Mönchengladbach

{{About|the city in Germany|the football club|Borussia Mönchengladbach}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}

{{Infobox German location

|name = Mönchengladbach

|German_name = {{native name|li|Jlabbach}}

|type = City

|image_photo = {{Photomontage|position=center

|photo1a = Mönchengladbach stmariahimmelfahrt vom markt aus.jpg

|photo2a = Schloss Rheydt North.jpg

|photo2b = Rathaus Rehydt .jpg

|photo3a = MG StVitus v W1.jpg

|photo3b = Mönchengladbach museum mit skulpturengarten.jpg

|size = 280

|spacing = 2

|color = #FFFFFF

|border = 0}}

|image_caption = Clockwise from top: old market in Gladbach; Schloss Rheydt; Rheydt townhall; Gladbach Abbey; Abteiberg Museum

|image_flag = Flagge der kreisfreien Stadt Mönchengladbach.svg

|image_coa = DEU_Moenchengladbach_COA.svg

|coordinates = {{coord|51|12|N|06|26|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

|image_plan = North rhine w MG.svg

|plantext= Location of Mönchengladbach in North Rhine-Westphalia

|state = North Rhine-Westphalia

|region = Düsseldorf

|district = urban

|elevation = 70

|area = 170.43

|area_metro =

|pop_metro =

|postal_code = 41001–41239

|area_code = 02161, 02166

|licence = MG

|Gemeindeschlüssel = 05116000

|divisions =

|website = [https://www.moenchengladbach.de/ www.moenchengladbach.de]

|mayor = Felix Heinrichs[https://www.wahlergebnisse.nrw/kommunalwahlen/2020/index_obb_lr.shtml#ob_lr Wahlergebnisse in NRW Kommunalwahlen 2020], Land Nordrhein-Westfalen, accessed 19 June 2021.

|leader_term = 2020–25

|Bürgermeistertitel = Oberbürgermeister

|party = SPD

|ruling_party1 = |ruling_party2 = |ruling_party3 =

|year =

|_noautocat =

}}

Mönchengladbach ({{IPA|de|mœnçn̩ˈɡlatbax|lang|De-Mönchengladbach.ogg}}, {{langx|li|Jlabbach}} {{IPA|li|jəˈlɑbɑx|}}){{cn|date=April 2024}} is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, in western Germany. It is located west of the Rhine, halfway between Düsseldorf and the Dutch border.

Geography

=Municipal subdivisions=

{{Multiple image

| footer = Map of Mönchengladbach showing the boroughs, districts and postal zones

| width = 200

| image1 = MG-Stadtteile.svg

| image2 = Karte Mönchengladbach Postleitzahlen.svg

}}

Since 2009, the territory of Mönchengladbach has comprised four (previously ten) boroughs which are subdivided into 44 districts.{{cite web|url=http://www.rp-online.de/niederrheinsued/moenchengladbach/nachrichten/moenchengladbach/Vier-Bezirke-bei-der-Kommunalwahl_aid_664559.html|title=Vier Bezirke bei der Kommunalwahl|author=Dieter Weber|publisher=RP ONLINE GmbH|date=23 January 2009|access-date=10 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518012244/http://www.rp-online.de/niederrheinsued/moenchengladbach/nachrichten/moenchengladbach/Vier-Bezirke-bei-der-Kommunalwahl_aid_664559.html|archive-date=18 May 2011|url-status=dead}}

The boroughs and their associated districts

History

=Name and origins=

The original name of the city was Gladbach, by which it is still often known today. To distinguish it from another town of the same name (the present Bergisch Gladbach), it took the name München-Gladbach (“Monks’ Gladbach”, in reference to the abbey{{cite web |title=Monchengladbach |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Monchengladbach |website=Britannica.com |access-date=30 March 2024}}) in 1888. Between 1933 and 1950, it was written München Gladbach (short: M. Gladbach), without a hyphen. This spelling was seen as potentially misleading, as it could imply that Gladbach was a borough of Munich (München in German), so consequently the name was changed to Mönchen-Gladbach in 1950 (and subsequently Mönchengladbach in 1960) to avoid confusion.

The town was founded around Gladbach Abbey in 974. It was named after the Gladbach, a narrow brook which mostly runs underground today. The abbey and adjoining villages became a town in the 14th century. The town of Rheydt is located nearby and is incorporated into Mönchengladbach today.

=Early history=

The first settlements in the area of Mönchengladbach are approximately 300,000–400,000 years old and show remains of Homo erectus and Neanderthal. There are numerous cairns from the Neolithic and Bronze Ages.

