Wietzendorf

Wietzendorf is a municipality in the district of Heidekreis, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approximately 14 km southeast of Soltau, and 50 km southwest of Lüneburg. The population as of 31 December 2012 is 4,071 people.

Wietzendorf
Coat of arms
Location of Wietzendorf within Heidekreis district
Wietzendorf
Wietzendorf
Coordinates: 52°55′07″N 9°58′37″E
CountryGermany
StateLower Saxony
DistrictHeidekreis
Government
 • MayorUwe Wrieden
Area
 • Total106.88 km2 (41.27 sq mi)
Elevation
66 m (217 ft)
Population
 (2018-12-31)[1]
 • Total4,162
 • Density39/km2 (100/sq mi)
Time zoneCET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes
29649
Dialling codes05196
Vehicle registrationHK
Websitewww.wietzendorf.de

World War II

During World War II, a camp for prisoners of war (Kriegsgefangenenlager), including a section for officers (Oflag 83), was located near Wietzendorf. The camp was initially used for Soviet prisoners from the Eastern Front; later it was partially evacuated because of the poor sanitary conditions and used to house other prisoners, including many Italian war prisoners (Italienische Militaerinternierte) which Nazi Germany considered to have lost their military status, as they had declined to follow Mussolini's orders after the armistice between Italy and the Allies.[2][3] Among the Italian prisoners was Giovannino Guareschi, who would later become world-renowned as the author of Don Camillo[4] and Alessandro Natta, later General Secretary of the PCI.

References
  1. Landesamt für Statistik Niedersachsen, LSN-Online Regionaldatenbank, Tabelle 12411: Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes, Stand 31. Dezember 2018.
  2. "Rapporto sul Campo 83 Wietzendorf" (PDF). Storia XXI Secolo. Ten.Col Pietro Testa. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  3. "Adriano Pasquetto: storia di un Internato Militare Italiano. La prigionia a Leopoli e Wietzendorf". Restelli Storia. Prof. Giancarlo Restelli. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  4. "La storia di Giovannino senza paura (1943-1945)". Giovannino Guareschi. Retrieved 11 April 2016. Dall’OFLAG X B di Sandbostel (D) a piedi alla stazione di Bremerwörde (D) il 29 gennaio 1945 e riparte il 30 per l'OFLAG 83 di Wietzendorf (D) dove arriva il 31 Viene liberato il 16 aprile .
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