Editing Franconia (section)

===== 20th century =====
After the [[World War I|First World War]] the monarchy in Bavaria was abolished, but the state could not agree on a compromise between a [[Soviet system]] and [[Parliamentary system|parliamentarianism]]. This caused fighting between the opposing camps and the then prime minister was shot. As a result, the government fled to Bamberg in 1919, where the [[Bamberg Constitution]] was adopted while, in Munich, the [[Bavarian Soviet Republic]] reigned briefly.<ref name="bam-haupt">Wolf Weigand: ''Bayern zur Zeit der Weimarer Republik und des Nationalsozialismus (1918 - 1945).'' In: [http://www.hdbg.de/polges/pages/politische_geschichte.pdf ''Politische Geschichte Bayerns''] published by the House of Bavarian History as No. 9 of the booklets on Bavarian History and Culture, 1989, pp. 26-28, here: p. 26</ref> In 1919 the [[Free State of Coburg]] voted in a [[referendum]] against joining [[Thuringia]] and was instead united with Bavaria on 1&nbsp;July 1920.<ref name="bam-haupt" />

[[File:General view of the Bavarian city of Nuremberg, following the cessation of organized resistance. In the distance, the... - NARA - 540139.tif|thumb|Destruction in Nuremberg in 1945 (Egidienplatz)]]
[[File:Heilbronn 1945 US Army retouched-2.jpg|thumb|Destruction in Heilbronn in 1945]]
[[File:Karl Emil Otto Fritsch-Denkmaeler Deutscher Renaissance-1891-Nuernberg-Pellerhaus zu Nuernberg Aegidienplatz 1605 Facade.jpg|thumb|The [[Pellerhaus]] in Nuremberg was one of the most important buildings of the [[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance]] period from 1605 until the destruction of its façade in 1945.]]
During the [[Nazi Germany|Nazi era]] Nuremberg played a prominent role in the self-expression of the [[Nazism|National Socialists]] as the permanent seat of the [[Nazi Party]].<ref>Eckart Dietzfelbinger, Gerhard Liedke: ''Nürnberg - Ort der Massen. Das Reichsparteitagsgelände. Vorgeschichte und schwieriges Erbe.'' 1st edition, Berlin, 2004, p. 29</ref> [[Gunzenhausen]] made its mark as one of the first towns in the Reich itself to exercise discrimination against the Jewish population. The first Hitler Monument in Germany was established there in April 1933. On 25&nbsp;March 1934 the first anti-[[Jewish]] [[pogrom]] in Bavaria took place in Gunzenhausen. The attack brought the town negative press coverage worldwide.<ref name="Nürnberger Nachrichten 0309">Werner Falk: ''Ein früher Hass auf Juden'' in Nürnberger Nachrichten, 25 March 2009.</ref> On 15&nbsp;September, a [[Reichstag (Nazi Germany)|Reichstag]] was specially convened in Nuremberg for the purpose of passing the [[Nuremberg Laws]], under which the [[antisemitism|antisemitic]] ideology of the Nazis became a legal basis for such actions.<ref>[https://www.dhm.de/lemo/html/nazi/antisemitismus/nuernberg/ ''Die Nürnberger Gesetze''], [[Deutsches Historisches Museum]], retrieved 28 July 2014.</ref>

