Landsberg (district)

Infobox German district
name=Landsberg
state=Bavaria
capital=Landsberg
regierungsbezirk=Oberbayern
region=Munich
area=804
population=105,900
population_as_of=2000
density=132
carsign=LL
url= [http://www.landkreis-landsberg.de landkreis-landsberg.de]

Landsberg is a district in Bavaria, Germany. It is bounded by (from the north and clockwise) the districts of Aichach-Friedberg, Fürstenfeldbruck, Starnberg, Weilheim-Schongau, Ostallgäu and Augsburg.

History

In 1180 the lands east of the Lech river fell to the Wittelsbach dynasty of Bavaria; the lands on the western bank were acquired about 1315.

The district of Landsberg was established in 1938 as the successor of another entity ("Bezirksamt") of the same name. In the administrative reform of 1972 the district received its present shape.

The area surrounding the district of Landsberg contained many concentration camps, in the final stages of World War II. The eleven "Kaufering camps," located in the general area of Landsberg and Kaufering, are said to have been far worse than other "well known" camps, such as Dachau. Mortality rates were much higher and conditions deplorable. More than 30,000 died at Dachau, in twelve years of operation. 14,500 died in the Kaufering camps, in just ten months. [http://www.kaufering.com]

Geography

The district is situated on both sides of the Lech river. The Ammersee, one of the largest lakes of Germany (47 km), is located in the east of the district.

Coat of arms

Towns and municipalities

External links

* [http://www.landkreis-landsberg.de Official website] de icon
* [http://www.kaufering.com Kaufering.com] an online memorial to the victims of the Kaufering death camps and their liberators.