Schmalkalden

Schmalkalden(German pronunciation:[ʃmalˈkaldən]) is atownin theSchmalkalden-Meiningendistrict, in the southwest of the state ofThuringia,Germany.It is on the southern slope of theThuringian Forestat theSchmalkalderiver, a tributary to theWerra.As of 31 December 2022,the town had a population of 20,065.

Schmalkalden
Town
Schmalkalden about 1900
Coat of arms
Location of Schmalkalden within Schmalkalden-Meiningen district
Schmalkalden Schmalkalden
Coordinates:50°43′N10°27′E
Country	Germany
State	Thuringia
District	Schmalkalden-Meiningen
Government
•Mayor(2024–30)	Thomas Kaminski(SPD)
Area
• Total	105.35 km2(40.68 sq mi)
Elevation	295 m (968 ft)
Population (2022-12-31)
• Total	20,065
• Density	190/km2(490/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00(CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00(CEST)
Postal codes	98574
Dialling codes	03683
Vehicle registration	SM
Website	www.schmalkalden.de

History

First mentioned in an 874 deed,Smalcaltain theFrankishduchy of Thuringiareceivedtown privilegesabout 1180. When LandgraveHenry Raspeof Thuringia died without issue in 1247, it passed to theHouse of Henneberg-Schleusingen,while the major part of the landgraviate fell to theHouse of WettininMeissen.To secure their acquisition the Counts of Henneberg allied with theLandgraviate of Hesse,including the conclusion of an inheritance treaty. In 1360, together with LandgraveHenry II of Hessethey paid offFrederick V, Burgrave of Nuremberg,son of Elisabeth of Henneberg.

Schmalkalden,Matthäus Merian,Topographia Hassiae, engraving, 1655

In 1531 the town hall of Schmalkalden was the site of the establishment of theSchmalkaldic LeaguebyProtestantprinces under the lead of LandgravePhilip I of Hesse,in order to protect religious and political interests within their domains. In 1537 theSmalcald Articleswere drawn up byMartin Luther,Philipp Melanchthonand other reformers.

When the Counts of Henneberg became extinct in 1583, their share was inherited byWilliam IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel.William made the town a residence and had Wilhelmsburg Castle erected, finished in 1590. The Lordship of Schmalkalden remained anexclaveof Hesse, from 1868 on it was part of thePrussianprovince ofHesse-Nassauuntil it was incorporated into theProvince of Saxonyin 1944 and in 1945 became part of the State of Thuringia.

The town sustained heavy bomb damage in World War II. From 1949 on, with Thuringia, it formed part ofEast Germany.Afterreunificationit attained its present political configuration. In July 2018 the former municipality ofSpringstillewas merged into Schmalkalden.

• 
  Former Cemetery Church
• 
  Wilhelmsburg
• 
  Marketplace Schmalkalden
• 
  Frame House near Marketplace
• 
  Church St. George
• 
  Row of Houses at Marketplace
• 
  Railway station

Lordship of Schmalkalden Herrschaft Schmalkalden
1247–1583
Status	Stateof theHoly Roman Empire
Capital	Schmalkalden
Government	Principality
Historical era	Middle Ages
• Acquired byHenneberg	1247
• Joint rule withHesse	1360
• ToHesse-Kassel	1583
• ToThuringia	1944
Preceded by Succeeded by Landgraviate of Thuringia Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel

Notable people

• Christoph Cellarius,scholar, born 22 November 1638, died 4 June 1707 inHalle
• Christian Karl August Ludwig von Massenbach,colonel, born 16 April 1758, died 21 November 1827 atBiałokosz
• Karl Wilhelm,choral director, born 5 September 1815, died 26 August 1873 in Schmalkalden
• Otto H. Schade,television pioneer, born 27 April 1903, died 28 April 1981 inWest Caldwell, New Jersey
• Angela Steinmüller,mathematician andscience fictionauthor, born 1941
• Frank Luck,biathlete, born 5 December 1967
• Sven Fischer,biathlete, born 16 April 1971
• Steffi Jacob,skeleton racer, born 30 September 1975
• Kati Wilhelm,biathlete, born 2 August 1976
• Alexander Wolf,biathlete, born 21 December 1978

International relations

Main article:List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany

Schmalkalden istwinnedwith:

• Fontaine, Isère,France
• Recklinghausen,Germany

References

• This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911). "Schmalkalden".Encyclopædia Britannica(11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.