View source for Grabow

{{short description|Town in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Expand German|topic=geo|Grabow (Elde)|date=April 2012}}
{{Infobox German place
|image_caption      = Town hall and marketplace with St. Georgs church in the background
|Gemeindeschlüssel  = 13 0 76 050
|type                = Stadt
|name               = Grabow
|image_coa             = Grabow Wappen1.svg
|image_photo        = Grabow Rathaus.jpg
|image_flag=File:Flagge_Grabow.svg|coordinates        = {{coord|53|16|N|11|34|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|image_plan           = Grabow (Elde)_in_SWM.svg
|state         = Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
|district          = Ludwigslust-Parchim
|Amt                = Grabow
|elevation               = 26
|area             = 72.08
|postal_code                = 19300
|area_code            = 038756
|licence                = LWL
|website            = [http://www.grabow.de/ www.grabow.de]
|mayor      = [[Kathleen Bartels]]
|party   = SPD
}}
'''Grabow''' ({{IPA|de|ˈɡʁaːboː|-|De-Grabow.ogg}}) is a town in the [[Ludwigslust-Parchim]] district of [[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]], [[Germany]]. The town lies {{Convert|7|km|mi}} southeast of [[Ludwigslust]], the next city, and has the river [[Elde]] passing through its [[old town]] which is characterized by 16th century [[Timber framing|timber-framed architecture]]. Additionally, Grabow is a member and the seat of the [[Grabow (Amt)|Amt Grabow]] [[Gemeindeverband|collective municipality]] as well as being a part of the  [[Hamburg Metropolitan Region]]. Historically, Grabow was home to a royal residence where some monarchs of the [[House of Mecklenburg|Mecklenburg line]] were born.

== Geography ==
Grabow is situated on the river [[Elde]] in the [[Griese Gegend]] region of southern [[Mecklenburg]], close to the border of the state of [[Brandenburg]] ([[Prignitz|Prignitz district]]). It is surrounded by a scenic landscape of primarily [[Forest|forests]], with the city forest inside Grabow's territory covering an area of {{Convert|1658|ha|acre}} or {{Convert|16.58|km2|sqmi}}.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2024 |title=Grabow {{!}} Stadtkern |url=https://www.staedtebaufoerderung.info/DE/WeitereProgramme/StaedtebaulicherDenkmalschutz/Praxis/Massnahmen/Grabow_inhalt.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250517103142/https://www.staedtebaufoerderung.info/DE/WeitereProgramme/StaedtebaulicherDenkmalschutz/Praxis/Massnahmen/Grabow_inhalt.html |archive-date=2025-05-17 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=staedtebaufoerderung.info}}</ref>

The town lies {{Convert|7|km|mi}} southeast of [[Ludwigslust]], {{Convert|40|km|mi}} southeast of the state capital [[Schwerin]], and {{Convert|34|km|mi}} northwest of [[Wittenberge]] in [[Brandenburg]]. Clockwise, starting from the north, Grabow's core territory is bordered by the following municipalities: [[Groß Laasch]], [[Muchow]], [[Zierzow]], [[Prislich]], [[Kremmin]], [[Gorlosen]], [[Eldena]], [[Karstädt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern|Karstädt]], and [[Ludwigslust]]. The exclave [[Steesow]] is bordered by [[Milow, Germany|Milow]] to the north and [[Lenzen (Elbe)]] to the south.

Besides the main town itself, the municipality of Grabow includes several outlying villages in its [[hinterland]]. These include: [[Bochin]], [[Fresenbrügge]], [[Heidehof]], [[Steesow]], [[Wanzlitz]], [[Winkelmoor]] und [[Zuggelrade]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-21 |title=Stadt Grabow ZWK |url=https://www.zukunftswerkstatt-kommunen.de/kommunen/grabow |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.zukunftswerkstatt-kommunen.de |language=de-DE}}</ref>

The former municipality of [[Steesow]], which also included the villages of [[Bochin]] of [[Zuggelrade]], was annexed into Grabow on 1 January 2016<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2015-10-05 |title=Vertrag über die Eingemeindung der Gemeinde Steesow zur Stadt Grabow |url=http://www.grabow.de/index.php/component/dropfiles/?task=frontfile.download&id=612 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221044301/http://www.grabow.de/index.php/component/dropfiles/?task=frontfile.download&id=612 |archive-date=2015-12-21}}</ref> despite being separated by {{Convert|15|km|mi}} and two other municipalities, [[Gorlosen]] and [[Milow, Germany|Milow]], thus forming an [[Enclave and exclave|exclave]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=2016-01-08 |title=Gemeinsam in eine neue Zukunft |url=https://www.grabow.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/Amtsanzeiger/2016/Januar-2016.pdf |access-date=2025-05-15 |work=Grabower Amtsanzeiger |pages=6-7 |issue=1}}</ref> This exclave is the only part of Grabow that directly borders the state of [[Brandenburg]] as the core territory of the town is separated from the border by at minimum {{Convert|2.5|km|mi}} and the municipality of [[Kremmin]].

Grabow lies on the [[Berlin–Hamburg railway]] and is serviced by the [[List of railway routes in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern#Regional-Express|RE8]] via the [[Grabow (Meckl) station]]. The [[Bundesautobahn 14|A14]] highway bypasses Grabow to the west.

