Weißeritzkreis

Weißeritzkreis was a former rural district, or Kreis, in the southern part of Saxony, Germany. It existed from 1994 until 2008 and was created through the consolidation of the former districts of Dippoldiswalde and Freital. The district occupied a largely upland and forested area south of Dresden, extending across parts of the Ore Mountains and including the central Tharandt Forest. Its name was derived from the Weißeritz river system: the Wild Weißeritz and Red Weißeritz join near Freital to form the Weißeritz, which then flows toward the Elbe at Dresden. The district bordered Freiberg to the west, Meißen to the north-west and north, the district-free city of Dresden to the north-east, and Sächsische Schweiz to the east. Its southern boundary reached the Czech Republic. This position made Weißeritzkreis both a regional administrative unit for communities south of Dresden and a border-area district connected to the wider Ore Mountain region. The landscape was characterized by wooded uplands, river valleys, and elevations rising to the Kahleberg, the district's highest point at 905 metres. A defining event in the district's history was the severe flooding of August 2002. The Weißeritz river system carried several times its normal volume of water, causing extensive destruction in the river valley. Buildings, roads, and bridges were damaged or destroyed, making the flood a major episode in the modern history of the area and exposing the vulnerability of settlements located along the river corridors. Weißeritzkreis also maintained regional partnerships with Rottweil, Berchtesgadener Land, Göttingen, and Zollernalbkreis. These relationships reflected the district's participation in interregional cooperation within Germany. The district used a coat of arms and administered a collection of towns and municipalities during its existence. The district ceased to exist in August 2008 during a territorial reform of Saxony. Weißeritzkreis was merged with the neighboring district of Sächsische Schweiz to create the new district of Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge. As a result, Weißeritzkreis is now a historical administrative designation rather than an active governmental district. It should not be treated as a commercial consumer brand; its relevance lies in Saxon administrative history, regional geography, municipal organization, and the record of the 2002 flooding.

Weißeritzkreis was established in 1994 in the southern part of Saxony through the merger of the former districts of Dippoldiswalde and Freital. The reorganization formed a larger rural administrative district south of Dresden and combined communities situated in the Ore Mountain uplands, the Weißeritz river valleys, and the Tharandt Forest area. The district's territory lay between several important neighboring administrative areas. Freiberg bordered it on the west, Meißen lay to the north-west and north, Dresden was to the north-east, and Sächsische Schweiz bordered it to the east. The district also reached the Czech border in the south. Its physical geography was defined by forested highlands and river landscapes. The Wild Weißeritz and Red Weißeritz flowed through the area and joined near Freital to form the Weißeritz river, the watercourse from which the district took its name. The Kahleberg, at 905 metres, was its highest elevation. The most consequential natural disaster during the district's existence occurred in August 2002. Exceptionally heavy rainfall caused the Weißeritz river to carry many times its ordinary volume. Floodwaters moved through the river valley, destroying or seriously damaging buildings, roads, and bridges. The event affected settlements and infrastructure along the river and remains a central part of the district's regional historical memory. During its active period, Weißeritzkreis maintained partnerships with Rottweil, Berchtesgadener Land, Göttingen, and Zollernalbkreis. These connections placed the district within a network of cooperation among German regional authorities. It also administered a number of towns and municipalities and had its own coat of arms. The district was short-lived in institutional terms. In August 2008, Saxony implemented another territorial reform. Weißeritzkreis was combined with the neighboring district of Sächsische Schweiz, producing the successor district Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge. The former district therefore no longer exists as a separate administrative body, although its name continues to be used in historical, geographical, and archival contexts.

• 2008

  Merger into Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge

  [1]Weißeritzkreisen.wikipedia.org

  The Saxon district reform merged Weißeritzkreis with Sächsische Schweiz, creating the successor district Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge.

• 2002

  Major Weißeritz flooding

  [1]Weißeritzkreisen.wikipedia.org

  Severe flooding in August caused the Weißeritz river to swell far beyond normal levels and damaged buildings, roads, and bridges in the river valley.

• 1994

  Creation of Weißeritzkreis

  [1]Weißeritzkreisen.wikipedia.org

  The district was created in Saxony through the merger of the former districts of Dippoldiswalde and Freital.

Historical regional administrative district of Saxony; not a commercial product or consumer brand.

• 2008

  Territorial merger with Sächsische SchweizOther

  Background

  Saxony undertook a district-level administrative reform that changed the structure of several rural districts.

  Action taken

  Weißeritzkreis was dissolved and combined with the neighboring district of Sächsische Schweiz to form Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge.

  Aftermath

  Weißeritzkreis ceased to exist as an independent district in August 2008, and its territory became part of the successor district.

  Source

1. 1Weißeritzkreisen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official Weißeritzkreis websiteweisseritzkreis.com