When was Rhineland-Palatinate established?
Rhineland-Palatinate
On 10 July 1945 the occupation authority on the soil of the present-day Rhineland-Palatinate transferred from the Americans to the French. To begin with, the French divided the region provisionally into two "upper presidiums" ("Oberpräsidien"), Rhineland-Hesse-Nassau (for the hitherto Prussian government districts and regions of Koblenz, Trier, and Montabaur) and Hesse-Palatinate (for the hitherto Bavarian Palatinate and old Hessian-Darmstadt province of Rhenish Hesse). The formation of the state was ordained on 30 August 1946, the last state in the Western Zone of Occupation to be established, by Regulation No. 57 of the French military government under General Marie-Pierre Kœnig. It was initially called Rhenish-Palatinate ("Rheinpfälzisches Land" or "Land Rheinpfalz"); the name Rhineland-Palatinate ("Rheinland-Pfalz") was first confirmed in the constitution of 18 May 1947.
Grünstadt
After Napoleon's downfall, Grünstadt passed in 1816 to the Kingdom of Bavaria. It remained Bavarian for exactly 130 years, until the new state of Rhineland-Palatinate was founded in 1946.
1971 Rhineland-Palatinate state election
The Rhineland-Palatinate state election, 1971 was conducted on 21 March 1971 to elect members to the Landtag, the state legislature of Rhineland-Palatinate, West Germany.
Middle Rhine
The Allied forces ended hostilities of the Second World War on the Middle Rhine on 19 March 1945. The French again took up the administration of the territory in its occupation zone. At end of 1946, the Americans created the State Hesse in their occupation zone; six months later the French founded of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate. Although some areas were combined in the new states that historically do not belong together, a sense of togetherness quickly appeared. The desire for state boundaries more in line with historical territorial boundaries, however, never ceased entirely.
Treis-Karden
Beginning in 1794, both centres lay under French rule. In 1815 they were assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1946, they have been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate. On 7 June 1969, the two centres, until then each a separate municipality, were merged to form the new municipality of Treis-Karden.
Lutzerath
In 1051, Lutzerath had its first documentary mention and was long an Electoral-Trier holding. In 1726, a main post office with a horse-changing station was built in Lutzerath. With the French Revolutionary occupation of the lands on the Rhine’s left bank between 1794 and 1796, Lutzerath passed to the canton of Lutzerath. In 1815 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Regierungsbezirk Montabaur
Montabaur was one of the five "Regierungsbezirke" of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany into which the newly founded state was divided until 1968. The others were: Rheinhessen (established 1946, seat in Mainz), Pfalz (established 1945, seat in Neustadt an der Weinstraße), Koblenz and Trier (both established by Prussia in 1816.
Gladbach, Rhineland-Palatinate
Beginning in 1794, Gladbach lay under French rule. In 1814 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1947, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Föckelberg
Only after the Second World War was there another territorial reorganization. The Palatinate was now grouped into the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The "Bürgermeisterei" of Neunkirchen, though, remained in force until the 1968 administrative restructuring in Rhineland-Palatinate. After its dissolution, Föckelberg became an "Ortsgemeinde" within the "Verbandsgemeinde" of Altenglan.
Berglicht
In 1228, Berglicht had its first documentary mention. Originally, the municipality was two centres named Berg (on the Hangrücken) and Licht (on the Lichterbach). The church in Berg held its own jurisdiction and was mother church to many parishes in what is today the Deaconry of Morbach. An end was put to the centuries-long lordship of the Counts of Hunolstein about 1800 by the French Revolution. After French rule ended, the municipality passed to the Kingdom of Prussia. Since 1947, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Until municipal administrative reform in Rhineland-Palatinate in 1969, the municipality belonged to the district of Bernkastel, whose seat was at Bernkastel-Kues.
1951 Rhineland-Palatinate state election
The Rhineland-Palatinate state election, 1951 was conducted on 29 April 1951 to elect members to the Landtag, the state legislature of Rhineland-Palatinate, West Germany.
Bavaria
The Rhenish Palatinate was detached from Bavaria in 1946 and made part of the new state Rhineland-Palatinate. During the Cold War, Bavaria was part of West Germany. In 1949, the Free State of Bavaria chose not to sign the Founding Treaty ("Gründungsvertrag") for the formation of the Federal Republic of Germany, opposing the division of Germany into two states, after World War II. The Bavarian Parliament did not sign the Basic Law of Germany, mainly because it was seen as not granting sufficient powers to the individual "Länder", but at the same time decided that it would still come into force in Bavaria if two-thirds of the other "Länder" ratified it. All of the other "Länder" ratified it, and so it became law.