==History==
{{Historical affiliations
| {{flagicon image|Wappen Samtgemeinde dannenberg.png}} [[County of Dannenberg]] (1186–1319/20)
| {{flagicon image|Mecklenburg_Arms.svg}} [[Duchy of Mecklenburg]] (1320–1471)
| {{flagicon image|CoA Schwerin County.svg}} [[County of Schwerin]] (1234–1471)
| {{flagicon image|Mecklenburg_Arms.svg}} [[Duchy of Mecklenburg]] (1471–1520)
| {{flagicon image|Wappen_Mecklenburg-Schwerin_2.svg}} [[Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]] (1520–1695)
| {{flagicon image|Flagge Großherzogtümer Mecklenburg.svg}} [[Duchy of Mecklenburg]] (1695–1701)
| {{flagicon image|Flagge Großherzogtümer Mecklenburg.svg}} [[Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]] (1701–1815)
| {{flagicon image|Flagge Großherzogtümer Mecklenburg.svg}} [[Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]] (1815–1866)
| {{flag|North German Confederation}} (1866–1871)
| {{flag|German Empire}} (1871–1918)
| {{flag|Weimar Republic}} (1918–1933)
| {{flag|Nazi Germany}} (1933–1945)
| {{flagicon image|Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 – 1955).svg}} [[Soviet occupation zone in Germany|Soviet Occupation Zone]] (1945–1949)
| {{flag|East Germany}} (1949–1990)
| {{flag|Germany}} (1990–present)
}}
The name Grabow is of [[Slavic languages|Slavic]] [[Polabian language|Polabian]] origin, with ''grab'' meaning "[[Carpinus betulus|hornbeam]]". Names of the same root are common in the area. Its name only slightly changed over time as with the town being known as ''Grabowe'' (1186, 1252, 1275) and ''Grabow'' (1189, 1298). 

In a letter from 23 February 1186, Pope [[Urban III]].<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |title=Grabow |url=https://mecklenburg-vorpommern.volksbund.de/aktuell/projekte/artikel/grabow |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=mecklenburg-vorpommern.volksbund.de |language=de}}</ref> mentioned a castle in Grabow and that the settlement belongs to the [[County of Dannenberg]].<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":14">{{Cite web |title=Stadtgeschichte {{!}} Amt Grabow |url=https://www.grabow.de/stadt-grabow/stadtgeschichte/ |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.grabow.de}}</ref> Grabow received [[town privileges]] in 1252 from the [[Count of Dannenberg]].<ref name=":13" /> A church in Grabow was first mentioned in 1285.<ref name=":15">{{Cite book |url=https://www.grabow.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Flaechnnutzungsplan-Stadt-Grabow-Begruendung.pdf |title=FLÄCHENNUTZUNGSPLAN DER STADT GRABOW |publication-date=March 2006 |pages=6 |language=de}}</ref> 

Since 1319/20, Grabow has been a part of [[Mecklenburg]] under first the Duchy and then the [[Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]], under which it was incorporated into the [[German Empire]].
[[File:Inschrift Grabow.jpg|thumb|245x245px|Date on the town's oldest building.]]
The old [[town hall]] was built in 1687/88. On 3 June 1725, the vast majority of the town was destroyed by a great fire, this included the old town hall, which was rebuilt in 1728, remaining in use to this day; and the ducal palace, which was never rebuilt.<ref name=":6" /> After the fire, the incumbent first mayors, Hans Scheffer and Franz Heinrich Accidalius, commenced the rebuilding of the town in its now iconic style of close core [[Timber framing|timber-framed houses]] which still characterize the [[old town]].<ref name=":2" /> The oldest building in Grabow dates to 23 May 1702, meaning that it survived the great fire.

The first known Jews in Grabow showed up in records starting in 1749. They were two men: Moses Wulff and Siemon Moses, that earned their privilege of ''Schutzjude'' on 20 November 1753. By 1767, at least four Jews lived in Grabow and a small community of Jews had formed in the town by 1780 at the latest who maintained a small burial ground.<ref name=":10" /> A small [[synagogue]] may have also existed at the time, but was superseded by a new one, located at the intersection of Schulstraße and Wasserstraße, in 1798, which fell out of use before the 1930s, and was demolished in 1975.<ref name=":11" /> Grabow's Jewish population peaked in 1819 with 44 (8 families).<ref name=":12" /> Since the 18th century, Grabow has had a small [[Jewish cemetery]], which the city maintains to this day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jüdischer Friedhof Grabow |url=http://www.juden-in-mecklenburg.de/Friedhoefe/Juedischer_Friedhof_Grabow |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.juden-in-mecklenburg.de}}</ref>

In 1805, the painter [[Wilhelm Langschmidt]] was born in Grabow and later settled in the [[Elgin, Western Cape|Elgin valley]] in [[South Africa]]. The town which grew around his trading store there still bears the name [[Grabouw]], after his hometown.<ref>G. de Beer, A. Paterson, H. Olivier: ''160 Years of Export''. PPECB. Plattekloof, South Africa. 2003. {{ISBN|0-620-30967-9}}</ref>

During 1843, Grabow had a population of 3,781, thereof 32 [[Jews]] and 259 [[cavalry|cavalrymen]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=grabow |url=https://griesegegend-online.de/chronik/grabow.htm |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=griesegegend-online.de}}</ref>

=== World War II ===
The 1930 city council election was the last in Grabow before Nazi takeover had the following result: 8 [[Grouping of electors#Germany|''Bürgerliche Liste'']], 5 [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]], 2 [[Communist Party of Germany|KPD]]. After the takeover, the city council was dissolved in November 1932 and reinstated in April 1933 with the following composition: 7 [[Nazi Party|NSDAP]], 5 [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]], 3 ''[[German National People's Party|Kampffront Schwarz-Weiß-Rot]]''. It was again dissolved in October 1935 and replaced by a council of 8 advisors to the mayor. The mayor at the time, Dr. Walter Bötcher, who had been in office since 1931, originally came from the [[German People's Party|DVP]] and only joined the [[Nazi Party|NSDAP]] 1937. He was assisted by four 'temporary' vice-mayors and stayed in office until 1945.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |title=Nazizeit |url=http://www.grabow-erinnerungen.de/pdfDateien/nazizeit.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623031704/http://www.grabow-erinnerungen.de/pdfDateien/nazizeit.pdf |archive-date=2017-06-23 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=grabow-erinnerungen.de}}</ref>

