Editing Leer, Lower Saxony (section)

==History==
{{Quote box |width=20em |align=left |bgcolor=GhostWhite
|title=Historical affiliations
|quote={{flagicon image|Ostfriesland Flagge mit Wappen.0.2.svg}} [[County of East Frisia]] 1464–1744<br>
{{flag|Kingdom of Prussia|1750}} 1744–1806<br>
{{flagicon|NED}} [[Kingdom of Holland]] 1806–1810<br>
{{flag|First French Empire}} 1810–1813<br>
{{flag|Kingdom of Prussia|1803}} 1813–1815<br>
{{flag|Kingdom of Hanover}} 1815–1866<br>
{{flag|Kingdom of Prussia|1803}} 1866–1871<br>
{{flag|German Empire}} 1871–1918<br>
{{flag|Weimar Republic}} 1918–1933<br>
{{flag|Nazi Germany}} 1933–1945<br>
{{flag|Allied-occupied Germany}} 1945–1949<br>
{{flag|West Germany}} 1949–1990<br>
{{flag|Germany}} 1990–present
}}
[[File:Festeleerort.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Remains of the ''Feste Leerort'' at the mouth of the Leda into the Ems river, 1453–1760]]
There are many traces of early settlements in the area, including crude flint tools that are dated back to roughly 3200 BC.

In 791 AD Saint [[Ludger]] built the first chapel in [[East Frisia]] at the western edge of the [[town|settlement]] Leer, then still named ''Hleri'' after ''[[feetlot]]'', ''[[willow]]''. This chapel is mentioned for the first time in a written document from 850 AD.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, Leer was hometown of the [[Focko Ukena|Ukena]] family, which was one most influential East-Frisian chieftain families of that time. The town profited from the trade with the [[Hanse]], and a fortress Leerort was built.

In 1508, Count Edzard obtained the official right to host a market, which started the tradition of the "Gallimarkt," which is now an annual [[fair]]. In 1744 [[East Frisia]] fell to [[Prussia]], then ruled by [[Frederick the Great]]. [[Town privileges]] were awarded in 1823<ref name=EB1911/> by [[George IV of the United Kingdom|George IV]], King of [[Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover]].

In 1854 Leer became connected to the "Hannoversche Westbahn" railway, which at that time connected [[Emden]] and [[Rheine]] in the Ruhr area. In 1856, the Westbahn was connected to the central German railway network.

Unlike Emden, Leer only suffered little damage by Allied bombing in [[World War II]]. The city was occupied by [[II Canadian Corps|Canadian troops]] on 28 April 1945.

On 1 October 1955, Leer received the status of an [[independent city#Germany|independent city]].