Kinheim, Germany
Beginning in 1794, XXX lay under French rule as part of the "Département de Rhin-et-Moselle" ("Rhein-Mosel-Département" in German). In 1814 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Kappel, Rhineland-Palatinate
In 1091, Kappel had its first documentary mention in a document from Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor in which he donated holdings in the Hunsrück to the High Foundation in Speyer. The placename, the location and Roman archaeological finds in and around Kappel, however, make it clear that the village must be much older, even if there is no proof of continuous habitation through all that time. In the Middle Ages, the village belonged to the “Further” County of Sponheim. Beginning in 1794, Kappel lay under French rule. In 1814 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Hesse
After World War II, the Hessian territory west of the Rhine was again occupied by France, whereas the rest of the region was part of the US occupation zone. The French separated their part of Hesse from the rest of the region and incorporated it into the newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz). The United States, on the other side, proclaimed the state of Greater Hesse ("Groß-Hessen") on 19 September 1945, out of Hesse-Darmstadt and most of the former Prussian province of Hesse-Nassau.
Reckershausen
In 1672 the village passed to Electoral Palatinate. Beginning in 1794, Reckershausen lay under French rule. In 1815 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Laudert
Since 1946, Laudert has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Eppenberg
Beginning in 1794, Eppenberg lay under French rule. In 1815 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Rhineland-Palatinate
The constitutional bodies, the Government ("Landesregierung"), the Parliament ("Landtag") and the Constitutional Court ("Verfassungsgerichtshof"), established their provisional seat in Koblenz. In the following period, Koblenz and Mainz emphasized their suitability as the state capital in a public debate. From the very beginning, Minister-President Altmeier pressed for Mainz as the capital because he knew that the south of the country, especially the Palatinate, would not accept Koblenz, which was far to the north and formerly Prussian. On 16 May 1950, the "Landtag" decided to relocate itself and the "Landregierung" from Koblenz to Mainz. After the government and parliament moved to Mainz, many state authorities and courts remained in Koblenz, including the Constitutional Court and the State Archives. In addition, the German Federal Archives and Federal Office of Hydrology were established in Koblenz in 1952.
1963 Rhineland-Palatinate state election
The Rhineland-Palatinate state election, 1963 was conducted on 31 March 1963 to elect members to the Landtag, the state legislature of Rhineland-Palatinate, West Germany.
Illerich
Beginning in 1794, Illerich lay under French rule. In 1815 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Mont-Tonnerre
Mont-Tonnerre was a department of the First French Republic and later the First French Empire in present-day Germany. It was named after the highest point in the Palatinate, the "Donnersberg". It was the southernmost of four departments formed in 1798 when the west bank of the Rhine was annexed by France. Prior to the French occupation, its territory was divided between the Archbishopric of Mainz, the Bishopric of Speyer, the Bishopric of Worms, Nassau-Weilburg, Hesse-Darmstadt, the Electorate of the Palatinate and the imperial cities of Worms and Speyer. Its territory is now part of the German states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. Its capital was Mainz ().
Wolfstein, Rhineland-Palatinate
After the new post-Napoleonic order imposed by the Congress of Vienna in 1814, Wolfsteiners became Bavarian nationals, which until 1918 meant the Bavarian king’s subjects; after monarchy was overthrown in 1918, they belonged to the Free State of Bavaria in the days of the Weimar Republic. Only in 1947, after the Second World War, did the Palatinate formally cease to be a Bavarian exclave, whereupon it was incorporated into the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The break with Bavaria was confirmed by referendum on 22 April 1956.
Heidenburg
In 1053, Heidenburg had its first documentary mention. As a result of the turmoil of the French Revolution, Heidenburg lay under French rule beginning about 1800. In 1814 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1947, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Since administrative reform in Rhineland-Palatinate in 1969, the municipality has belonged to the "Verbandsgemeinde" of Thalfang am Erbeskopf. In 1997, Heidenburg was awarded the title “Child- and Family-Friendly Municipality, National Winner” ("Bundessieger Kinder- und Familienfreundliche Gemeinde").
Fritz Neumayer
After World War II, Neumayer joined the newly founded liberal party of the western occupation zones, the Free Democratic Party (FDP). Also in 1945, he became president of the state court in Kaiserslautern. He was elected to the advisory state board of the newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate in 1946, and to the respective state parliament in 1947. When Rhineland-Palatinate became a constituent state of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1949, Neumayer was elected to the federal parliament, where his primary concern was ensuring the independence of judges from the state.
Argenthal
In 1091, the municipality had its first documentary mention as "Argantal". The overlord was the Count Palatine of the Rhine. Beginning in 1794, Argenthal lay under French rule. In 1815 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Hillesheim, Mainz-Bingen
After the Second World War, Hillesheim, along with all Rhenish Hesse, belonged to the French zone of occupation, out of which the state of Rhineland-Palatinate arose in 1949. Since district reform in 1969, Hillesheim has belonged to the Mainz-Bingen district.
