Ordensburg
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An Ordensburg (plural in German: Ordensburgen) was a fortress built by crusading German military orders during the Middle Ages. "Ordensburg" was also used during Nazi Germany to refer to training schools for Nazi leaders.
Medieval Ordensburgen
The Ordensburgen were originally constructed by the Teutonic Knights and the Livonian Brothers of the Sword (merged into the Teutonic Knights in 1237) to fortify territory in Prussia and Livonia against the pagan aboriginals. Later, Ordensburgen were used to defend against 'Poland and Lithuania.
Notable medieval Ordensburgen
- Allenstein (Olsztyn in Poland)
- Angerburg (Węgorzewo in Poland)
- Arensburg (Kuressaare in Estonia)
- Balga (near Vesyoloye in Russia)
- Bauske (Bauska in Latvia)
- Bütow (Bytów in Poland)
- Georgenburg (Mayovka in Russia)
- Hapsal (Haapsalu in Estonia)
- Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński in Poland)
- Insterburg (Chernyakhovsk in Russia)
- Königsberg (Kaliningrad in Russia)
- Labiau (Polessk in Russia)
- Lemsal (Limbaži in Latvia)
- Marienburg (Malbork in Poland)
- Marienwerder (Kwidzyn in Poland)
- Memel (Klaipėda in Lithuania)
- Mohrungen (Morąg in Poland)
- Neidenburg (Nidzica in Poland)
- Ortelsburg (Szczytno in Poland)
- Ragnit (Neman in Russia)
- Rastenburg (Kętrzyn in Poland)
- Treyden (near Sigulda in Latvia)
- Wenden (Cēsis in Latvia)
- Wesenberg (Rakvere in Estonia)
Nazi Germany
The term Ordensburg was later applied to schools for elite Nazi military ranks. There were strict requirements for admission to the school. Junker candidates had to be aged between 25 and 30 years old, belong to either the Nazi Party, the Hitler Youth, the Sturmabteilung, or the Schutzstaffel, be physically completely healthy, and be pure-blooded with no hereditary defects. The schools themselves were typically stark, modern structures with basic utilities and ample room for the young men training to go to war. An Ordensburg was built Sonthofen in Bavaria during the Nazi years and is now used by Germany's Bundeswehr.
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