Senftenberg

Senftenberg (, , ) is a town in Lower Lusatia, Brandenburg, in eastern Germany, capital of the Oberspreewald Lausitz district.

Senftenberg is located in the southwest of the historic Lower Lusatia region at the border with Saxony. Its town centre is situated north of the river Black Elster and the artificial Senftenberger Lake, part of the Lusatian Lake District chain, approximately northwest of Hoyerswerda, and southwest of Cottbus. Senftenberg station is north of the centre and a major railway freight yard is located to its north east, with a locomotive depot.

Senftenberg was first mentioned in a 1279 deed issued by Henry III the Illustrious of Wettin, then margrave of Lusatia. In 1319, the town became part of the Duchy of Jawor, the southwesternmost duchy of fragmented Piast ruled Poland. In 1346 it passed to the Bohemia, then in 1350 to the Margraviate of Brandenburg. With Lower Lusatia, the settlement was re acquired by the Kingdom of Bohemia under Charles IV of Luxembourg in 1368. The town was located on a trade route connecting Leipzig with Poland. Elector Frederick II of Saxony acquired Senftenberg in 1448, whereafter the area as a border stronghold of the House of Wettin was separated from Bohemian Lusatia, until in 1635 all Lusatian territories fell to Saxony by the Peace of Prague. During the Great Northern War, in 1701, troops marched through the town towards Poland. In 1704, the defensive walls were strengthened against a possible Swedish attack. According to the 1815 Congress of Vienna, Lower Lusatia was annexed by Prussia and incorporated into the Province of Brandenburg. During World War II, the present day district of Großkoschen (Kóšyna) was the location of a subcamp of the Gross Rosen concentration camp, in which some 850 men, including Soviet citizens and Poles, were imprisoned. From 1952 to 1990, it was part of the Bezirk Cottbus of East Germany.

Lake Senftenberg is a popular tourist destination. In 1973, the former open cast mine, was officially opened to the public. Today, the lake is known for its excellent water quality. It is part of the so called Lusatian Lakeland, a group of 23 artificial lakes.

After the second half of the 19th century the inhabitants increased because of workers coming to Senftenberg to work in the coal mines. After the German Reunion, many inhabitants moved to the western part of Germany.

In Senftenberg is the soccer club FSV Glückauf Brieske Senftenberg. They currently play at the Elsterkampfbahn but previously played at the former Glück Auf Stadium (known as the Old Stadium). It opened on 4 November 4, 1953, when 33,000 fans showed up for the inaugural match against Torpedo Moscow. It also hosted motorcycle speedway and was the venue for a qualifying round of the 1966 Speedway World Team Cup. The old stadium on Briesker Straße was torn down in 1997 and is marked by the housing on the "Im alten Stadion" road.