The history of Mönchengladbach began with the construction of the Gladbach Minster and the founding of an abbey in the year 974 by Gero, Archbishop of Cologne, and his companion, the monk Sandrad of Trier.

To improve the settlement, the monks created a market north of the church in the 12th century. Craftsmen settled near the market. Gladbach received its town charter in 1364–1366. The "town" erected a town wall made of stone, which had to be maintained by the citizens. Remains of the wall can be found at the Geroweiher, as can remains of the "Thick Tower", an old fortified tower at the Waldhausener hill. Until the end of the 18th century, the city belonged to the department of Grevenbroich within the duchy of Jülich.

On 4 October 1794, the armed forces of the French Revolution marched into the town, one day before the fortress Jülich had been handed over. When the Holy Roman Emperor Francis II ceded the left bank of the river Rhine to France with the Treaty of Lunéville in 1801, Gladbach fell under French laws suppressing religion. This was the end for the abbey, and the monastery was closed. On 31 October 1802, the last 31 monks left the monastery. The contents of the tremendous abbey library, well known outside Germany, were scattered or destroyed.

From 1798 until 1814, the Mairie Gladbach was part of Canton Odenkirchen, of the Arrondissement Krefeld, of the Roer Département.

=Recent history=

In 1815, Gladbach became part of the Kingdom of Prussia and seat of the Landkreis Gladbach, which was dissolved in 1929. In 1815 Gladbach became seat of the Bürgermeisterei (Office of mayor), which was split in 1859 into two parts: the City of Gladbach and Office of Mayor Obergeburth. The latter was renamed to München-Gladbach-Land in 1907.

From 1933 through 1975, the neighborhood of Rheydt was an independent city; the split from München-Gladbach was arranged by Joseph Goebbels, who was born locally. After reuniting with Mönchengladbach, the central station (Rheydt Hauptbahnhof) kept its original name, making Mönchengladbach the only city in Germany to have two rail stations each called Hauptbahnhof.

In response to the 10 May 1940 German invasion of Belgium, Mönchengladbach was bombed by RAF Bomber Command on the evening of 11 May. The bomber crews were attempting to interdict German troop movements on roads, intersections and rail lines in the area, especially the city's railyards. About half of the approximately 36 twin-engine Royal Air Force (RAF) bombers reportedly hit their targets, and three were shot down.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NZePSUx1FsgC&pg=PT27 |page=27 |title=Among the Dead Cities: Is the Targeting of Civilians in War Ever Justified? |last=Grayling |first=A. C. |publisher=A&C Black |year=2011 |isbn=9781408827901}}{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nCPX9ZLlGzgC&pg=PA5 |page=5 |title=In the Wake of War : The Reconstruction of German Cities after World War II: The Reconstruction of German Cities after World War II |first=Jeffry M. |last=Diefendorf |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1993 |isbn=9780195361094}} Four people were killed on the ground, including a British woman living in Germany.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BSFMCCCJUysC&pg=PA42 |pages=41–2 |title=Bomber Command: Reflections of War |last=Bowman |first=Martin |publisher=Casemate |year=2011 |isbn=9781848844926}}

Forced laborers of the 3rd SS construction brigade were dispatched in the city in 1943.{{cite book|last=Megargee|first=Geoffrey P.|year=2009|title=The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos 1933–1945. Volume I|publisher=Indiana University Press, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum|page=1385|isbn=978-0-253-35328-3}}

Eventually, the Prussian Rhine Province was dissolved after World War II, and the city became part of the new state of North Rhine-Westphalia which was formed in 1946.

class="wikitable" style="float:right;"

|+Largest groups of foreign residents

\

!Nationality

Population (31.12 2022)
Turkey6,614
Poland4,538
Syria4,027
Romania3,266
Bulgaria2,872
Ukraine2,643
Spain2,326
Italy1,860
Greece1,651
Netherlands1,437

Climate

{{Weather box

|location = Mönchengladbach (1991-2020)

