Preetz

Preetz is a town southeast of Kiel in the district of Plön, in Schleswig-Holstein, Northern Germany. Preetz is also known as "Schusterstadt" (English: 'shoemaker town') named after shoemakers who used to live and work in this town. Preetz has a population of about 16,000 and is the largest city in the district of Plön.
Geography
Preetz is located in a hilly area referred to as the Holsteinische Schweiz (Holstein Switzerland) with a number of lakes and forests surrounding the town.
Lakes include the Postsee, Lanker See and the smaller Kirchsee in the centre of town, which forms part of the river Schwentine. There are multiple nature reserves around Preetz that attract tourists and locals alike for biking and hiking, especially in the summer months.
History
The first mention of Preetz dates from the year 1185, when Ecbrecht Procensis writes about the location Poretz in the Versus de Vicelino. The origins of the name Preetz are said to be found in the Slavic term "po rece" (i.e., on the river). In 1221, the term "Poretzie" appeared, and in 1442 "Pretze".
A first town church was built in 1210. In 1211, Count Albrecht von Orlamünde established a Benedictine monastery: Preetz Priory. The foundation of the abbey was renewed by Adolf IV von Schauenburg in 1226, and it was given to nuns. In 1268, the nunnery church was built. The nunnery formed the highest administrative authority until 1867 and exercised jurisdiction as well.
Preetz obtained street lighting in 1852. The station was built in 1864, the Town Hall in 1871. An oak tree in front of the Town Hall, which was planted in 1871, still exists.
Limited town rights were awarded to Preetz on 17 May 1870, full town rights in 1901.
Politics
Mayors
1946–1946: Paul Schön
1946–1959: Max Grothe
1959–1971: Heinrich Niendorf
1971–1982: Bendix Herrmann
1982–1991: Claus Feddersen
1992–1999: Walter Riecken
1999–2015: Wolfgang Schneider
since 2015: Björn Demmin
Coat of arms
The fish in the top part is meant to show the past's principal source of food. Displayed is a Percidae. This kind of fish is known for its defensive traits and is meant to show the defensive traits the population of Preetz has.
Twin towns
Preetz is twinned with:
Blandford Forum, United Kingdom
Stavenhagen, Germany
Tapa, Estonia
Neman, Russia
Personalities
Karl Genzken (1885-1957), physician, SS group leader and chief of the medical office of the Waffen-SS
Otto Armster (1891-1957), intelligence service officer and resistance fighter (Personalities of 20 July 1944 plot)
Hans Hermann Junge (1914-1944), SS-officer, valet to Adolf Hitler, husband of Traudl Junge
Rolf Rendtorff (1925-2014), Protestant theologian and university lecturer
Sabine Christiansen (born 1957), journalist
Allison Mack (born 1982), American actress, known from the series Smallville
Steffen Uliczka (born 1984), 3000 meter obstacle runner
Carola Rackete, ship captain, working for Sea-Watch, arrested in Italy in 2019
References
Further reading
Peter Pauselius: Preetz unter dem Hakenkreuz, Großbarkau: Ed. Barkau, 2001, .
Peter Pauselius: Dokumentation über die Kriegsgefangenen, Fremd- und Ostarbeiter in Preetz 1939-1946, in: Francia, 25/3, 1998, S.286ff., .
Stadt Preetz (editor): Preetz: Landschaft, Mensch, Kultur, Großbarkau: Ed. Barkau, 2000, .
Stadt Preetz (editor) (Text: Wilhelm Stölting): Preetz, Lebensbild einer holsteinischen Stadt, Preetz: Stadt Preetz, 1970.
Plön (district)