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{{Short description|Town in Hesse, Germany}}
{{other uses|Giessen (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox German place
|type = Stadt
|name = Giessen
|German_name      = ''Gießen''
|image_photo      = 2004-JLU Gießen Sicherlich.jpg
|imagesize        =
|image_caption    = Main building of [[Justus Liebig University]]
|image_coa = DEU Gießen COA.svg
|coordinates = {{coord|50|35|N|8|40|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|image_plan = Landkreis Gießen Gießen.png
|plantext =
|state = Hessen
|region = Giessen
|district = Giessen
|elevation = 159
|area = 72.55
|postal_code = 35390–35398
|area_code = 0641, 06403
|licence = GI
|Gemeindeschlüssel = 06 5 31 005
|divisions         = 6 [[Stadtteil]]e
|website           = [https://www.giessen.de/ www.giessen.de]
|mayor             = Frank-Tilo Becher<ref>{{cite web|url=https://statistik.hessen.de/sites/statistik.hessen.de/files/2022-10/direktwahlen_09_2022_10102022.xlsx|title=Ergebnisse der letzten Direktwahl aller hessischen Landkreise und Gemeinden|language=de|date=5 September 2022|publisher=[[Hessisches Statistisches Landesamt]]|format=XLS}}</ref>
|leader_term       = 2021&ndash;27
|Bürgermeistertitel = Oberbürgermeister
|party = SPD
}}
'''Giessen''', spelled '''{{lang|de|Gießen}}''' in German ({{IPA|de|ˈɡiːsn̩|-|De-Gießen.ogg}}), is a town in the [[Germany|German]] [[States of Germany|state]] ({{lang|de|Bundesland}}) of [[Hesse]], capital of both the [[Giessen (district)|district of Giessen]] and the [[Giessen (region)|administrative region of Giessen]]. The population is approximately 90,000, with roughly 37,000 university students.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Einwohnerstatistik |url=https://www.giessen.de/media/custom/684_19215_1.PDF?1722847275?direct |access-date=2024-08-05}}</ref>

The name comes from ''Giezzen'', as it was first referred to in 1197, which refers to the position of the town between several rivers, lakes and streams.{{Citation needed|date=March 2008}} The largest river in Giessen is the [[Lahn]], which divides the town in two parts (west and east), roughly {{convert|50|km|0|abbr=off}} north of [[Frankfurt am Main]]. Giessen is also home to the [[University of Giessen]].

In 1969, the town hosted the ninth ''[[Hessentag]]'' state festival.

==History==
Giessen came into being as a moated castle in 1152 built by [[Count Wilhelm von Gleiberg]],<ref>{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Giessen|volume=12|page=4}}</ref> although the history of the community in the northeast and in today's suburb called "Wieseck" dates back to 775. The town became part of [[Hesse-Marburg]] in 1567, passing to [[Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt|Hesse-Darmstadt]] in 1604. The [[University of Giessen]] was founded in 1607. Giessen was included within the [[Grand Duchy of Hesse]] created in 1806 during the [[Napoleonic Wars]]. After the [[First World War]], it was part of the [[People's State of Hesse]].

{{anchor|Allied air attack}}During the [[Second World War]], a subcamp of the [[Buchenwald concentration camp]] was in the [[commons:Category:Heil- und Pflegeanstalt Gießen|Heil- und Pflegeanstalt Licher Straße]].<ref>Edward Victor. [http://www.edwardvictor.com/Holocaust/Giessen.htm ''Alphabetical List of Camps, Subcamps and Other Camps.'']</ref><ref>[http://www.tenhumbergreinhard.de/05aaff9bed0fa4003/05aaff9bfd089e02d/index.html 1933-1945 Lager G]. Tenhumberg Reinhard. Retrieved 2014-08-03.</ref><ref>[http://www.lagis-hessen.de/de/subjects/idrec/sn/nstopo/id/2314 Hessian Regional History Information System (LAGIS)]</ref> Heavy bombing destroyed about 75 percent of Giessen in 1944, including most of the town's historic buildings. It became part of the modern state of Hesse after the war.