|metric first = Yes

|single line = Yes

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan mean C =3.3

| Feb mean C =3.8

| Mar mean C =6.7

| Apr mean C =10.4

| May mean C =14.2

| Jun mean C =17.1

| Jul mean C =19.1

| Aug mean C =18.6

| Sep mean C =15.0

| Oct mean C =11.0

| Nov mean C =6.9

| Dec mean C =4.0

| year mean C =

| Jan precipitation mm =60.8

| Feb precipitation mm =57.0

| Mar precipitation mm =51.5

| Apr precipitation mm =41.1

| May precipitation mm =58.3

| Jun precipitation mm =63.9

| Jul precipitation mm =70.9

| Aug precipitation mm =72.3

| Sep precipitation mm =59.0

| Oct precipitation mm =59.9

| Nov precipitation mm =60.6

| Dec precipitation mm =70.4

| year precipitation mm =

|Jan sun = 54.2

|Feb sun = 73.1

|Mar sun = 125.7

|Apr sun = 174

|May sun = 201.6

|Jun sun = 204.4

|Jul sun = 211.3

|Aug sun = 197.3

|Sep sun = 149.3

|Oct sun = 107.5

|Nov sun = 58.8

|Dec sun = 43.6

|year sun =

|source 1 = Deutscher Wetterdienst{{Cite web |title=Lufttemperatur: vieljährige Mittelwerte 1991 - 2020 |url=https://www.dwd.de/DE/leistungen/klimadatendeutschland/mittelwerte/temp_9120_SV_html.html?view=nasPublication&nn=771428 |website=dwd.de |publisher=Deutscher Wetterdienst |access-date=23 February 2024|no-pp=y |language=German |trans-title=Air Temperature: Long-term averages for 1991-2020}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.dwd.de/DE/leistungen/klimadatendeutschland/mittelwerte/nieder_9120_SV_html.html?view=nasPublication&nn=771428 |title=Niederschlag: vieljährige Mittelwerte 1991 - 2020 |access-date=23 February 2024|website=dwd.de |publisher=Deutscher Wetterdienst |no-pp=y |language=German |trans-title=Precipitation: Long-term averages for 1991-2020}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.dwd.de/DE/leistungen/klimadatendeutschland/mittelwerte/sonne_9120_SV_html.html?view=nasPublication&nn=771428 |title=Sonnenscheindauer: vieljährige Mittelwerte 1991 - 2020 |website=dwd.de |publisher=Deutscher Wetterdienst |access-date=23 February 2024 |no-pp=y |language=German |trans-title=Sunshine: Long-term averages for 1991-2020 |postscript=.}}

}}

Economy

File:Hugo Junkers Hangar.jpg

Mönchengladbach's industrial ascent was mainly influenced by the development of the textile industry from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century. In addition, a textile-oriented machine industry also developed.

After the Second World War, a major structural change began, reducing the importance of the textile industry and attracting new economic sectors. At present, only 7 percent of employees work in the once dominant textile and clothing industry (for example: Van Laack and gardeur).

As part of the successful diversification of the business location, local government and representatives founded the Mönchengladbach Business Development Corporation (WFMG) in 1997. WFMG and the University of Applied Sciences Niederrhein have developed a five-pillar model for the future orientation of the business location. Thereafter textile and fashion, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering, logistics, the creative industry and the health sector are the leading sectors for the economic future of the city of Mönchengladbach. As part of an active cluster policy, the WFMG has partly initiated its own networks for these industries.{{Cite web |url=https://www.wfmg.de/english.html |title=English - WFMG - Wirtschaftsförderung Mönchengladbach GMBH |access-date=4 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705003902/https://www.wfmg.de/english.html |archive-date=5 July 2018 |url-status=dead }}

The most important employer in Mönchengladbach is the Santander Consumer Bank, which has its headquarters at Aachener Straße in Mönchengladbach's city center.

The economic structure includes: tool and spinning machines (Dörries Scharmann, Monforts, Trützschler, Schlafhorst), automatic conveyor systems, signal and system technology (Scheidt & Bachmann), transformers (SMS Meer), cables (Nexans Germany formerly Kabelwerk Rheydt), printed matter and foodstuffs.

Chocolatier Heinemann is known beyond the city limits for his cakes, pralines and baked goods, which he offers in cafés on site as well as in Düsseldorf and Munich. Furthermore, beer breweries are represented in Mönchengladbach. The Oettinger brewery produces at the site of the former Hannen brewery. The Hensen brewery has been producing a lower Rhine-type Altbier since 2015 at the former spring of the river Gladbach in the Waldhausen district.

Especially in the 1970s and 1980s nightlife was attractive to young party people from Düsseldorf. In the meantime, tourism in particular is playing a certain role. Mönchengladbach has about 40 hotels (for example: Hotel Burgund) and inns as well as a youth hostel in the district Hardter Wald. In total there are about 2000 beds. The number of overnight stays is over 200,000 annually.