Flag of Rhineland-Palatinate
The flag of Rhineland-Palatinate, also known as Rhineland-Pfalz, is a tricolor of three horizontal bands of black, red and gold. These colors are Germany's national colors and are sometimes referred to as schwarz-rot-gold. In the canton, or the upper left corner, is the coat the arms of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Coat of arms of Rhineland-Palatinate
The state flag and the coat of arms were designed in 1947 after the new ' of ' was formed by the authority of the French High Commissioner to Germany. The flag symbolizes the dedication of Rhineland-Palatinate to Germany (therefore the black-red-gold tricolour) as well as the democratic traditions of Germany. These colours were seen first in this combination during the ', a mass demonstration by German liberals at the ruins of the ' in 1832. The Palatinate is therefore connected to these colours.
Wiesweiler
After the Second World War, the village lay at first within the "Regierungsbezirk" of Koblenz in the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate. In the course of administrative restructuring in Rhineland-Palatinate in 1968, the "Amt" of Grumbach was dissolved. Wiesweiler passed in 1972 to the then newly founded "Verbandsgemeinde" of Lauterecken, and at the same time also from the "Regierungsbezirk" of Koblenz to the newly founded "Regierungsbezirk" of Rheinhessen-Pfalz (the system of "Regierungsbezirke" in Rhineland-Palatinate has since been abolished).
2016 Rhineland-Palatinate state election
The 2016 Rhineland-Palatinate state election was held on 13 March 2016 to elect all 101 members to the Landtag of Rhineland-Palatinate. Seats are allotted by proportional representation with a 5% threshold. State elections were held on the same day in Baden-Württemberg and Saxony-Anhalt.
Idar-Oberstein
After the Second World War, along with the whole district, the town's whole municipal area passed to the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Hambuch
Beginning in 1794, Hambuch lay under French rule. In 1814 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1947, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Kliding
In 1360, Kliding had its first documentary mention as a fief held by the widow of Dietrich, Lord at Ulmen. Electoral-Trier overlordship ended with the French Revolutionary occupation of the Rhine’s left bank between 1794 and 1796. In 1815 Kliding was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Urschmitt and Kliding, which together formed a single municipality, were split into two separate ones in 1848. In 1869, the consecration of a new chapel at Kliding was celebrated. Since 1946, Kliding has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Guttenberg Castle (Palatinate)
From 1680 to 1697 the region was under French hegemony as part of the successes achieved under France's policy of reunionspolitik. From 1792 to 1815 the region was part of the First French Republic and was assigned to the département du Bas-Rhin (Department of Lower Rhine). In November 1815 the area between the rivers Lauter and Queich, including the ruins of Guttenberg, came under the sovereignty of the Empire of Austria as a result of the agreements reached in the Second Treaty of Paris. Finally in April 1816 the region of the Palatinate was surrendered in the Treaty of Munich to the Kingdom of Bavaria, becoming the Circle of the Rhine.
History of North Rhine-Westphalia
In 1920, the Saar was separated from the Rhine Province and administered by the League of Nations until a plebiscite in 1935, when the region was returned to the German Reich. At the same time, in 1920, the districts of Eupen and Malmedy were transferred to Belgium (see German-Speaking Community of Belgium). In 1946, the Rhine Province was divided into the newly founded states of Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate.
Rhineland-Palatinate Police
The Rhineland-Palatinate Police is the state police ("Landespolizei") of the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate and numbers ca. 9,000 police officers. The five regional police authorities are headquartered in Koblenz, Trier, Mainz, Kaiserslautern and Ludwigshafen.
Rhine Province
In 1946, the Rhine Province was divided into the newly founded states of Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate.
Meckenheim, Rhineland-Palatinate
In 1911, the "Lokalbahn" – or local railway – between Ludwigshafen and Dannstadt, which had opened in 1890, was extended to Meckenheim. Service continued until 1955, when it was replaced by buslines. In 1913, Meckenheim was connected to a public electrical grid, and in 1928 to a public water supply system. In 1922, the Meckenheim Winemakers’ Association was founded. In 1936, the fruit market hall was built.
After the Second World War, Meckenheim passed in 1946 together with the rest of the Palatinate to the newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Between 1952 and 1955, the sporting ground with the clubhouse was laid out. In 1956, Meckenheim was connected to a public gas supply system. In 1961, a new folk high school opened and in 1964, it was connected to a public sewer system.
1967 Rhineland-Palatinate state election
The Rhineland-Palatinate state election, 1967 was conducted on 23 April 1967 to elect members to the Landtag, the state legislature of Rhineland-Palatinate, West Germany.
Rhineland-Palatinate
The worldwide leader in sparkling wine production, producing 245 million bottles in 2006, is the renowned Group. This company is headquartered in Trier, with operations in several locations in Rhineland-Palatinate.
1959 Rhineland-Palatinate state election
The Rhineland-Palatinate state election, 1959 was conducted on 19 April 1959 to elect members to the Landtag, the state legislature of Rhineland-Palatinate, West Germany.