Like all parts of the German Reich, Franconia was badly affected by [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] [[airstrike|air raids]]. Nuremberg, as a major industrial centre and transportation hub, was hit particularly hard. Between 1940 and 1945 the city was the target of dozens of air raids. Many other places were also affected by air raids. For example, the [[air raid on Heilbronn|air raid on 4 December 1944]] on Heilbronn<ref>{{cite book|author1 = [[:de:Christhard Schrenk|Christhard Schrenk]]|author2= [[:de:Hubert Weckbach|Hubert Weckbach]]|author3= Susanne Schlösser| title = Von Helibrunna nach Heilbronn. Eine Stadtgeschichte|language=de|trans-title=From Helibrunna to Heilbronn. A city history| isbn = 3-8062-1333-X| year = 1998| publisher = Theiss| location = Stuttgart| series = Veröffentlichungen des Archivs der Stadt Heilbronn| volume = 36| page = 173}}</ref> and the [[bombing of Würzburg on 16 March 1945|bombing of Würzburg on 16&nbsp;March 1945]], in which both old towns were almost completely destroyed, was a disaster for both cities. By contrast, the old town of Bamberg was almost completely spared.<ref>''Bamberg, die Altstadt als Denkmal: Denkmalschutz, Modernisierung, Sanierung'', Moos, 1981, p. 172</ref> In order to protect [[cultural artefact]]s, the [[Historischer Kunstbunker|historic art bunker]] was built below Nuremberg Castle.<ref>[https://museen.nuernberg.de/kunstbunker/ Historischer Kunstbunker] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830103321/http://museen.nuernberg.de/kunstbunker/ |date=2016-08-30 }}, the City Museums, retrieved 7 July 2014.</ref> In the closing stages of the [[Second World War]], at the end of March and April 1945, Franconian towns and cities were captured by formations of the [[United States Army|US Army]] who advanced from the west after the failure of the [[Battle of the Bulge]] and [[Operation Nordwind]]. The [[Battle of Nuremberg (1945)|Battle of Nuremberg]] lasted five days and resulted in at least 901 deaths. The [[Battle of Crailsheim]] lasted 16&nbsp;days, the [[Battle of Würzburg (1945)|Battle of Würzburg]] seven and the [[Battle of Merkendorf]] three&nbsp;days.

Following the [[unconditional surrender of the Wehrmacht|unconditional surrender]] on 8&nbsp;May 1945, Bavarian Franconia became part of the [[American zone of occupation]]; whilst South Thuringia, with the exception of smaller enclaves like [[Ostheim]], became part of the [[Soviet occupation zone of Germany|Soviet zone]] and the Franconian parts of today's Baden-Württemberg also went to the American zone<ref>See [[:File:Deutschland Besatzungszonen 8 Jun 1947 - 22 Apr 1949 amerikanisch.svg|map of the American zone]]</ref> The most important part of the Allied prosecution programme against leaders of the Nazi regime were the [[Nuremberg Trials]] against leaders of the German Empire during the Nazi era, held from 20 November 1945 to 14 April 1949.<ref>{{HistLexBay||link|Annette Weinke|Nuremberg Trials}}</ref> The Nuremberg Trials are considered a breakthrough for the principle that, for a core set of crimes, there is no [[diplomatic immunity|immunity]] from prosecution. For the first time, the representatives of a [[sovereignty|sovereign]] state were held accountable for their actions. In autumn 1946, the Free State of Bavaria was reconstituted with the enactment of the [[Constitution of Bavaria|Bavarian Constitution]].<ref>[https://www.bayern.de/Geschichte-.364/index.htm ''Bayerische Geschichte und Persönlichkeiten''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030103029/https://www.bayern.de/Geschichte-.364/index.htm |date=2014-10-30 }}, Bayerisches Landesportal, retrieved 6 June 2014.</ref>

The state of [[Württemberg-Baden]] was founded on 19&nbsp;September 1945.<ref>Paul Sauer: ''Demokratischer Neubeginn in Not und Elend. Das Land Württemberg-Baden von 1945 bis 1952.'' Ulm, 1978, p. 91</ref> On 25&nbsp;April 1952 this state merged with [[Baden (South Baden)|Baden]] and [[Württemberg-Hohenzollern]] (both from the former [[French occupation zone]]) to create the present state of Baden-Württemberg.<ref>[https://www.lpb-bw.de/entstehung_baden-wuerttembergs.html ''Gründung des Landes Baden-Württemberg am 25. April 1952''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116150719/https://www.lpb-bw.de/entstehung_baden-wuerttembergs.html |date=2016-11-16 }}, Landeszentrale für politische Bildung Baden-Württemberg</ref> On 1&nbsp;December 1945 the state of Hesse was founded. Beginning in 1945, [[Flight and expulsion of Germans (1944–50)|refugees and displaced persons from Eastern Europe]] were settled particularly in rural areas.<ref>{{HistLexBay||link|[[Walter Ziegler]]|Flüchtlinge und Vertriebene}}</ref> After 1945, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg managed the transition from economies that were predominantly [[agriculture]] to become leading industrial states in the so-called ''[[Wirtschaftswunder]]''. In Lower and Upper Franconia, there was still the problem, however, of the zone along the [[Inner German Border]] which was a long way from the markets for its agricultural produce, and was affected by migration and relatively high unemployment,<ref>[https://www.bpb.de/geschichte/zeitgeschichte/deutschlandarchiv/170619/ at-end-of-world-development-of-west German-zone border area-since-the-reunion ''Am Ende der Welt - Entwicklung des westdeutschen Zonenrandgebietes seit der Wiedervereinigung''], [[Federal Agency for Civic Education]], published 18 November 2013, retrieved 9 September 2014.</ref> which is why these areas received special support from federal and state governments.