After [[Adolf Hitler's rise to power|Hitler's rise to power]], Jews faced increased discrimination which culminated in the ''[[Kristallnacht]]'', although it is unknown if the already out-of-use [[synagogue]], which was sold 1932, and the [[Jewish cemetery]] were affected during this time. Most Jews in Grabow were deported to concentration camps and murdered during [[the Holocaust]]. They are remembered by several ''[[Stolperstein|Stolpersteine]]'' in the city, the first of which being laid in 2014. The last known Jew in Grabow was Betty Londe, née Rosenthal, who was recorded to be in a ''Mischehe'' (mixed marriage) in 1942, which ensured that she survived [[World War II]], albeit her family facing repercussions.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |title=Die Juden von Grabow |url=http://www.juden-in-mecklenburg.de/Orte/Grabow |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.juden-in-mecklenburg.de}}</ref>

[[Willi Fründt]], a communist from Grabow, was deported to [[Neuengamme concentration camp]] and executed on 24 December 1944 as a result of ''[[Aktion Gitter]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Willi Fründt |url=http://www.grabow-erinnerungen.de/seiten/denkmale/fruendt.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620115653/http://www.grabow-erinnerungen.de/seiten/denkmale/fruendt.html |archive-date=2021-06-20 |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=grabow-erinnerungen.de}}</ref>

Grabow was nearly untouched by [[World War II]].<ref name=":13" />

=== Since reunification ===
In 2005, the {{ill|Amt Grabow-Land|de}}, which annexed the {{ill|Amt Malliß|de}} in 2004,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-12-22 |title=Satzungsänderung der Verbandssatzung des Kommunalen Anteilseignerverbandes der WEMAG |url=https://bravors.brandenburg.de/sixcms/media.php/76/Amtsblatt%2050_04.pdf |work=Amtsblatt für Brandenburg |pages=6}}</ref> and the town of Grabow were merged into the administrative unit [[Grabow (Amt)|Amt Grabow]], which persists to this day.<ref name=":14" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Das Amt {{!}} Amt Grabow |url=https://www.grabow.de/das-amt/ |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.grabow.de}}</ref> The [[Ludwigslust (district)|district of Ludwigslust]], of which Grabow was a part, was merged with the [[Parchim (district)|district of Parchim]] on 4 September 2011, forming the new [[Ludwigslust-Parchim|district of Ludwigslust-Parchim]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kreisreform in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern |url=https://www.bbsr.bund.de/BBSR/DE/forschung/raumbeobachtung/Raumabgrenzungen/deutschland/kreisgebietsreformen/kreisreform-meck-pomm.html |access-date=2025-05-17}}</ref>

On 1 January 2016, Grabow annexed the former municipality [[Steesow]], which became an exclave separated by {{Convert|15|km|mi}} from the core municipal territory.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" />

In 2024 Grabow participated in the Summer of Pioneers, a project attempting to help revive smaller towns.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pohle |first=Mayk |date=2024-10-28 |title=Dieser Sommer hat das Leben in Grabow verändert |url=https://www.nordkurier.de/regional/ludwigslust/zukunftswerkstatt-grabow-projekte-laufen-weiter-2966841 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241028150148/https://www.nordkurier.de/regional/ludwigslust/zukunftswerkstatt-grabow-projekte-laufen-weiter-2966841 |archive-date=2024-10-28 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.nordkurier.de |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.ndr.de/fernsehen/sendungen/nordmagazin/Grabow-Summer-of-Pioneers-Ein-Experiment-geht-zu-Ende,nordmagazin123268.html |title=Grabow: Summer of Pioneers - Ein Experiment geht zu Ende |date=2024-10-28 |last=NDR |language=de |access-date=2025-05-17 |via=www.ndr.de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Future Hamburg Talk meets Kathleen Bartels, Mayor of Grabow |url=https://hamburg-business.com/en/news/future-hamburg-talk-meets-kathleen-bartels-mayor-of-grabow |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=Hamburg’s business portal |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Demographics==
As of the [[2022 German census|2022 census]], Grabow had a population of 5,436 (2023 estimate: 5,416<!-- Citation in the Infobox. The number shown in the infobox does not appear in the cited document. -->), of which 2,781 (51.2%) are female and 2,655 (48.8%) are male. The median age in the municipality is 49.8, with 757 (13.9%) being under 18 and 1,653 (30.4%) being 65 or older.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=Ergebnisse des Zensus in MV - Grabow, Stadt_Amt Grabow.xlsx |url=https://www.laiv-mv.de/static/LAIV/Statistik/Zensus/Dateien/Dokumente/Sonstiges/Gemeindebl%C3%A4tter/13076/Grabow%2c%20Stadt_Amt%20Grabow.xlsx |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.laiv-mv.de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Grabow (Ludwigslust-Parchim, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Deutschland) - Einwohnerzahlen, Grafiken, Karte, Lage, Wetter und Web-Informationen |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/de/germany/mecklenburgvorpommern/ludwigslust_parchim/13076050__grabow/ |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref>
{{historical populations
|1843|3,781
|1875|4,207
|1877|4,200
|1900|5,296
|1910|5,500
|1933|5,860
|1936|6,138
|1937|6,170
|1939|6,081
|1942|6,385
|1947|8,838
|1946|8,950
|1970|8,500
|1980|8,700
|1984|8,600
|1989|8,200
|1990|8,098
|1995|7,240
|1997|6,934
|2000|6,741
|2005|6,231
|2009|5,846
|2010|5,859
|2011|5,807
|2015|5,556
|2020|5,559
|2021|5,500
|2022|5,436
|2023|5,416
|footnote=Data may be affected by territorial fluctuation.<br />
Sources: [https://griesegegend-online.de/chronik/grabow.htm 1843], [https://web.archive.org/web/20170623031704/http://www.grabow-erinnerungen.de/pdfDateien/nazizeit.pdf 1875/1900/1933-1947/2009], [https://www.grabow.de/stadt-grabow/stadtgeschichte/ 1877/1910/1946/1970/1980/1989], [https://web.archive.org/web/20210617024905/https://www.laiv-mv.de/Statistik/Zahlen-und-Fakten/Gesellschaft-&-Staat/Bev%C3%B6lkerung 1990-2020], [https://www.statistischebibliothek.de/mir/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/MVHeft_derivate_00001351/Y131A76_2011_01.pdf 2011], [https://www.laiv-mv.de/Statistik/Zensus/Ergebnisse/ 2022], [https://www.laiv-mv.de/static/LAIV/Statistik/Dateien/Publikationen/A%20I%20Bev%C3%B6lkerungsstand/A123/2022/A123%202023%2023.xlsx 2023] |align=none|cols=3}}
In 1947 the population consisted of 5,323 residents and 3,515 [[German Expellees|expellees]], thus explaining the population jump to 8,838.<ref name=":9" />