Landscheid
Beginning in 1794, the Landscheid area lay under French rule. In 1815, it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Wolfstein, Rhineland-Palatinate
Beginning in 1947, Wolfstein was part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate. On 7 June 1969, the until then self-administering municipality of Roßbach in der Pfalz was merged into the town of Wolfstein. Since 1971, the town has been the administrative seat of the "Verbandsgemeinde" of Wolfstein.
Reich, Germany
In the mid 16th century, Reich had its first documentary mention in a "Weistum" from the Ravengiersburg Monastery (a "Weistum" – cognate with English "wisdom" – was a legal pronouncement issued by men learned in law in the Middle Ages and early modern times). With the monastery’s dissolution and the introduction of the Reformation, the village passed to the Duchy of Palatinate-Simmern, and then in 1673 to Electoral Palatinate. Beginning in 1794, Reich lay under French rule. In 1814 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Rhineland-Palatinate
The Rhenish Massif forms roughly the northern half of the state, including the regions Eifel, Moselle Valley, Hunsrück, Westerwald, and parts of the Taunus. The Palatinate forms the biggest part of the southern half along with Rhenish Hesse. The Nahe Valley separates both parts.
Politics of Rhineland-Palatinate
Every five years, all Germans residing in the State over the age of 18 elect the members of the Rhineland-Palatinate Landtag. This regional parliament or legislature then elects the Minister-President and confirms the cabinet members. Rhineland-Palatinate is the only German Bundesland to have a cabinet minister for winegrowing ("ministry of economy, traffic, agriculture and winegrowing")In the election, the SPD suffered large loss, falling by 10% of the vote and winning only one seat more than the Christian Democratic Union. The main winners were Alliance '90/The Greens, who surged to over 15% of the vote, having failed to even break through the 5% threshold in 2006. In 2011, however, the Free Democratic Party failed to break through 5%, and thus lost the 10 seats they'd won in 2006.
Summary of the 27 March 2011 election results for the Landtag of Rhineland-Palatinate
! colspan="2" | Party
! colspan="2" | Vote % (change)
! colspan="2" | Seats (change)
! | Seat %
Palatinate (region)
The union with Bavaria was finally dissolved following the reorganisation of German states during the Allied occupation of Germany after World War II. While Bavaria itself was part of the U.S. occupation zone, the Palatinate was occupied by French forces. The French reorganised their occupation zone by founding new states, so that in 1947 the Palatinate was combined with Rhenish Hesse ("Rheinhessen"), the former parts of the People's State of Hesse left of the Rhine, and the southern part of the Prussian Rhine Province, to form the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The Palatinate formed the administrative district ("Regierungsbezirk") Pfalz. 
This reorganisation came with smaller losses of former district territory to the Saarland, especially in the area of Sankt Wendel. As part of the 1969 administrative reform, some minor border changes were made in the north. The Diocese of Speyer and the Evangelical Church of the Palatinate still exist today largely based on the historic boundaries of the old Bavarian district of "die Pfalz".
Trier (region)
After the Second World War the French military government several times extended the Saar area before forming the Saar Protectorate, also including additional 109 municipalities belonging until July 1946 to the Trier Region and some to the Koblenz Region. Koblenz Region's former areas make up part of today's St. Wendel district in the Saarland. In December 1946, when a new customs boundary dissected the Saar Protectorate (later becoming the Saarland) from the area under the Allied Control Council over Allied-occupied Germany, the Trier Region with its then remaining territory had become one of the then five regions forming the new state of Rhineland-Palatinate, founded in August 1946. Later, the French occupation government again redeployed some municipalities – some returned to Allied-occupied Germany, some newly annexed to the protectorate – between the Saar area and the new state of Rhineland-Palatinate in 1947 and 1949, before the border was finally fixed.
Mermuth
Beginning in 1794, Mermuth lay under French rule. In 1815 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Gehlweiler
Beginning in 1794, Gehlweiler lay under French rule. In 1815 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Furthermore, since 1970, the "Ortsgemeinde" of Gehlweiler has lain under the authority of the "Verbandsgemeinde" of Kirchberg, which was put together in that year in the course of administrative restructuring in Rhineland-Palatinate from 40 municipalities from the former "Ämter" of Büchenbeuren, Gemünden and Kirchberg along with two "Ortsgemeinden" from the "Amt" of Rhaunen, and eventually also the town of Kirchberg, which had originally not been part of any "Verbandsgemeinde".
1987 Rhineland-Palatinate state election
The Rhineland-Palatinate state election, 1987 was conducted on 17 May 1987 to elect members to the Landtag, the state legislature of Rhineland-Palatinate, West Germany.
