Löcknitz

Infobox Ort in Deutschland
Wappen = Wappen Loecknitz.pngWappengröße = 132
lat_deg = 53 | lat_min = 27
lon_deg = 14 | lon_min = 12
Lageplan = Löcknitz in UER.pngBundesland = Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Landkreis = Uecker-Randow
Amt = Löcknitz-Penkun
Höhe = 34
Fläche = 22.69
Einwohner = 2948
Stand = 2006-12-31
PLZ = 17321
Vorwahl = 039754
Kfz = UER
Gemeindeschlüssel = 13 0 62 033
Adresse-Verband = Chausseestraße 30
17321 Löcknitz
Website = [http://www.loecknitz-online.de/alp/gemeinden/loecknitz.php www.loecknitz-online.de]
Bürgermeister = Lothar Meistring
Partei = Linke

Löcknitz is a municipality in the Uecker-Randow district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, located 12 km west of the German-Polish border and 25 km west of Szczecin (Stettin).

Bordercrossing contacts

Since 1992 the bilingual German-Polish Gymnasium is visited by pupils from Germany (526 in 2008) and Poland (161), leading to the German Abitur as well as to the Polish matura. In 2008 the certificates were handed over by the foreign ministers of both countries Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Radoslaw Sikorski [ [http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/de/Europa/DeutschlandInEuropa/BilateraleBeziehungen/Polen/080712-loecknitz-steinmeier-sikorski.html Auswärtiges Amt.de] ] . Since Poland joined the Schengen Agreement, the populace of Löcknitz is growing as rates and costs of land aquisistion are lower than in Poland. Many commuters from Szczecin are living in Löcknitz [http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/0,1518,537930,00.html ] and the first economical investments are made in Löcknitz by Polish enterprises [http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/Brandenburg-Uckermark;art128,2495548] [http://www.pogranicze.de/media-o-pograniczu/niemieckie/46-niemieckie/113-produktion-von-gewuerzen-in-loecknitz-] , supported by the Löcknitz administration [ [http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/de/Europa/DeutschlandInEuropa/BilateraleBeziehungen/Polen/080712-loecknitz-steinmeier-sikorski.html Auswärtiges Amt.de] ] . Children of Polish parents, born in Löcknitz receive a “Welcome grant” of 500,00 € [http://www.pogranicze.de/media-o-pograniczu/niemieckie/100-eine-gemeinde-bangt-um-ihren-ruf] .

On January 13, 2008 five cars belonging to Polish nationals residing in the town were damaged by breaking the windowpanes and stripping off the Polish licence plates. [ [http://www.pogranicze.de/media-o-pograniczu/niemieckie/46-niemieckie/91-policja-szuka-wandali www.pogranicze.de] ] [ [http://www.ostseezeitung.de/online-extras_zusatzinfo.phtml?Param=DB-Beitrag&ID=106586&SID=36677345777c2a540f1311f006eaa725 www.ostseezeitung.de] ] .

Population [Statistisches Landesamt Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]

Notable residents

*Viktor Bauer (1915 - 1969), pilot

Twin towns

* Sassenberg
* Stare Czarnowo (Neumark)/ Poland

External links

* [http://www.dpg-loecknitz.de/ German-Polish school Löcknitz (German/Polish)]

* [http://www.burgfried.de/index.html Castle of Löcknitz Association (German)]

* [http://www.faz.net/s/Rub0D783DBE76F14A5FA4D02D23792623D9/Doc~E3C24E41AA94F449E974151BC9802E048~ATpl~Ecommon~SMed.html TV spot on Polish investment in Löcknitz (German)]

References