=== Citizenship ===
As of the [[2022 German census|2022 census]], 5,257 (96.7%) of the population have German citizenship and 176 (3.2%) do not. Broken down, the residents in Grabow by citizenship are as follows:<ref name=":8" />
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! rowspan="2" |Citizenship
! colspan="2" |[[2022 German census|2022]]
|-
!{{Tooltip|Nr.|Number}}
!%
|-
|[[Germany]]
|5,257
|96.7
|-
|[[Ukraine]]
|41
|0.8
|-
|[[Poland]]
|34
|0.6
|-
|[[Syria]]
|20
|0.4
|-
|[[Croatia]]
|14 
|0.3
|-
|[[Serbia]]
|7
|0.1
|-
|[[Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia]]
|5
|0.1
|-
|[[Bulgaria]]
|5
|0.1
|-
|[[Turkey]]
|5
|0.1
|-
|[[Afghanistan]]
|5
|0.1
|}

=== Religion ===
[[File:Grabow St Georg steeple.jpg|thumb|253x253px|St. Georgs church]]
As of the [[2022 German census|2022 census]], most of the population in Grabow does not belong to either of the two state-recognized churches.<ref name=":8" />
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! rowspan="2" |Confession or Church
! colspan="2" |[[2022 German census|2022]]
! colspan="2" |[[2011 German census|2011]]<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.statistischebibliothek.de/mir/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/MVHeft_derivate_00001351/Y131A76_2011_01.pdf |title=Bevölkerung des Landkreises Ludwigslust-Parchim vom 9. Mai 2011 nach Gemeinden und demografischen Merkmalen |publisher=Statistische Amt Mecklenburg-Vorpommern |year=2014 |pages=39 |language=de}}</ref>
|-
!{{Tooltip|Nr.|Number}}
!%
!{{Tooltip|Nr.|Number}}
!%
|-
|[[Evangelical Church in Germany]]
|885
|16.3
|1,153
|19.9
|-
|[[Catholic Church in Germany]]
|125
|2.3
|130
|2.2
|-
|Other or [[Irreligion|irreligious]]
|4,427
|81.4
|4,522
|77.9
|}
[[File:DEU Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Grabow 220724 033.jpg|left|thumb|131x131px|Catholic church]]
The town church is the [[Evangelical Church in Germany|evangelical-lutheran]] St. Georgs church which lies in the centre of the [[old town]], just behind the town hall. It is the highest building in the town<ref>{{Cite web |title=Evangelisch - Lutherische Kirche Grabow |url=https://kirchegrabow.de/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923193057/https://kirchegrabow.de/ |archive-date=2024-09-23 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website= |language=de}}</ref> and was built in 1781 with the [[pulpit]] dating back to 1555, making it the second oldest pulpit in all of [[Germany]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=e.V |first=Tourismusverband Mecklenburg-Vorpommern |title=Stadtkirche St. Georg |url=https://www.auf-nach-mv.de/reiseziele/a-stadtkirche-st-georg |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=Tourismusverband Mecklenburg-Vorpommern e.V. |language=de}}</ref> A church in Grabow was first mentioned in the year 1285.<ref name=":15" /> Two other churches lie within the town's core: the [[Catholic Church in Germany|catholic]] Maria Magdalena church located in an old horse stable since 1958,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Katholische Pfarrei Heilige Edith Stein |url=https://pfarrei-edith-stein.de/Grabow-Kirche-Maria-Magdalena__2792 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=pfarrei-edith-stein.de}}</ref> and a small [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Adventgemeinde Grabow |url=https://grabow.adventist.eu/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430042517/https://grabow.adventist.eu/ |archive-date=2018-04-30 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=grabow.adventist.eu |language=de}}</ref> Grabow has no known Jews, the last one being Betty Londe, née Rosenthal, who was recorded to be in a ''Mischehe'' (mixed marriage) in 1942, which saved her from [[the Holocaust]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Die Juden von Grabow |url=http://www.juden-in-mecklenburg.de/Orte/Grabow |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.juden-in-mecklenburg.de}}</ref> Despite this, Grabow maintains a [[Jewish cemetery]]<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |title=Jüdische Gemeinde - Grabow (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) |url=https://www.xn--jdische-gemeinden-22b.de/index.php/gemeinden/e-g/2403-grabow-mecklenburg-vorpommern |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.xn--jdische-gemeinden-22b.de}}</ref> and used to have a [[synagogue]] until the early 1930s.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |title=Die Synagoge Grabow |url=http://www.juden-in-mecklenburg.de/Synagogen/Synagoge_Grabow |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.juden-in-mecklenburg.de}}</ref>

The [[hinterland]] village of [[Bochin]] has its own, unnamed, [[Evangelical Church in Germany|evangelical-lutheran]] church built in 1894.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bochin - Kirchenkreis Prignitz |url=https://kirchenkreis-prignitz.de/bochin |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=kirchenkreis-prignitz.de}}</ref>{{clear}}
== Politics ==
[[File:GrabowRathausX.jpg|thumb|226x226px|Grabow town hall]]
Due to being the seat of the [[Grabow (Amt)|Amt Grabow]], the town's administration extends some of its jurisdiction over the other member municipalities.