In 1977, Giessen was merged with the neighbouring city [[Wetzlar]] to form the new city of [[Lahn, Hesse|Lahn]]. However, this attempt to reorganize the administration was reversed in 1979. It was part of the [[Darmstadt (region)|Darmstadt region]] (regierungsbezirk) between 1945 and 1981, until the [[Giessen (region)]] was founded on 1 January 1981.

A U.S. military base was located in Giessen after the Second World War. The U.S. Army Garrison of Gießen had a population of up to 10,000 American soldiers and their families. Gießen was also the site of the central US army depot for all of Europe as well as the site of a special ammunition depot.<ref>[https://www.giessener-allgemeine.de/giessen/us-depot-mythen-reportage-fuehrung-12053967.html ''Das US-Depot als Ort der Mythen: Reportage und Führung'']. Gießener Allgemeine, 27. Juli 2015 (German)</ref> The base is a converted German Army Air Field which is reflected in some of the buildings including the housing area. A theatre, known as the Keller Theatre, is a converted German Army Officers' Club. As of 28 September 2007, the Giessen Depot and all other U.S. facilities in the greater Giessen area were returned to local German authorities. The former U.S. Army buildings were used to house refugees after the large influx of 2016.

After the war, the city was [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with [[Winchester]], UK.<ref name="Giessen-Folds-Up">{{cite web| url = http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,153028,00.html| title = USAG Giessen Folds Up Tent| access-date = 2008-05-08
}}</ref>

{| class="infobox" style="float:right;"
|colspan="2"|'''Largest groups of foreign residents'''
|-
|-\
!Nationality || Population (2011)
|-
|{{flag|Turkey}} || 1,922
|-
|{{flag|Greece}} || 569
|-
|{{flag|Italy}} || 425
|-
|}

==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany}}

Giessen is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:<ref name="Giessen twinnings">{{cite web|url=http://www.giessen.de/Rathaus_und_Service/Stadtinformationen/St%C3%A4dtepartnerschaften/|title=Gießen: Städtepartnerschaften|trans-title=Giessen: Twin towns|publisher=Stadt Gießen|access-date=2013-08-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413071750/http://giessen.de/Rathaus_und_Service/Stadtinformationen/St%C3%A4dtepartnerschaften/ |archive-date =2013-04-13|language=de}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
* {{flagicon|CZE}} [[Hradec Králové]], Czech Republic (since 1990)
* {{flagicon|HUN}} [[Gödöllő]], Hungary (since 1988)
* {{flagicon|ISR}} [[Netanya]], Israel (since 1978)<ref name="Netanya twinnings">{{cite web|url=http://www.netanya.muni.il/eng/?CategoryID=1779|title=Netanya – Twin Cities|access-date=2013-08-01|work=Netanya Municipality|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201094809/http://www.netanya.muni.il/Eng/?CategoryID=1779|archive-date=2013-02-01}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Ferrara]], Italy (since 1998)
||
* {{flagicon|NCA}} [[San Juan del Sur]], Nicaragua (since 1986)
* {{flagicon|UK}} [[Winchester]], United Kingdom (since 1962)<ref name="Hampshire">{{cite web |url=http://www3.hants.gov.uk/localpages/twintown.htm |title=Twin Towns in Hampshire |publisher=Www3.hants.gov.uk |access-date=2009-11-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091130120441/http://www3.hants.gov.uk/localpages/twintown.htm |archive-date=2009-11-30 }}</ref>
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Waterloo, Iowa|Waterloo]], [[Iowa]], United States (since 1981)
*{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Wenzhou]], [[Zhejiang]], China (since 2011)
|}

==Points of interest==
* [[Akademischer Forstgarten Gießen]], botanical gardens
* [[Botanischer Garten Gießen]], established in 1609, is the oldest [[botanical garden]] in Germany still at its original location.
* Old Cemetery, (German: [[Alter Friedhof (Gießen)|Alter Friedhof]]), is the resting place of [[Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen]] and [[Hugo von Ritgen]].
* [[Liebig-Museum]] was established in 1920 to honor the chemist [[Justus von Liebig]].
* [[Mathematikum]] was established in 2002, offering a wide variety of mathematical hands-on exhibits.
* [[University of Giessen]]
* [[Rubber Island]] is a residential area near the [[Lahn River#Marburg-Gie.C3.9Fen Lahntal|Lahn River]].

