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. [1]
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
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The coat of arms displays:
- the blue and white checked pattern of Bavaria
- the eagle was the heraldic animal of the county of Dießen-Andechs, which possessed the lands east of the Lech river before the 12th century
- the lion stands for Henry the Lion, who was the founder of the city of Landsberg
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Towns and municipalities
External links
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