North Rhine
It was formed on 5 June 1945 on the basis of the Berlin Declaration and the resulting creation of occupation zones for the victors of World War II out of the administrative regions ("Regierungsbezirke") of Aachen, Düsseldorf and Cologne, which were all part of Prussia's Rhine Province. The southern part of Rhine province, consisting of the administrative regions of Koblenz and Trier became part of the French occupation zone on 5 June 1945. The division of the Rhineland, which had been united in 1815 by the Congress of Vienna under the Prussian crown, was thus pre-destined to be split between different governments and administrations - from summer 1946 into the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate. Rhine Province existed until 20 October 1946. On that day the government formed in August 1946 for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia dissolved the upper councils of the provinces of North Rhine and Westphalia on the instructions of the British occupying power.
Palatinate (region)
The Palatinate (, Pfälzer dialect: "Palz"), historically also Rhenish Palatinate (), is a region in southwestern Germany. It occupies roughly the southernmost quarter of the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate ("Rheinland-Pfalz"), covering an area of with about 1.4 million inhabitants. Its residents are known as Palatines.
Germersheim station
Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB), which was responsible for railway operations from 1949, assigned the station to the railway division of Mainz, which was responsible for all railway lines within the newly created state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The reconstruction of the Rhine bridge was discussed in the 1950s. Above all, the military had an interest in the reconstruction and preservation of the connection to Landau and its extension to Zweibrücken during the Cold War for strategic reasons. DB received funding from the federal government to finance this project, which was finished in October 1967. The expectations of this project were not fulfilled, however, since the traffic flows within the Palatinate in the east-west direction had long since been concentrated on the Mannheim–Saarbrücken railway.
Wahlbach, Rhineland-Palatinate
Archaeological finds from barrows bear witness to early habitation. In 1158, Wahlbach had its first documentary mention. The village was a noble family’s namesake, although it died out soon after 1258. Later, the village belonged to Electoral Palatinate “New Court” ("neues Gericht"), which in 1410 was grouped into the new Duchy of Palatinate-Simmern. In 1556, the duchy introduced the Reformation. In 1673, Wahlbach passed back to Electoral Palatinate and with the occupation of the Rhine’s left bank by French Revolutionary troops in 1794, it became part of France. In 1814 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate. In 1961, the Evangelical church was built.
Wollmerath
In 1193, Wollmerath had its first documentary mention. With the occupation of the Rhine’s left bank by French Revolutionary troops in 1794, the Electorate of Trier, for centuries the local overlord, fell. In 1815 Wollmerath was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate is Germany's leading producer of wine in terms of grape cultivation and wine export. Its capital, Mainz, may be called the capital of the German wine industry, being the home of the German Wine Institute, the German Wine Fund in the "" (House of German Wine), and the Wine Bourse, which brings together the top winemakers of Germany and the wine merchants of the world.
Rhineland-Palatinate Police
The "Landeskriminalamt" (State Investigation Bureau) was founded in 1947, is situated in Mainz and employs approx. 300 officers and 90 civilian staff. Its missions are: witness protection, state security, undercover investigations, statistics, monitoring the development of crime, crime prevention, criminal investigations analysis, exchange of information with foreign countries and forensic science.
Circle of the Rhine
In 1837, the Circle of the Rhine was renamed the Palatinate ('). It was also referred to as the Rhenish Palatinate ('). The territory remained Bavarian until 30 Aug 1946, with the exception of the area detached in 1920, which roughly corresponded to the present day county of . It then became part of the newly formed federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Erdesbach
With the founding of the Kingdom of Bavaria after French times in 1816, Erdesbach belonged to the "Bürgermeisteramt" (“Mayoralty”) of Ulmet, the "Landcommissariat" (later "Bezirksamt", then "Landkreis", or rural district) of Kusel and the "bayerischer Rheinkreis", the part of the kingdom that was not contiguous with the rest to the east. The kingdom's borders, as defined by the Congress of Vienna, remained thus until 1945 (by which time the monarchy had ended and Bavaria was now the Free State of Bavaria). With the formation of the new state of Rhineland-Palatinate in 1947, consisting of the "Regierungsbezirke" of Koblenz, Trier, Montabaur, Rheinhessen and Pfalz, a new political order was created in the southwest of what was shortly to become West Germany. Later, the "Regierungsbezirke" of Montabaur and Rheinhessen were dissolved and integrated into the "Regierungsbezirke" of Koblenz and Pfalz respectively; in 2000, all the state's "Regierungsbezirke" were dissolved, and in their stead arose the "Aufsichts- und Dienstleistungsdirektion" (ADD. roughly “Directorate of Inspection and Services”), which is now responsible for the whole of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Woppenroth
Beginning in 1794, Woppenroth lay under French rule. In 1815 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. In 1822, Prussia assigned it to the Rhine Province. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Karl, Germany
Beginning in 1794, Karl lay under French rule. In 1814 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1947, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Schnorbach
Beginning in 1794, Schnorbach lay under French rule. In 1814 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Palatinate (region)
The Pfalz was initially one of five districts in Rhineland-Palatinate; however in 1968 the district was merged with the neighbouring district of Rheinhessen to form the district of Rheinhessen-Pfalz. On 1 January 2000 all administrative districts of Rheinland-Pfalz were dissolved.
