City (pop., 2002 est.: 71,723), northeastern Germany, near the northern end of Tollense Lake. It was founded in 1248 as a fortified outpost, became part of Mecklenburg in about 1300, and prospered from its weaving industry and as a market centre. In the 17th–19th centuries it was plundered during the Thirty Years' War, devastated by fire, and battered by the Napoleonic Wars. Its medieval fortifications are well preserved, but most of its buildings were destroyed by bombing in World War II. Much rebuilt after 1952, it has engineering, food-processing, and chemical industries.
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Neubrandenburg (New Brandenburg, nɔʏˈbʁandənbʊʁk) is a city in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is situated in the southeastern part of the state, at the shore of a lake called the Tollensesee (18 km²).
The first settlers at the place were Premonstratensian monks in a monastery at the shore (about 1240). The foundation of the town of Neubrandenburg took place in 1248, when the margrave of Brandenburg decided to build a town in the northern part of his fief. In 1292 the town and the surrounding area became part of Mecklenburg.
The town flourished as a trade center until the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), when this position was lost. During the dramatic advance of the Swedish army of Gustavus Adolphus into Germany, the town was garrisoned by Swedes, but it was retaken by storm by Imperial-Catholic League forces in 1631. During this operation it was widely reported that the Catholic forces killed many of the Swedish and Scottish soldiers while they were surrendering. Later, according to the Scottish soldier of fortune Robert Munro, when the Swedes themselves adopted a "no prisoners" policy, they would cut short any pleas for mercy with the cry of "New Brandenburg!". The town, therefore, played an unconscious role in the escalation of brutality of one of history's most brutal wars.
During World War II, a large prisoner-of-war camp Stalag II-A was located close to the town. In 1945, few days before the end of World War II, 80% of the old town was burned down by the red army in a great fire. Since then, most buildings of historical relevance have been rebuilt.
Of these, one of the most impressive is the Stargarder Tor (pictured), with its characteristic gable-like shape and the filigree tracery and rosettes on the outer defense side.
Another place of interest is the Marienkirche (Church of the Virgin Mary or St. Marien Church), completed 1298. The church was nearly destroyed in 1945, but it has been restored since 1975 to house a concert hall (opened 2001).
The tallest highrise in the city is the 56-m Haus der Kultur und Bildung (HKB, House of Culture and Education), opened in 1965. Its slender appearance has earned it the nickname Kulturfinger ("culture finger").