Mönchengladbach Airport is dominated by general aviation. There are currently no scheduled services to and from Mönchengladbach. Additionally, there are few business-charter passenger flights. In June 2015 Hugo Junkers Hangar was opened as an aviation and event facility. Airplane enthusiasts can book sightseeing flights with Junkers Ju 52 from the 1940s.{{cite web|url=https://ju52rundflug.de/ |title=Ju 52 Rundflüge – Ein tolles Erlebnis für groß und klein – Eine weitere WordPress-Website |publisher=Ju 52rundflug.de |date=13 June 2018 |access-date=21 September 2018}}{{Cite web |url=https://hugo-junkers-hangar.de/ |title=Hugo Junkers Hangar Home - Hugo Junkers Hangar |access-date=4 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823034419/https://hugo-junkers-hangar.de/ |archive-date=23 August 2018 |url-status=dead }} The next major international airport Düsseldorf Airport is only 20 kilometres (12 mi) away to the east.

Politics

=Mayor=

The current mayor of Mönchengladbach is Felix Heinrichs of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) since 2020. The most recent mayoral election was held on 13 September 2020, with a runoff held on 27 September, and the results were as follows:

{{election table}}

! rowspan=2 colspan=2| Candidate

! rowspan=2| Party

! colspan=2| First round

! colspan=2| Second round

|-

! Votes

! %

! Votes

! %

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}|

| align=left| Felix Heinrichs

| align=left| Social Democratic Party

| 32,808

| 37.5

| 50,421

| 74.2

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}|

| align=left| Frank Boss

| align=left| Christian Democratic Union

| 25,929

| 29.6

| 17,513

| 25.8

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}|

| align=left| Boris Wolkowski

| align=left| Alliance 90/The Greens

| 15,304

| 17.5

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Alternative for Germany}}|

| align=left| Corina Bülow

| align=left| Alternative for Germany

| 4,706

| 5.4

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}|

| align=left| Stefan Dahlmanns

| align=left| Free Democratic Party

| 3,149

| 3.6

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|The Left (Germany)}}|

| align=left| Sebastian Merkens

| align=left| The Left

| 3,010

| 3.4

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Die PARTEI}}|

| align=left| Chana Clarissa Lischewski

| align=left| Die PARTEI

| 1,914

| 2.2

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Ecological Democratic Party}}|

| align=left| Franz Josef Schiller

| align=left| Ecological Democratic Party

| 540

| 0.6

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|National Democratic Party of Germany}}|

| align=left| Sandra van den Broek

| align=left| National Democratic Party

| 186

| 0.2

|-

! colspan=3| Valid votes

! 87,546

! 97.3

! 67,934

! 99.3

|-

! colspan=3| Invalid votes

! 2,473

! 2.7

! 496

! 0.7

|-

! colspan=3| Total

! 90,019

! 100.0

! 68,430

! 100.0

|-

! colspan=3| Electorate/voter turnout

! 207,117

! 43.5

! 207,018

! 33.1

|-

| colspan=7| Source: [https://www.wahlergebnisse.nrw/kommunalwahlen/2020/aktuell/b116000kw2000.shtml State Returning Officer]

|}

=City council=

File:2020 Mönchengladbach City Council election.svg

The Mönchengladbach city council governs the city alongside the mayor. The most recent city council election was held on 13 September 2020, and the results were as follows:

{{election table}}

! colspan=2| Party

! Votes

! %

! +/-

! Seats

! +/-

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}|

| align=left| Christian Democratic Union (CDU)

| 30,198

| 34.0

| {{decrease}} 7.5

| 26

| {{decrease}} 3

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}|

| align=left| Social Democratic Party (SPD)

| 22,365

| 25.2

| {{decrease}} 4.3

| 20

| ±0

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}|

| align=left| Alliance 90/The Greens (Grüne)

| 18,879

| 21.2

| {{increase}} 10.6

| 16

| {{increase}} 9

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Alternative for Germany}}|

| align=left| Alternative for Germany (AfD)

| 5,282

| 5.9

| {{increase}} 4.5

| 5

| {{increase}} 4

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}|

| align=left| Free Democratic Party (FDP)

| 4,911

| 5.5

| {{increase}} 1.0

| 4

| {{increase}} 1

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|The Left (Germany)}}|

| align=left| The Left (Die Linke)

| 3,605

| 4.1

| {{decrease}} 0.4

| 3

| ±0

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Die PARTEI}}|

| align=left| Die PARTEI (PARTEI)

| 2,419

| 2.7

| {{increase}} 1.5

| 2

| {{increase}} 1

|-

| colspan=7 bgcolor=lightgrey|

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Ecological Democratic Party}}|

| align=left| Ecological Democratic Party (ÖDP)

| 507

| 0.6

| New

| 0

| New

|-

|

| align=left| Alliance for Innovation and Justice (BIG)

| 439

| 0.5

| New

| 0

| New

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|National Democratic Party of Germany}}|

| align=left| National Democratic Party (NPD)

| 229

| 0.3

| {{decrease}} 0.6

| 0

| {{decrease}} 1

|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Independent politician}}|

| align=left| Independents

| 30

| 0.0

| –

| 0

| –

|-

! colspan=2| Valid votes

! 88,864

! 98.7

!