The municipal council as well as the ''[[Amt]]'' and city administration are located in the [[town hall]] at Am Marktplatz 1.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Impressum {{!}} Amt Grabow |url=https://www.grabow.de/impressum/ |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=www.grabow.de}}</ref>

=== City council ===
{{Parliament diagram
|float=right
|width=200
|n1=4|p1=Social Democratic Party of Germany|c1={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}
|n2=4|p2=[[Grouping of electors|Strong Grabow]]|c2=#9ACD32
|n3=2|p3=Free Voters|c3={{party color|Free Voters}}
|n4=4|p4=Christian Democratic Union of Germany|c4={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}
|n5=3|p5=Alternative for Germany|c5={{party color|Alternative for Germany}}
}}As of the last election, Grabow's city council consist of 17 members. The most recent elections were the [[2024 Mecklenburg-Vorpommern municipal elections]], held on 9 June 2024, with the following result:<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Ergebnis |url=https://votemanager.kdo.de/20240609/130765657/praesentation/ergebnis.html?wahl_id=1758&stimmentyp=0&id=ebene_-2709_id_3159 |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=votemanager.kdo.de}}</ref>{{election table}}
! colspan=2| Candidate
! Party
! Votes
! %
! +/-
! Seats
! +/-
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}| 
| align=left| Markus Rohst
| align=left| [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany]] (CDU)
| 2,184
| 25.20
| {{increase}} 0.56
| 4
| {{steady}} 0
|-
| bgcolor=#9ACD32| 
| align=left| Dirk Dobbertin
| align=left| Strong Grabow
| 2,026
| 23.38
| {{increase}} 4.87
| 4
| {{increase}} 1
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| 
| align=left| Carina Stopsack-Sternberg
| align=left| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany]] (SPD)
| 1,942
| 22.41
| {{decrease}} 12.61
| 4
| {{decrease}} 2
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alternative for Germany}}| 
| align=left| Thomas Binder
| align=left| [[Alternative for Germany]] (AfD)
| 1,711
| 19.74
| ''New''
| 3
| {{increase}} 3
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Free Voters}}| 
| align=left| Karl Kessner
| align=left| [[Free Voters]] (FW)
| 804
| 9.28
| ''New''
| 2
| {{increase}} 2
|-
! colspan=3| Valid votes
! 8,667
! 95.76
! {{increase}} 1.95
! 
! 
|-
! colspan=3| Invalid votes
! 192
! 2.12
! {{decrease}} 4.07
! 
! 
|-
! colspan=3| Electorate/voter turnout
! 3,017
! 63.57
! {{increase}} 8.15
! 
! 
|-
| colspan=8| Source: [https://votemanager.kdo.de/20240609/130765657/praesentation/ergebnis.html?wahl_id=1758&stimmentyp=0&id=ebene_-2709_id_3159 Stadtvertretungswahl Grabow 09.06.2024]
|}Previous elections had the following results:
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" {{diagonal split header|Party|Year}}
! colspan="2" |2024<ref name=":4" />
! rowspan="13" |
! colspan="2" |2019<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ergebnis |url=https://votemanager.kdo.de/20190526/130765657/praesentation/ergebnis.html?wahl_id=86&stimmentyp=0&id=ebene_8_id_797 |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=votemanager.kdo.de}}</ref>
! rowspan="13" |
! colspan="2" |2014
! rowspan="12" |
! colspan="2" |2009<ref name=":7">{{Cite book |url=https://www.laiv-mv.de/serviceassistent/download?id=1645105 |title=Kommunalwahlen in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern am 7. Juni 2009 |year=July 2010 |series=Statistische Hefte |pages=65-69 |language=German}}</ref>
! rowspan="12" |
! colspan="2" |2004<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-06-13 |title=Stadtvertretung |url=http://www.stadtgrabow.de/stadt_web/0_rathaus/stadtvertretung.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050218220205/http://www.stadtgrabow.de/stadt_web/0_rathaus/stadtvertretung.html |archive-date=2005-02-18 |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=stadtgrabow.de}}</ref>
! rowspan="12" |
! colspan="2" |1999<ref>{{Cite web |title=Endgültiges Ergebnis der Wahl der Gemeindevertretungen in den kreisangehörigen Gemeinden nach Gemeinden |url=https://www.laiv-mv.de/static/LAIV/Wahlen/Dateien/Publikationen/B731/B734GV%202004%2001.xls |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=www.laiv-mv.de}}</ref>
! rowspan="12" |
! colspan="2" |1994<ref>{{Cite web |title=Endgültiges Ergebnis der Wahl der Gemeindevertretungen in den kreisangehörigen Gemeinden nach Gemeinden |url=https://www.laiv-mv.de/static/LAIV/Wahlen/Dateien/Publikationen/B731/B734GV%201994%2001.xls |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=www.laiv-mv.de}}</ref>
|-
!%
!Seats
!%
!Seats
!%
!Seats
!%
!Seats
!%
!Seats
!%
!Seats
!%
!Seats
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}|
|[[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|CDU]]
|25.20
|4
|24.64
|4
|15.4
|3
|34.0
|6
|45.7
|9
|45.7
|9
|28.3
|6
|-
| bgcolor=#9ACD32|
|Strong Grabow{{efn|2014 as ABG|group=lower-alpha}}
|23.38
|4
|18.51
|3
|12.8
|2
| colspan="2" |''did not exist''
| colspan="2" |''did not exist''
| colspan="2" |''did not exist''
| colspan="2" |''did not exist''
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}|
|[[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
|22.41
|4
|35.02
|6
|30.7
|5
|31.2
|6
|29.5
|6
|29.5
|6
|39.4
|9
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alternative for Germany}}|
|[[Alternative for Germany|AfD]]
|19.74
|3
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" |''did not run''
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" |''did not run''
| colspan="2" |''did not exist''
| colspan="2" |''did not exist''
| colspan="2" |''did not exist''
| colspan="2" |''did not exist''
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Free Voters}}|
|[[Free Voters|FW]]
|9.28
|2
| colspan="2" |''did not run''
| colspan="2" |''did not run''
| colspan="2" |''did not run''
| colspan="2" |''did not run''
|-
| bgcolor=#104EB2|
|AfG
| colspan="2" rowspan="5" |''did not run''
|12.0
|2
|10,9
|2
| colspan="2" |''did not exist''
| colspan="2" |''did not exist''
| colspan="2" |''did not exist''
| colspan="2" |''did not exist''
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|The Left (Germany)}}|
|[[Die Linke|The Left]]{{efn|until 2007 as PDS|group=lower-alpha}}
|9.83
|2
|17.5 
|3
|19.1 
|4
|18.6
|3
|18.7
|3
|25.9
|6
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}|
|[[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]]
| colspan="2" rowspan="3" |''did not run''
|12.7
|2
| colspan="2" rowspan="3" |''did not run''
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" |''did not run''
|0.9
|0
|2.6
|0{{efn|[[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]] enforced a 5%-threshold for municipal elections until 2004<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fünf-Prozent-Hürde |url=https://www.wahlrecht.de/lexikon/fuenf-prozent-huerde.html |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=www.wahlrecht.de}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha|name="c"}}
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}|
|[[Alliance 90/The Greens|Greens]]
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" |''did not run''
| colspan="2" |''did not run''
|3.9
|0{{efn|name="c"}}
|-
| bgcolor="{{party color|Independent}}" |
|Independents
|5.2
|1{{efn|Hartmut Linow|group=lower-alpha}}
|5.2
|1{{efn|Norbert Alff|group=lower-alpha}}
| colspan="2" |''did not run''
|}
Strong Grabow ({{langx|de|Starkes Grabow}}) and Alternative for Grabow ({{langx|de|Alternative für Grabow}}, AfG) are [[Grouping of electors#Germany|voter groups]].

