military zone in Zossen is developed into military headquarters
1956: The city park is created
1992: The "Alter Krug" Zossen society is founded
1994: Formation of the administrative district of Teltow-Fläming from the old districts of Jüterbog, Luckenwalde, and Zossen
1996: 450th anniversary of Prince Elector Joachim II's awarding of rights and privileges to Zossen