Hildesheim

Hildesheim is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located in the district of Hildesheim, about 25 km southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste river, which is a small tributary of the Leine river.

The town became the seat of the Bishopric of Hildesheim in 815. For four centuries the clergy ruled Hildesheim, before a town hall was built and the citizens gained some influence. In 1367 Hildesheim became a member of the Hanseatic League.

The city was heavily damaged by air raids in 1945, especially on March 22. The centre, which had retained its medieval character until then, simply ceased to exist. After the war, it was rebuilt in a completely different style and concrete structures took the place of the destroyed buildings. Fortunately, in the late 1970s reconstruction of the historic centre began. The unattractive concrete buildings were torn down and replaced by replicas of the original buildings.

Also in the 1970s, the University of Hildesheim was founded.

Oskar Schindler (1907-1974) died in Hildesheim.