=== Mayor ===
The current mayor is [[Kathleen Bartels]] ([[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]) who was elected on 21 October 2018 with 54.82% of the vote for a term of seven years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bürgermeisterwahl der Stadt Grabow - Bürgermeisterwahl der Stadt Grabow 2018 Amt Grabow - Gesamtergebnis |url=https://votemanager.kdo.de/20181021/130765657/html5/Buergermeisterwahl_Mitgliedsgemeinde_MecklenburgVorpommern_100_Gemeinde_Amt_Grabow.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250515122334/https://votemanager.kdo.de/20181021/130765657/html5/Buergermeisterwahl_Mitgliedsgemeinde_MecklenburgVorpommern_100_Gemeinde_Amt_Grabow.html |archive-date=2025-05-15 |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=votemanager.kdo.de}}</ref> She was reelected on 11 May 2025, winning 52% of the vote.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=NDR |title=Grabow: Bürgermeisterin Kathleen Bartels bleibt im Amt |url=https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/mecklenburg-vorpommern/westmecklenburg/Grabow-Buergermeisterin-Kathleen-Bartels-bleibt-im-Amt,mvregioschwerin3964.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250515121931/https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/mecklenburg-vorpommern/westmecklenburg/Grabow-Buergermeisterin-Kathleen-Bartels-bleibt-im-Amt,mvregioschwerin3964.html |archive-date=2025-05-15 |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=www.ndr.de |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pohle |first=Mayk |date=2025-05-11 |title=Kathleen Bartels gewinnt die Grabower Wahl und bleibt im Amt |url=https://www.nordkurier.de/regional/ludwigslust/kathleen-bartels-gewinnt-die-grabower-wahl-und-bleibt-im-amt-3572035 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250512000939/https://www.nordkurier.de/regional/ludwigslust/kathleen-bartels-gewinnt-die-grabower-wahl-und-bleibt-im-amt-3572035 |archive-date=2025-05-12 |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=www.nordkurier.de |language=de}}</ref> Despite her having four opponents in the 2025 election, she won reelection in the first round, one of the few people elected in the first round that day. The other candidates were Markus Rohst ([[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|CDU]]) with 20.98%, Thomas Binder ([[Alternative for Germany|AfD]]) with 18.74%, and Karl Kessner ([[Free Voters|FW]]) with 8.36% of the vote.<ref name=":1" />

List of mayors (incomplete):<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2020-12-04 |title=Die Stadt Grabow und die Bürgermeister/innen |url=https://www.grabow.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/Amtsanzeiger/2020/Dezember%202020.pdf |access-date=2025-05-15 |work=Grabower Amtsanzeiger |pages=12 |issue=12}}</ref>

* 1839–1888: [[Franz Floerke]]
* 1888–1912: Carl Calsow
* 1919–1930: Werner Siegismund
* 1931–1945: Walter Bötcher ([[German People's Party|DVP]], 1937: [[Nazi Party|NSDAP]])<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rathaus – Karten klein |url=https://politische-jugendbildung.blog/images/fremde_Dateien_mit_Erlaubnis/A-1_16-Karten-klein.pdf |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=politische-jugendbildung.blog}}</ref>
* 1950: Meta Malinowski
* 1951–1953: {{ill|Fritz Flint|de}} ([[Christian Democratic Union (East Germany)|CDU]])
* 1960–1976: Hans Hummel
* 1994–2013: Ulrich Schult ([[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]])
* 2013–2018: [[Stefan Sternberg]] ([[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]])
* since 2018: [[Kathleen Bartels]] ([[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]])

=== Coat of arms===
The town's first identifying symbol was a city [[Seal (emblem)|seal]] from the 1371 which depicted the [[Patron saints of places|local patron saint]], [[Saint George|St. George]], standing above a lying crowned male while holding a shield, charged with a fitchy cross, and sword. From 1667 onwards, the seal depicted a big star above a crescent recumbent. The town was first granted a [[coat of arms]], resembling the current pattern and based off of the previous seal design, on 10 April 1858 by Grand Duke [[Frederick Francis II|Franz II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]]. Since this initial adoption in 1858 the design of the coat of arms only changed marginally with the exception of a six year period from 1940 to 1946, under Nazi Germany, where the coat of arms was replaced with a version based off of the first recorded city seal, depicting [[Saint George|St. George]] in clad armour, fighting a dragon with a lance to which a pennant, charged with a golden swastika, was attached. In 1946 this change was reverted, changing the city's arms back to a crescent with three stars, this time however replacing the golden colour of the crescent and stars with silver. In 1991 the colour of the crescent and stars was again changed to changed to gold.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Grabow Subcounty (Germany) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/Fotw/flags/de-pc-06.html#gw |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=www.crwflags.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Wappen von Grabow/Coat of arms (crest) of Grabow |url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php/Grabow |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250322053817/https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php/Grabow |archive-date=2025-03-22 |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=Heraldry of the World |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Wappen Grabow.svg|right|frameless|138x138px]]
The modern version of the town's coat of arms was officially granted on 20 June 1991 by the Minister of the Interior of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Only marginally different than previous iterations, it now included a [[mural crown]].<blockquote>[[Blazon]]: "Shield Azure, a waning crescent Or accompanied at sinister by three 6-point stars of the same in triangle. The shield is crested by a mural crown Gules with three visible towers and port Or."<ref name=":5" /></blockquote>