==Sport==
Giessen is home to the [[basketball]] club [[Giessen 46ers]], five-time champion of the [[Basketball Bundesliga]]. Its home games take place at the [[Sporthalle Gießen-Ost]].
Also, Giessen has an American football team called Giessen Golden Dragons.

==Religion==
The [[Catholic Scouts of Europe]] were founded in Giessen in 1975.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kpe.de/pfadfinder/|title=Pfadfinder – KPE}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Marktplatz in Giessen (gezeichnet von P. Weber).jpg|Historical drawing of the marketplace, 1844
File:Akademischer Forstgarten Giessen Plan.jpeg|Historical drawing of the [[Akademischer Forstgarten Gießen]], 1877
File:Botanical garden Giessen Germany 01.jpg|[[Botanical garden Gießen]]
File:2005-08 Gießen - Theater.jpg|[[Theater Gießen]]
File:Giessen-arch1.jpg|Architecture in Gießen 
File:Denkmal Röntgen (Gießen) 01.JPG|Röntgen memorial
File:PSM V74 D619 Liebig laboratory at giessen.png|Liebig laboratory, 1909
File:Gießen ElephantLoo766.jpg|Multiway pedestrian bridge "Elefantenklo" ("Elephant loo")
</gallery>

==Notable people==
{{Very long section|date=September 2022}}

* [[Samuel Adler (rabbi)|Samuel Adler]] (1809–1891), noted rabbi in the [[United States]], attended the [[University of Giessen]]<ref name="Marquis 1607-1896">{{cite book | title = Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896 | publisher = Marquis Who's Who | year = 1967}}</ref>
* [[Werner A. Baum]] (1923–1999), meteorologist and college administrator
* [[Annika Beck]] (born 1994), professional tennis player
* [[Stefan Bellof]] (1957–1985), [[Formula One]] and [[World Sportscar Championship|Sportscar]] driver, who was killed during a race held in [[Spa-Francorchamps]]
* [[Christa Blanke]] (born 1948), theologist, founder of Animals' Angels e.V.
* [[Volker Bouffier]] (born 1951), politician (CDU)
* [[Helge Braun]] (born 1972), politician (CDU)
* [[Georg Büchner]] (1813–1837) studied two years at the University of Gießen
* [[Daniel Davari]] (born 1988), Iranian footballer.
* [[Ernst Dieffenbach]], born Johann Karl Ernst Dieffenbach (1811–1855), German physician, geologist and naturalist
* [[Georg Christian Dieffenbach]] (1822–1901), German poet and theologian
* [[Johann Friedrich Dieffenbach]] (1792–1847), German surgeon
<!--* [[Joseph Dieffenbach]] (1796–1863), German gardener-->
* [[Eduard Dingeldey]] (1886-1942), lawyer and politician
* [[Walter Dornberger]] (1895–1980), rocket scientist
* [[Paul Drude|Paul Karl Ludwig Drude]]  (1863–1906)  [[physicist]] specializing in [[optics]] 
* [[Peter Düttmann]] (1923–2001), Luftwaffe Ace
* [[Landgravine Elisabeth Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt]] (1635–1709), [[Electress|Electress Palatine]]
* [[Charles Friedek]] (born 1971), triple jumper, gold medallist at the [[1999 World Championships in Athletics]]
* [[Jesko Friedrich]] (born 1974), comedy television actor and writer
* [[Adolph Hansen]] (1851–1920), botanist and professor at [[University of Giessen]]
* [[Paul Gordan]] (1837–1912), mathematican, known for work in [[invariant theory]]
* [[Fritz Pfeffer]] (1889–1944), dentist, hid in the [[Anne Frank House]] during WWII
* [[Fritz Heichelheim]] (1901–1968), economic historian
* [[August Wilhelm von Hofmann]] (1818–1892), chemist
* [[Juli (band)|Juli]], rock band