Hirschfeld, Rhineland-Palatinate
Beginning in 1794, Hirschfeld lay under French rule. In 1815 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Western Palatinate
Western Palatinate or West Palatinate () is a sub-region in the west of the Palatinate, a German cultural and historic region in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. It includes the western part of the Palatine Forest, the central part of the North Palatine Uplands, the West Palatine Moor and the Westrich Plateau. Its former name of "Further Palatinate" ("Hinterpfalz"), which emerged during the time of Bavarian rule in 1816 and was viewed by the local population as very discriminatory, is only commonly used in the Anterior Palatinate ("Vorderpfalz").
Boppard
Since 1946, the town has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate. In 1952, the outlying centre of Boppard-Buchenau was founded. In the course of administrative restructuring in Rhineland-Palatinate in the 1960s, the district of Sankt Goar was dissolved and Boppard was grouped into the new district of Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis. Municipal boundaries, too, underwent reform. For Boppard, this meant that as of 28 July 1970, the town found itself, along with Bad Salzig, Buchholz, Herschwiesen, Hirzenach, Holzfeld, Oppenhausen, Rheinbay, Udenhausen and Weiler in a new "Verbandsgemeinde". This, however, did not last. Later that same year, the idea was floated to merge Boppard with these nine other municipalities to form a unified, greater Boppard. This was meant to simplify administration, and besides, it would bring the town a DM 12,000,000 bonus from the state. With the promise that this money would be spent mainly on the outlying centres, eight of the ten still self-administering municipalities – including Boppard itself – came round to seeing the merger as the right way to proceed. Bad Salzig, on the other hand, would only agree to amalgamation as long as the new, greater Boppard could be called Boppard-Bad Salzig. Oppenhausen, for its part, completely refused to even consider the idea. Nonetheless, since the municipalities that agreed to amalgamation were home to more than two thirds of the "Verbandsgemeinde"’s population, and since the "Verbandsgemeinde" council itself also supported the proposal, the Minister of the Interior was able to effect the change by issuing a regulation. This was implemented on 31 December 1975. The newly founded municipality was given the name of Boppard. This led the now "Ortsteil" of Bad Salzig to appeal to the State Constitutional Court – on the same day – and file suit to have the Interior Ministry’s regulation overturned. The ruling came on 8 May 1977; the Court rejected Bad Salzig’s bid.
Gollenberg, Rhineland-Palatinate
In 1815, the Congress of Vienna assigned the "Birkenfelder Land" to the Grand Duke of Oldenburg, who took charge of his new holding on 16 April 1817, naming it the Principality of Birkenfeld. On 1 April 1937, under the Greater Hamburg Act, the old principality was absorbed into Prussia, which was still a distinct entity during the Third Reich. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Greimerath, Bernkastel-Wittlich
In 1144, Greimerath had its first documentary mention. Beginning in 1794, Greimerath lay under French rule. In 1814 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1947, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Mainz
From 1945 to 1949, the city was part of the French zone of occupation. When the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate was founded on 30 August 1946 by the commander of the French army on the French occupation zone Marie Pierre Kœnig, Mainz became capital of the new state. In 1962, the diarist, Friedrich Kellner, returned to spend his last years in Mainz. His life in Mainz, and the impact of his writings, is the subject of the Canadian documentary "".
Urschmitt
In 980, Urschmitt had its first documentary mention under the name "Ursmadia". Electoral-Trier overlordship came to an end when the French occupied the Rhine’s left bank between 1794 and 1796. In 1815 Urschmitt was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Urschmitt and Kliding, which had formed a single municipality, were split into two in 1848. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Klotten
Electoral-Trier overlordship ended with the French Revolutionary occupation of the Rhine’s left bank between 1794 and 1796. In 1814 Klotten was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
1996 Rhineland-Palatinate state election
The Rhineland-Palatinate state election, 1996 was conducted on 24 March 1996 to elect members to the Landtag, the state legislature of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate shares international borders with France (Grand Est), Luxembourg (Clervaux, Diekirch, Echternach, Grevenmacher, Remich, and Vianden), and Belgium (Wallonia). Within Germany it neighbours Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Northrhine-Westphalia, and the Saarland. It is the ninth largest state by area. Rhineland-Palatinate is part of the SaarLorLux euregion.
Scheidt, Rhineland-Palatinate
Although the first written mention of the noble family name "von Scheyde", from Scheyde, goes back to the year 1348, the first mention of the town itself does not appear until 1364. However, it is believed that there were settlements here during the construction of Laurenburg Castle in the 11th century. In the mid-17th century it became part of the County of Holzappel. In 1806, Scheidt became part of the Duchy of Nassau in Diez Office, which was annexed by Prussia in 1866. Since 1946 it has been part of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Ediger-Eller
Beginning in 1946, the two municipalities were part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate. On 7 June 1969, in the course of administrative restructuring in Rhineland-Palatinate, Ediger and Eller were once again merged to form a single municipality.