=== Flag ===
[[File:Flagge Grabow.svg|left|thumb|155x155px|Flag of Grabow]]
The flag of Grabow is a blue-yellow-blue [[Triband (flag)|triband]] with a stripe ratio of 1:2:1. The flag's central yellow band is charged with the city's coat of arms.<ref name=":5" /> The ratio of the flag is 5:3.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-12 |title=Hauptsatzung der Stadt Grabow – § 1 Name/Wappen/Flagge/Dienstsiegel |url=https://www.grabow.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Lesefassung-Hauptsatzung-der-Stadt-Grabow-vom-28.07.2014-mit-eingearbeiteter-4.-A%CC%88nderungssatzung-vom-12.08.2020.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241209150650/https://www.grabow.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Lesefassung-Hauptsatzung-der-Stadt-Grabow-vom-28.07.2014-mit-eingearbeiteter-4.-A%CC%88nderungssatzung-vom-12.08.2020.pdf |archive-date=2024-12-09}}</ref> It was designed by [[Heinz Kippnick]] from [[Schwerin]] and it was approved by the Minister of the Interior of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on 17 March 1999.{{clear}}

== Culture ==
[[File:GrabowMarktstr19PfeffernussfabrikHeimatmuseum.jpg|thumb|240x240px|Former factory building, now museum]]
Grabow well known<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zimmermann |first=Juana |date=2024-06-23 |title=Grabow gewinnt Stadtaufgabe mit Küsschen |url=https://www.nordkurier.de/regional/ludwigslust/grabow-gewinnt-stadtaufgabe-mit-kuesschen-2634394 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240624033329/https://www.nordkurier.de/regional/ludwigslust/grabow-gewinnt-stadtaufgabe-mit-kuesschen-2634394 |archive-date=2024-06-24 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.nordkurier.de |language=de}}</ref> for its "Grabower Küßchen" [[chocolate-coated marshmallow treats]]. They are produced by the [[Grabower Süsswaren]] GmbH which was originally founded by Johann Bollhagen in 1835 as the ''Bollhagenschen Pfeffernuß- und Bisquitfabrik'' that primarily produced pretzels, waffles, and ''[[Pfeffernüsse]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Museum Grabow |url=https://metropolregion.hamburg.de/natur-und-kultur-erleben/industriekultur-am-wasser/museen/museum-grabow-11392 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=metropolregion.hamburg.de}}</ref> After [[World War II]], it was transformed into the ''[[Volkseigener Betrieb|VEB]] Grabower Dauerbackwaren'' under [[East Germany|East German]] rule and started producing the now-iconic treat.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grabow: Volkseigene Betriebe VEB in der DDR |url=https://www.mil-airfields.de/ddr/orte/grabow.html |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.mil-airfields.de |language=de}}</ref> The company was re-privatized in 1991 and has been owned by the Dutch {{ill|Continental Bakeries|de}} since 2010,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-04-29 |title=Continental Bakeries übernimmt Grabower |url=https://www.backwelt.de/newsview/continental-bakeries-uebernimmt-grabower.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801063846/https://www.backwelt.de/newsview/continental-bakeries-uebernimmt-grabower.html |archive-date=2019-08-01 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=backwelt.de}}</ref> which itself was acquired by [[Biscuit International]] in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Europe's Top Private Label Biscuit Manufacturer {{!}} Biscuit International |url=https://www.biscuitinternational.com/company/our-history/ |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=biscuitinternational.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:Grabow (Elde), Haus Kießerdamm 19a.jpg|thumb|240x240px|Fritz-Reuter-Haus]]
The town museum is located at Marktstraße 19, in the same building that served as the [[Grabower Süsswaren]] factory from foundation until as late as GDR-times.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Museum Grabow {{!}} Amt Grabow |url=https://www.grabow.de/stadt-grabow/museum/ |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.grabow.de}}</ref> A community center "Generationenhaus" and youth center "Blue Sun"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kinder- & Jugend {{!}} Amt Grabow |url=https://www.grabow.de/leben-im-amt/kinder-jugend/ |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.grabow.de}}</ref> are all located in the Fritz-Reuter-Haus at Kießerdamm 19a. A city library, which was located in the same building, was closed in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bibliothek {{!}} Amt Grabow |url=https://www.grabow.de/stadt-grabow/bibliothek/ |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.grabow.de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pohle |first=Mayk |date=2025-04-09 |title=Grabows Eldekinder haben jetzt ihren eigenen Leseclub |url=https://www.nordkurier.de/regional/ludwigslust/grabows-eldekinder-haben-jetzt-ihren-eigenen-leseclub-3484964 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250418125512/https://www.nordkurier.de/regional/ludwigslust/grabows-eldekinder-haben-jetzt-ihren-eigenen-leseclub-3484964 |archive-date=2025-04-18 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.nordkurier.de |language=de}}</ref>

Since 30 March 2007, Grabow held an annual light festival where some of the town's buildings are lit up with colorful lights and music is played. Its been described as a mix of a ''[[Volksfest]]'' and [[light art|light show]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pohle |first=Mayk |date=2025-03-25 |title=Grabow begrüßt mit dem Lichterfest den Frühling |url=https://www.nordkurier.de/regional/ludwigslust/grabow-begruesst-mit-dem-lichterfest-den-fruehling-3442233 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250517155048/https://www.nordkurier.de/regional/ludwigslust/grabow-begruesst-mit-dem-lichterfest-den-fruehling-3442233 |archive-date=2025-05-17 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.nordkurier.de |language=de}}</ref> Other regular festivals include the ''Stadtfest'' (city festival) and the ''Martinimarkt'', the latter of which taking place annually on the second weekend (Friday and Saturday) of November since 1577.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Besondere Events {{!}} Amt Grabow |url=https://www.grabow.de/leben-im-amt/besondere-events/ |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.grabow.de}}</ref>

