Eichsfeld

[[Image:Das Eichsfeld um 1900.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Eichsfeld map from 1900]] The '''Eichsfeld''' is a historical region in the southeast of [[Lower Saxony]] (which is called "Untereichsfeld" = lower Eichsfeld) and northwest of [[Thuringia]] ("Obereichsfeld" = upper Eichsfeld) in the south of the [[Harz]] mountains. Until 1803 the Eichsfeld was for centuries part of the [[Archbishopric of Mainz]], which is the cause of its current position as a [[Catholic]] enclave in the predominantly [[Protestant]] north of [[Germany]]. Following German partition in 1945, the [[West German]] portion became [[Landkreis]] [[Duderstadt]]. A few small transfers of territory between the American and Soviet zones of occupation took place in accordance with the [[Wanfried Agreement]]. ==Geography== [[Image:Ecklingerode Mai 2005.jpg|thumb|left|Typical landscape in the Eichsfeld: Villages between fields and wooded hills]] Today the greatest part of the Obereichsfeld makes up the '''[[Eichsfeld (district)|Landkreis (district) Eichsfeld]]'''. Other parts belong to the district [[Unstrut-Hainich]]. The Untereichsfeld, later Landkreis Duderstadt, was merged mostly with the Landkreis of [[Göttingen (district)|Göttingen]], while Lindau became part of [[Katlenburg-Lindau]] which is know part of the Landkreis of [[Northeim (district)|Northeim]]. Cities in the Eichsfeld are [[Duderstadt]], [[Heilbad Heiligenstadt|Heiligenstadt]], [[Leinefelde-Worbis]] and [[Dingelstädt]]. ==History== [[Image:Tractus Eichsfeldiae.jpg|thumb|350px|Eichsfeld map from 1759]] The Eichsfeld was first mentioned in 897, and in 1022 the [[Archbishopric of Mainz]] listed its possessions in the region, which were increased up until 1573. The [[ottonian]] Untereichsfeld became part of Eichsfeld after being part of [[Brunswick-Lüneburg]] and [[Grubenhagen]] between 1342 and 1434. During the [[German Peasants' War]] within the [[Free Imperial City|Reichsstadt]] of [[Mühlhausen]] most of the monasteries, churches and castles were plundered and most of the Eichsfeld became Protestant. In 1575 the [[Society of Jesus]] successfully established the [[Counter-Reformation]] in Eichsfeld. The [[Thirty Years' War]] reached Eichsfeld in 1622 and during the years following several armies (Swedish, Danish, Thuringian) plundered the region. According to the [[Peace of Westphalia]] the [[Archbishopric of Mainz]] reestablished [[Catholicism]] in the area which was two thirds devastated and had lost 75% of its population. During the Napoleonic time Eichsfeld was part of the [[Kingdom of Westphalia]], which was dissolved after the victory over [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon]] at the [[Battle of Leipzig]]. From 1949 to 1990 the Obereichsfeld belonged to the [[East Germany|GDR]]. In this atheistic state the people preserved their Catholic roots, and church life stayed relatively intact. ==Politics== In consequence of the traditionalism in Eichsfeld, the percentage of voters for the [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|CDU]] is significantly higher than in the surrounding area. ==External links== * [http://www.eichsfeld.de The Eichsfeld tourism organization (HVE)] (German) * [http://www.hoeckmann.de/deutschland/regionen/eichsfeld.htm History and map of the Eichsfeld 1789] (German) * [http://eichsfeldwiki.de Eichsfeld Wiki] - Regiowiki for Eichsfeld (German / multilingual) {{coord missing|Thuringia}} {{Regions of Lower Saxony}}