* [[Friedrich Kellner]] (1885–1970), Chief Regional Auditor in Giessen 1948–1950, and Chief Justice Inspector of Laubach, where he wrote [[My Opposition|his secret WWII diary]].  The Holocaust Research Unit of Justus Liebig University of Giessen has established the Kellner Project
* [[Karl Kling]] (1910–2003), racing driver and head of [[Mercedes-Benz Motorsport]]
* [[Jonathan Koch (rower)|Jonathan Koch]] (born 1985), rower
* [[Harald Lesch]] (born 1960), physicist, astronomer, natural philosopher, author, television presenter, professor of physics
* [[Chris Liebing]] (born 1968) techno/electronic music producer and DJ
* [[Justus von Liebig]] (1803–1873), chemist, professor. The official name of the University of Giessen is now ''Justus Liebig University''
* [[Wilhelm Liebknecht]] (1826–1900), founder of the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany]]
* [[Sigmund Livingston]] (1872–1946), American lawyer, founder and first president of the [[Anti-Defamation League]]
* [[Christopher Ludwick]] (1720–1801) Baker General for the American Revolutionary War Army – Philadelphia
* [[Alfred Milner]] (1854–1925), British statesman
* [[Demis Nikolaidis]] (born 1973), Greek footballer
* [[James J. O'Donnell]] (born 1950), American scholar and university administrator, born in Giessen
* [[Albert Osswald]] (1919–1996), politician
* [[Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen]] (1845–1923), physicist, professor of physics from 1879 until 1888 at the University of Giessen. He was buried at the "Alte Friedhof", where his tomb can still be found
* [[Johann Georg Rosenmüller]] (1736–1815), professor of theology at the university
* [[Jochen Schropp]] (born 1978), German actor and television entertainer
* [[Til Schweiger]] (born 1968), actor, director and producer. Grew up, went to school and started studying in Giessen
* [[Wilhelm Sievers]] (1860–1921), geographer, explorer, professor at the university
* [[Henrietta Skelton]] (1839/1842–1900), social reformer, writer, organizer, lecturer
* [[Dieter Strack]], retired German professional basketball player
* [[Julian Theobald]] (born 1984), racing driver
* [[Tabea Waßmuth]] (born 1996), footballer
* [[Marie Wittich]] (1868–1931), opera singer
* [[:de:Willy Zschietzschmann|Willy Zschietzschmann]] (1900–1976), Classical archeologist and author

==Education==
* MBML: The International Graduate Programme "Molecular Biology and Medicine of the Lung" of the University of Giessen Lung Center
* [[University hospital Giessen und Marburg]]
* [[University of Applied Sciences Giessen-Friedberg|Mittelhessen University of Applied Sciences]]
* [[University of Giessen]]

==Manisch==
[[Manisch]] is a dialect of [[rotwelsch]] spoken in and around Giessen by people in lower income neighbourhoods, some of which are known as "Eulenkopf", "Gummiinsel", "Heyerweg" and "Margaretenhütte". Approximately 700&ndash;750 residents spoke the dialect fluently as of 1976.<ref>Hans-Günter Lerch, "Tschü lowi...Das Manische in Gießen", 1976/2005, pages 16-22.</ref> Although the dialect still influences the Giessen [[vernacular]], it is nearly extinct in terms of fluent speakers.

==Geography==

===Climate===
Climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round.  The [[Köppen Climate Classification]] subtype for this climate is "[[Köppen climate classification#Group C: Temperate/mesothermal climates|Cfb]]". (Marine West Coast Climate).