Schönberg, Rhineland-Palatinate
Schönberg belonged to the Archbishopric of Trier. As a result of the turmoil of the French Revolution, Schönberg lay under French rule beginning about 1800. In 1814 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1947, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Hüffler
The Dukes of Zweibrücken were ousted in the time of the French Revolution, about 1794. France annexed the Palatinate in 1798 and held it until 1814. Hüffler belonged to the "Mairie" (“Mayoralty”) of Quirnbach, the Canton of Kusel and the Department of Sarre. It was at about this time that coal mining began in Hüffler at two pits: “Am Berg” and “Auf der Hube”. The seam was about 30 cm thick. The coal itself, however, could not have been of very high quality, for it had a rather high water content. Beginning in 1816, Hüffler belonged within the Kingdom of Bavaria to the "Bürgermeisterei" (“Mayoralty”) of Quirnbach in the "Landcommissariat" (later "Bezirksamt" and then "Landkreis" or district) of Kusel in the "Rheinkreis". On 1 April 1818, as a result of the Congress of Vienna, a state commission was formed in what was now called the "Rheinkreis" (Bavaria’s new exclave on the Rhine’s left bank). This is held to be the hour of the Kusel district’s birth, and Hüffler has belonged to this district ever since. Smaller administrative units were also established. In Hüffler’s case, as in many others, villages were grouped together and had joint municipal administration and mayoral offices. Since 1946, Hüffler has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate. After the Second World War, the self-administering municipality of Hüffler remained at first in the "Bürgermeisterei" of Quirnbach, but in the course of administrative restructuring in Rhineland-Palatinate, which saw the formation of bigger local administrative units, it passed to the "Verbandsgemeinde" of Glan-Münchweiler in 1972, once the district’s "Verbandsgemeinden" had been founded.
Schmittweiler
After the Congress of Vienna (1815), Schmittweiler belonged to the Rheinkreis, an exclave of the Kingdom of Bavaria, in which it remained through Bavarian times, Imperial times, Weimar times and the time of the Third Reich, becoming part of the newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate only after the Second World War. To distinguish itself from the outlying centre of Schönenberg-Kübelberg also known as Schmittweiler, the village once bore the official tag “Amtsgericht Lauterecken”. In the course of administrative restructuring in Rhineland-Palatinate in 1969, Schmittweiler was transferred from the Kusel district to the Bad Kreuznach district. From an ecclesiastical standpoint, Schmittweiler still belongs to the Evangelical Church of the Palatinate (Evangelical) and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Speyer.
Circle of the Rhine
The Rhine Circle largely covered the same area as the present Palatinate region, which lies west of the Rhine in the south of the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, but included additionally the districts of and . These were incorporated into the Saar region after the end of the First World War and merged in 1974 into the . After the Second World War there were smaller losses of territory to the , especially in the area of . As part of the 1969 land reform the region designated as the Palatinate with Rhineland-Palatinate had its northern border changed somewhat. The Diocese of Speyer and the Evangelical Church of the Palatinate still exist today largely based on the historic boundaries of the Circle of the Rhine.
Briedel
Since 1946, Briedel has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The Maiermund housing development sprang up on cleared swathes of the Briedeler Hecke after the Second World War in the course of the housing development movement. In 1969, administrative restructuring in Rhineland-Palatinate put Briedel in the new Cochem-Zell district.
Urmersbach
In 1253, Urmersbach had its first documentary mention. Beginning in 1794, it lay under French rule. In 1815 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Karbach, Rhineland-Palatinate
In 1109, Karbach had its first documentary mention of sorts when the Quintenach estate, which lay within what are now Karbach’s municipal limits, was mentioned along with another estate named Hirzenach in a document from Pope Paschal II when he donated them to the Siegburg Abbey with the proviso that a monastery be built there. The donation was confirmed the following year, and Hirzenach Monastery was duly built. By 1256, the "Vogtei" rights over Hirzenach, Karbach and Quintenach had come to be held by the Elector of the Palatinate. The Lords of Ehrenburg were then in turn enfeoffed with the territory, which they held until 1666, when their rightful successors, the Barons of Clodt, took over, themselves holding it until 1803. Beginning in 1794, Karbach lay under French rule. In 1815 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Rhineland
A "Rhineland" conceptualization did not evolve until the 19th century after the War of the First Coalition, when a short-lived Cisrhenian Republic was established on territory conquered by French troops. The term covered the whole occupied zone west of the Rhine (German: ') including the bridgeheads on the eastern banks. After the collapse of the French dominated West Bank in the early 19th century, the regions of Lower Rhine and Jülich-Cleves-Berg were annexed to the Kingdom of Prussia. In 1822 the Prussian administration reorganized the territory as the Rhine Province (also known as Rhenish Prussia), a term continuing in the names of the German states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia.