By contrast, the state of Thuringia was restored by the [[Soviet Military Administration in Germany|Soviets]] in 1945. On 7&nbsp;October 1949 the [[German Democratic Republic]], commonly known as [[East Germany]], was founded. In 1952 in the course of the [[Administrative divisions of East Germany|1952 administrative reform in East Germany]], the state of Thuringia was relieved of its function.<ref name = "Thuringia"/> The Soviet [[occupying forces]] exacted a high level of reparations (especially the [[Allied plans for German industry after World War II|dismantling]] of industrial facilities) which made the initial economic conditions in East Germany very difficult.<ref>[[Werner Abelshauser]]: ''Deutsche Wirtschaftsgeschichte seit 1945.'' C.H. Beck, Munich, 2004, chapter on "Die Reparationsfrage", pp. 75-84.</ref> Along with the failed economic policies of the GDR, this led to a general frustration that fuelled the [[uprising of 17 June]]. There were protests in the Franconian territories too, for example in Schmalkalden.<ref>''Quellen zur Geschichte Thüringens. Der 17. Juni 1953 in Thüringen.'', The State Commissioner of Thuringia for the Records of the State Security Service of the former German Democratic Republic and State Centre for Political Education, Thuringia, Sömmerda, 2003, p. 180</ref> The village of [[Mödlareuth]] became famous because, for 41&nbsp;years, it was divided by the [[Inner German Border]] and was nicknamed 'Little Berlin. After ''[[Die Wende]]'', the fall of the Berlin Wall on 9 November 1989 and [[German reunification|reunification]] on 3&nbsp;October 1990, made possible mainly by mass demonstrations in East Germany and local exodus of East Germans, the state of Thuringia was reformed with effect from 14 October 1990.<ref name="Thuringia">Steffen Raßloff: ''Geschichte Thüringens.'' Munich, 2010, p. 106</ref>

[[File:Zusammensetzung des Landkreises Ansbach.png|thumb|The administrative reform in Bavaria in the Franconian county of [[Landkreis Ansbach|Ansbach]]]]

In the years from 1971 to 1980 an administrative reform was carried out in Bavaria with the aim of creating more efficient municipalities (''[[Gemeinde (Germany)|Gemeinden]]'') and counties (''[[Landkreis]]e''). Against sometimes great protests by the population, the number of municipalities was reduced by a third and the number of counties by about a half. Among the changes was the transfer of the Middle Franconian county of [[Landkreis Eichstätt|Eichstätt]] to [[Upper Bavaria]]. On 18 May 2006, the [[Bavarian Landtag]] approved the introduction of [[Franconia Day]] (''Tag der Franken'') in the Franconian territories of the free state.<ref name="einführungtagderfranken">[https://www.bayern.landtag.de/www/ElanTextAblage_WP15/Drucksachen/Folgedrucksachen/0000004000/0000004034.pdf Document 15/5583 of the Bavarian Landtag] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304081330/https://www.bayern.landtag.de/www/ElanTextAblage_WP15/Drucksachen/Folgedrucksachen/0000004000/0000004034.pdf |date=2016-03-04 }} (pdf; 86&nbsp;kB)</ref>

Since ''Die Wende'', new markets have opened up for the Franconian region of Bavaria in the new (formerly East German) federal states and the Czech Republic, enabling the economy to recover.<ref name = "grenzland">{{HistLexBay||link|Frank Altrichter|Grenzlandproblematik (nach 1918)}}</ref> Today, Franconia is in the centre of the EU (at [[Oberwestern]] near [[Westerngrund]]; {{Coord|50.117286|N|9.247768|E|type:landmark_text:location_region:DE-BY_name: geographical centre of the EU}}).<ref>Frank Müller. [https://www.br.de/radio/bayern2/sendungen/regionalzeit-franken/gespraech-mitte-eu-100.html Westerngrund (LK: AB). The Navel of Europe in Franconia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222153147/https://www.br.de/radio/bayern2/sendungen/regionalzeit-franken/gespraech-mitte-eu-100.html |date=2014-02-22 }} radio report, Bayern 2, regionalZeit - Franken</ref>