{{Weather box	
| location = Giessen (1991–2020 normals)	
| metric first = Y	
| single line = Y	
|Jan high C = 	4.0
|Feb high C = 	5.6
|Mar high C = 	10.2
|Apr high C = 	15.4
|May high C = 	19.3
|Jun high C = 	22.7
|Jul high C = 	25.0
|Aug high C = 	24.7
|Sep high C = 	19.8
|Oct high C = 	13.9
|Nov high C = 	8.0
|Dec high C = 	4.5
| year high C =	14.4
|Jan mean C = 	1.4
|Feb mean C = 	2.2
|Mar mean C = 	5.6
|Apr mean C = 	9.8
|May mean C = 	13.8
|Jun mean C = 	17.1
|Jul mean C = 	19.0
|Aug mean C = 	18.6
|Sep mean C = 	14.3
|Oct mean C = 	9.6
|Nov mean C = 	5.3
|Dec mean C = 	2.2
|year mean C = 	9.9
|Jan low C = 	-1.2
|Feb low C = 	-1.1
|Mar low C = 	1.2
|Apr low C = 	4.2
|May low C = 	8.0
|Jun low C = 	11.2
|Jul low C = 	13.2
|Aug low C = 	12.8
|Sep low C = 	9.3
|Oct low C = 	5.8
|Nov low C = 	2.5
|Dec low C = 	-0.2
| year low C =	5.5
| precipitation colour = green	
|Jan precipitation mm = 	48.6
|Feb precipitation mm = 	35.9
|Mar precipitation mm = 	42.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 	37.9
|May precipitation mm = 	57.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 	59.8
|Jul precipitation mm = 	73.5
|Aug precipitation mm = 	61.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 	49.8
|Oct precipitation mm = 	49.9
|Nov precipitation mm = 	48.9
|Dec precipitation mm = 	55.8
| year precipitation mm =	626.9
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 	16.3
|Feb precipitation days = 	14.6
|Mar precipitation days = 	14.6
|Apr precipitation days = 	12.5
|May precipitation days = 	13.8
|Jun precipitation days = 	13.6
|Jul precipitation days = 	15.0
|Aug precipitation days = 	13.3
|Sep precipitation days = 	12.5
|Oct precipitation days = 	15.5
|Nov precipitation days = 	16.4
|Dec precipitation days = 	17.7
|year precipitation days = 	176.9
|Jan sun = 	47.4
|Feb sun = 	75.1
|Mar sun = 	129.5
|Apr sun = 	185.9
|May sun = 	207.5
|Jun sun = 	221.3
|Jul sun = 	226.7
|Aug sun = 	216.4
|Sep sun = 	152.7
|Oct sun = 	95.9
|Nov sun = 	43.4
|Dec sun = 	34.2
|year sun = 	1636.1
|Jan humidity = 	86.4
|Feb humidity = 	82.5
|Mar humidity = 	76.0
|Apr humidity = 	68.9
|May humidity = 	70.3
|Jun humidity = 	70.2
|Jul humidity = 	69.4
|Aug humidity = 	71.1
|Sep humidity = 	78.6
|Oct humidity = 	85.6
|Nov humidity = 	89.0
|Dec humidity = 	89.3
|unit snow days = 1.0 cm
|Jan snow days = 	6.1
|Feb snow days = 	4.8
|Mar snow days = 	1.2
|Apr snow days = 	0.1
|May snow days = 	0
|Jun snow days = 	0
|Jul snow days = 	0
|Aug snow days = 	0
|Sep snow days = 	0
|Oct snow days = 	0
|Nov snow days = 	0.5
|Dec snow days = 	3.6
|year snow days = 	
| source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organization]]<ref name=WMO>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231012154929/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Germany/CSV/GiessenWettenberg_10532.csv
| archive-date = 12 October 2023
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Germany/CSV/GiessenWettenberg_10532.csv
| title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020
| work = World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = 12 October 2023}}</ref>
}}

==See also==
* [[Giessen station]]
* [[Giessen 46ers]] &mdash; Basketball club
* [[Giessen emigration society]] &mdash; founded 1833

==References==
;Notes
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Gießen|Giessen}}
* {{wikivoyage inline|Giessen}}
* [https://www.swg-konzern.de/ City Services Giessen (SWG)]
* [http://www.marbuch-verlag.de/ Express Magazine – Current events and news from Giessen]

{{Towns and municipalities in Gießen district}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Giessen}}
[[Category:Giessen| ]]<!--please leave the empty space as standard-->