Rhineland-Palatinate
Adolf Süsterhenn submitted a draft constitution to the Advisory State Assembly, which was passed after several rounds of negotiation on 25 April 1947 in a final vote with the absolute majority of the CDU voting for and the SPD and KPD voting against it. One of the reasons for this was that the draft constitution made provision for separate schools based on Christian denomination. On 18 May 1947, the Constitution for Rhineland-Palatinate was adopted by 53 percent of the electorate in a referendum. While the Catholic north and west of the new state adopted the constitution by a majority, it was rejected by the majority in Rhenish Hesse and the Palatinate. On the same date, the first elections took place for the state parliament, the Landtag of Rhineland-Palatinate. The inaugural assembly of parliament took place on 4 June 1947 in the large city hall at Koblenz. Wilhelm Boden was elected the first minister-president of Rhineland-Palatinate. Just one month later, Peter Altmeier succeeded him.
1955 Rhineland-Palatinate state election
The Rhineland-Palatinate state election, 1955 was conducted on 15 May 1955 to elect members to the Landtag, the state legislature of Rhineland-Palatinate, West Germany.
Lütz
In the 14th century, Lütz lay under the lordship of the Lords of Eltz. Lütz was an Imperial Knightly holding and belonged until the annexation of the lands on the Rhine's left bank in the French Revolutionary Wars in 1794 to the Barons of Wiltberg. In 1815 Lütz was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Bruchweiler
Since 1946, Bruchweiler has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Until administrative restructuring in Rhineland-Palatinate in 1969, Bruchweiler belonged to the now abolished district of Bernkastel.
Faid
In 1815 Faid was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Nannhausen
In 1399, Nannhausen had its first documentary mention in a document from Count Johann IV of Sponheim. Nannhausen belonged to the Ravengiersburg Monastery and in 1557, in the wake of the Reformation, passed to the Duchy of Palatinate-Simmern. At first, the village was Lutheran, but then later it became Reformed. Once the Dukes of Palatinate-Simmern had died out in 1673, the village passed to Electoral Palatinate, and in 1686, it was no longer forbidden to practise the Catholic faith. Beginning in 1794, Nannhausen lay under French rule. In 1814 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. After being under French occupation again after each of the world wars, it became part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate in 1946. The current municipality came into being on 17 March 1974 through the merger of the municipalities of Nannhausen and Nickweiler.
Tiefenbach, Rhineland-Palatinate
Tiefenbach’s early history is linked with the Wildburg (castle), which had its first documentary mention in 1253. Later, Tiefenbach, which lay at the northern foot of the Soonwald, was part of Palatinate-Simmern, which in 1556 introduced the Reformation. In 1673, the village passed to the Electorate of the Palatinate. Beginning in 1794, Tiefenbach lay under French rule. In 1815 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. In 1912, a Catholic chapel was built. After the First World War, the village was once again occupied by the French for a time. In the 1930s, the local ore mine, “Märkerei”, was shut down. Since 1946, Tiefenbach has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate. In 1961, the Evangelical church was built.
Rhine-Neckar
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate (, ) is a state of Germany.
Starkenburg, Rhineland-Palatinate
About 1350, the Grevenburg in Trarbach became the seat of the Counts of Sponheim. In 1558, the Reformation was enforced throughout the Sponheim domains. The wars that came in the French Revolution’s wake swept the County of Sponheim away. At the Congress of Vienna, Starkenburg was annexed to Prussia. Since 1947, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Germersheim (district)
Most of the region was part of the Palatinate from the 11th century on. The bishops of Speyer owned some lands, too. The Palatinate was destroyed in the Napoleonic Wars, and the clerical states of Germany were dissolved in 1803. After a period of French occupation the Congress of Vienna decided to hand the territories over to Bavaria. The region remained a part of Bavaria until World War II; afterwards it was incorporated into the newly established state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Leienkaul
Since 1946, Leienkaul has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Koblenz (region)
The region was created in 1815 as part of the Prussian Rhineland, becoming part of the new state of Rhineland-Palatinate in 1946. In 1968 the neighbouring Montabaur Region was dissolved and its territory annexed to Koblenz Region.
Mesenich
After French Revolutionary troops occupied the lands on the Rhine’s left bank in 1794, the monastery holdings were sold off. In 1814 Mesenich was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Ohlweiler
In 1310, Ohlweiler had its first documentary mention. The village belonged to the Duchy of Palatinate-Simmern, which introduced the Reformation in 1556. Later, the Elector of the Palatinate was the landholder. Beginning in 1794, Ohlweiler lay under French rule. In 1815 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Circle of the Rhine
The territory of the Rhine Circle, established in 1816, had been divided before 1792 into a total of 45 secular and ecclesiastical territories, some of which were very small. The largest were Electoral Palatinate, the Duchy of and the Prince-Bishopric of Speyer. Electoral Palatinate and Bavaria had had dynastic links through the family for centuries.