The motto of Grabow is "Colorful city on the [[Elde]]" ({{langx|de|Bunte Stadt an der Elde}}) due to its colorful [[Timber framing|timber-framed architecture]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grabow- Bunte Stadt an der Elde {{!}} Amt Grabow |url=https://www.grabow.de/grabow-bunte-stadt-an-der-elde-2/ |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.grabow.de}}</ref>

A pro-[[Alternative for Germany|AfD]] online [[newspaper]], run by AfD city councilor Thomas Binder, named ''Stadtkieker Grabow'' is located in the town.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-02 |title=Impressum |url=https://stadtkieker-grabow.de/impressum/ |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=Stadtkieker-Grabow.de |language=de}}</ref>

The German [[Punk rock|punk-rock]] band {{ill|Debil (band)|de|Debil (Band)|lt=Debil}} partially originates from Grabow.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramünke-Hoefer |first=Maren |date=2024-08-24 |title=Schweriner Winzerfest diesmal mit einem Extra-Tag |url=https://www.nordkurier.de/regional/schwerin/schweriner-winzerfest-diesmal-mit-einem-extra-tag-2795100 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007183724/https://www.nordkurier.de/regional/schwerin/schweriner-winzerfest-diesmal-mit-einem-extra-tag-2795100 |archive-date=2024-10-07 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.nordkurier.de |language=de}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Grabow - panoramio.jpg|Grabow from the other side of the Elde
File:Grabow Bolbrueggsche Muehle.jpg|''Bolbrüggesche Mühle'' viewed from the water
File:Grabow Zwerchhaus.jpg|Pferdemarkt 5, the "Zwerchhaus"
File:Grabow Pferdemarkt 2 2014-06-01 59a.jpg|Pferdemarkt 2
File:Grabow Gr Strasse.jpg|Building on the Große Straße
File:Grabow (Elde), auf dem Kirchenplatz.JPG|Kichenplatz
</gallery>

== Twin towns ==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany}}Grabow is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Städtepartnerschaft {{!}} Amt Grabow |url=https://www.grabow.de/stadt-grabow/staedtepartnerschaft/ |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=www.grabow.de}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|DEN}} [[Albertslund]], Denmark
* {{flagicon|GER}} [[Borken, North Rhine-Westphalia|Borken]], Germany
* {{flagicon|UK}} [[Whitstable]], United Kingdom
* {{flagicon|CZ}} [[Říčany]], Czech Republic
* {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Mölndal]], Sweden

==Notable people==
[[File:Karl Leopold von Mecklenburg-Schwerin.jpg|thumb|150px|Karl Leopold, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]]
[[File:Ludwig, Hereditary Prince of Mecklenburg-Schwerin by Georg David Matthieu (Schweriner Schloss).jpg|thumb|150px|Duke Louis of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]]
* [[Frederick, Duke of Mecklenburg-Grabow]] (1638-1688), resided in Grabow from 1669 until his death
* [[Adolphus Frederick II|Adolphus Frederick II, Duke of the Mecklenburg-Strelitz]] (1658–1708), reigning duke of the [[Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz|Mecklenburg-Strelitz]]
* [[Karl Leopold, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]] (1678–1747), reigning duke in [[Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Mecklenburg-Schwerin]]
* [[Christian Louis II|Christian Ludwig II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]] (1683–1756), reigning duke in Mecklenburg-Schwerin
* [[Sophia Louise of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]] (1685–1735), Queen of Prussia
* [[Ludwig, Hereditary Prince of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]] (1725–1778), hereditary prince of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
* The [[Mann family]], a [[Hanseaten (class)|Hanseatic family]] is partially connected to Grabow
* [[Wilhelm Langschmidt]] (1805–1866), German-South African painter
* [[Franz Floerke]] (1811–1889), [[jurist]] and former mayor of Grabow (1839–1889)
* {{ill|Carl Bolbrügge|de||lt=}} (1849–1898), owner of the ''Bolbrüggesche Mühle''
* [[Gustav Hinrichs]] (1850–1942), German-American [[Conducting|conductor]] and composer
* {{ill|Gustav Ritter|de|Gustav Ritter (Fabrikant)|lt=Gustav Ritter}} (1867–1945), factory owner and author
* [[Otto Plath]] (1885–1940), German-American [[biologist]]
* [[Willi Fründt]] (1909–1944), communist executed by the [[Nazi Germany|Nazis]]
* {{ill|Bernhard Leverenz|de}} (1909–1987), politician ([[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]])
* [[Katharina Brauren]] (1910–1998), actress
* {{ill|Volkwin Marg|de}} (born 1936), architect who partially lived in Grabow
* [[Bastian Reinhardt]] (born 1975), footballer, played at [[Empor Grabow]], now sports director of [[Hamburger SV]]
* [[Marco Küntzel]] (born 1976), footballer, played from 1981 to 1990 at Empor Grabow
* [[Stefan Sternberg]] (born 1984), ''[[Landrat]]'' of [[Ludwigslust-Parchim]] since 2018 and former mayor of Grabow (2013–2018)

== Notes ==
<references group="lower-alpha" responsive="1"></references>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Grabow}}
* [http://www.grabow.de/index.php?area=2&page=170 Official website (German)]
* {{cite EB9 |wstitle = Grabow |volume= XI |last= |first= |author-link= | page=25 |short=1 }}

{{Towns and municipalities in Ludwigslust-Parchim (district)}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Mecklenburg]]
[[Category:Ludwigslust-Parchim]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 13th century]]
[[Category:1250s establishments in the Holy Roman Empire]]
[[Category:1252 establishments in Europe]]
[[Category:Holocaust locations in Germany]]