during the rule of napoléon bonaparte at the beginning of the 19th century, ibbenbüren belonged to the first french empire, until it was freed by prussian and russian troops in 1815. it came back under prussian rule on january 1, 1816, resulting to be assigned to the district of tecklenburg. after the end of world war ii the city ibbenbüren and the municipality ibbenbüren land formed by december 31, 1974 the department federation ibbenbüren, resulting in today's city of ibbenbüren. with the simultaneous dissolution of the district of tecklenburg and fusion with the old district of burgsteinfurt, ibbenbüren was assigned to the new district of steinfurt.