Magdeburg lies on the river Elbe and is the capital of Sachsen-Anhalt, which was first established as one of the new East German federal states in 1990.

Magdeburg, one of Europe’s most important medieval cities, celebrated its 1200-year anniversary in 2005.

Otto I, considered the first Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, lived during most of his reign in Magdeburg and was buried in the cathedral.

During the Second World War 90% of the old part of town was destroyed.

From 1990, a year after the fall of the wall, until 2005, Magdeburg lost 60.000 of its residents. The population now stands at 230.000.

The German-American Steuben Parade held in New York is named after the Prussian general Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, one of the heroes of the Revolutionary War. Steuben was born in Magdeburg.

In 1972, the city of Magdeburg made Angela Davis, American educator, philosopher and radical activist who was associated with the Black Panther movement, an Honorary Citizen.

1. FC Magdeburg is the only East German soccer team to have won a European club soccer competition and SC Magdeburg Gladiators are one of the most successful European handball teams.

Magdeburg’s sister city in the United States is Nashville, Tennessee.