!

!

|-

! colspan=2| Invalid votes

! 1,160

! 1.3

!

!

!

|-

! colspan=2| Total

! 90,024

! 100.0

!

! 76

! {{increase}} 8

|-

! colspan=2| Electorate/voter turnout

! 207,117

! 43.5

! {{increase}} 0.8

!

!

|-

| colspan=7| Source: [https://www.wahlergebnisse.nrw/kommunalwahlen/2020/aktuell/a116000kw2000.shtml State Returning Officer]

|}

Points of interest

File:Schloss Rheydt North.jpg

Twin towns – sister cities

{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany}}

Mönchengladbach is twinned with:{{cite web|title=Übersicht über die Partnerstädte der Stadt Mönchengladbach|url=https://www.moenchengladbach.de/de/rathaus/buergerinfo-a-z/verwaltungsfuehrung-unternehmensplanung-dezernat-i/buero-des-oberbuergermeisters-i1/staedtepartnerschaften/|website=moenchengladbach.de|publisher=Mönchengladbach|language=de|access-date=27 February 2021|archive-date=19 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419105656/https://www.moenchengladbach.de/de/rathaus/buergerinfo-a-z/verwaltungsfuehrung-unternehmensplanung-dezernat-i/buero-des-oberbuergermeisters-i1/staedtepartnerschaften/|url-status=dead}}

{{div col|colwidth=25em}}

  • {{flagicon|UK}} Bradford, England, UK (1971)
  • {{flagicon|UK}} North Tyneside, England, UK (1958)
  • {{flagicon|FRA}} Roubaix, France (1969)
  • {{flagicon|NED}} Roermond, Netherlands (1971)
  • {{flagicon|UK}} Thurrock, England, UK (1969)
  • {{flagicon|BEL}} Verviers, Belgium (1970)

{{div col end}}

Transport

The city has two main railway stations: Mönchengladbach Hauptbahnhof and Rheydt Hauptbahnhof, the result of the merger of the two cities, in which the deprecated name for Rheydt Hbf was never removed. Line 8 of the Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn connects the city to Düsseldorf and Hagen; an extension further westwards is being discussed. A number of regional trains serve Mönchengladbach, including regional line RE13 to the city of Venlo which is located in the Netherlands.{{Cite web |title=RE 13 |url=https://www.eurobahn.de/nl/lijninformatie/re-13/ |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=eurobahn |language=nl}} By the end of 2009 it was the largest city in Germany without regular long-distance services. With the new schedule for 2010, Mönchengladbach got an InterCity/Intercity-Express connection twice a week.[http://www.rp-online.de/niederrheinsued/moenchengladbach/nachrichten/moenchengladbach/ICE-Anbindung-nach-Berlin_aid_783606.html Mönchengladbach: ICE-Anbindung nach Berlin] (accessed Nov. 2009)

The city also has a commercial airport called Düsseldorf Mönchengladbach.

Local bus and rail transport is carried out by the NEW-AG under the VRR transport association regulations.

Sports

=Football=

File:Borussia Park Mönchengladbach.jpg

{{Main|Borussia Mönchengladbach}}

Mönchengladbach has a long football tradition. Its home club, Borussia Mönchengladbach, is one of the country's most well-known, best-supported, and successful teams. The club plays on the Borussia-Park stadium with a capacity of 54,057. The club has the sixth largest fan club in Germany, "The Foals" (Die Fohlen), with more than 50,000 active members.{{when|date=February 2021}}{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}

=Field hockey=

=Harness racing=

Since 1892, Mönchengladbach has owned a harness racing track called Trabrennbahn Mönchengladbach (Trotting track Mönchengladbach).

Military

{{main|Rheindahlen Military Complex}}

Until December 2013, the Rheindahlen Military Complex was located just outside Mönchengladbach, where it was home to the headquarters of the British Armed Forces in Germany.

Notable people

File:Hugo Junkers 1920.jpg

File:Franz Meyers ex Ludwig Erhard 1965 FdG 1.jpg

File:Nick_Heidfeld_2006_Nürburgring.jpg

= Sport =

See also

References

{{reflist}}