Editing Mecklenburg (section)

==History==
{{see also|Partitions of Mecklenburg}}

===Early history===
Mecklenburg is the site of many prehistoric [[dolmen]] tombs. Its earliest organised inhabitants may have had Celtic origins. By no later than 100 BC the area had been populated by pre-Christian [[Germanic peoples]].

The traditional symbol of Mecklenburg, the grinning [[Cattle#Terminology|steer]]'s head ([[Low German]]: ''Ossenkopp'', lit.: 'oxen's head', with ''osse'' being a synonym for steer and bull in [[Middle Low German]]), with an attached hide, and a crown above, may have originated from this period.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} It represents what early peoples would have worn, i.e. a steers's head as a [[helmet]], with the hide hanging down the back to protect the neck from the sun, and overall as a way to instill fear in the enemy.

From the 7th through the 12th centuries, Mecklenburg was inhabited by Western Slavs who migrated there from what is now eastern [[Poland]] and north-western [[Ukraine]]. Among them were the [[Obotrites]] and other tribes that Frankish sources referred to as "[[Wends]]". The 11th-century founder of the Mecklenburger dynasty of [[Duke]]s and later [[Grand Duke]]s, which lasted until 1918, was [[Nyklot]] of the Obotrites.

In the late 12th century, [[Henry the Lion]], Duke of [[Lower Saxony|the Saxons]], reconquered the region, took oaths from its local lords, and [[Christianization|Christianized]] its people, in a precursor to the [[Northern Crusades]]. From the 12th to 14th centuries, large numbers of Germans and Flemings settled the area ([[Ostsiedlung]]), importing German law and improved agricultural techniques. The [[Wends]] who survived all warfare and devastation of the centuries before, including invasions of and expeditions into [[Saxony]], [[Denmark]] and [[Liutizic]] areas as well as internal conflicts, were assimilated in the centuries thereafter. However, elements of certain names and words used in Mecklenburg speak to the lingering Slavic influence. An example would be the city of [[Schwerin]], which was originally called ''Zuarin'' in [[Slavic languages|Slavic]]. Another example is the town of [[Bresegard bei Picher|Bresegard]], the 'gard' portion of the town name deriving from the Slavic word 'grad', meaning city or town.

Since the 12th century, the territory remained stable and relatively independent of its neighbours; one of the few German territories for which this is true. During the [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]], the Duke in Schwerin would convert to [[Protestantism]] and so would follow [[List of states by the date of adoption of the Reformation#1549|the Duchy of Mecklenburg in 1549]].

[[File:Mecklescudo.jpg|thumb|Historical 7-field coat of arms, symbolizing the seven lordships of Mecklenburg: The duchy of Mecklenburg, the princedoms (former dioceses) of [[Schwerin]] and [[Ratzeburg]], the county of Schwerin and the ''[[Herrschaft (territory)|Herrschafts]]'' (lordships) of [[Rostock]], [[Werle]] and [[Lordship of Stargard|Stargard]].]]

===History, 1621&ndash;1933{{anchor|partitioned}}===
Like many German territories, Mecklenburg was sometimes partitioned and re-partitioned among different members of the ruling dynasty. In 1621 it was divided into the two duchies of [[Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Mecklenburg-Schwerin]] and [[Mecklenburg-Güstrow]]. With the extinction of the Güstrow line in 1701, the Güstrow lands were redivided, part going to the Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and part going to the new line of [[Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz|Mecklenburg-Strelitz]].

In 1815, the two Mecklenburgian duchies were raised to [[Grand Duchy|Grand Duchies]], the [[Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]] and the [[Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz]], and subsequently existed separately as such in Germany under enlightened but absolute rule (constitutions being granted on the eve of [[World War I]]) until the [[German Revolution|revolution of 1918]]. Life in Mecklenburg could be quite harsh. Practices such as having to ask for permission from the Grand Duke to get married, or having to apply for permission to emigrate, would linger late into the history of Mecklenburg (i.e. 1918), long after such practices had been abandoned in other German areas. Even as late as the later half of the 19th century the Grand Duke personally owned half of the countryside. The last Duke abdicated in 1918, as monarchies fell throughout Europe. The Duke's ruling house reigned in Mecklenburg uninterrupted (except for two years) from its incorporation into the Holy Roman Empire until 1918. From 1918 to 1933, the duchies were free states in the [[Weimar Republic]].

Traditionally Mecklenburg has always been one of the poorer German regions.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} The reasons for this may be varied, but one factor stands out: agriculturally the land is poor and can not produce at the same level as other parts of Germany.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} The two Mecklenburgs made attempts at being independent states after 1918, but eventually failed as their dependence on the rest of the German lands became apparent.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

===History since 1934===
After three centuries of partition, Mecklenburg was united on 1 January 1934 by the German government. During World War II the [[Wehrmacht]] assigned Mecklenburg and [[Pomerania]] to Wehrkreis II under the command of ''General der Infanterie'' [[Werner Kienitz]], with the headquarters at [[Stettin]]. Mecklenburg was assigned to an Area headquartered at [[Schwerin]], which was responsible for military units in [[Schwerin]], [[Rostock]], [[Parchim]], and [[Neustrelitz]].

After [[World War II]], the Soviet government occupying eastern Germany merged Mecklenburg with the smaller neighbouring region of [[Vorpommern|Western Pomerania]] (German ''Vorpommern'') to form the [[States of Germany|state]] of [[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]]. Mecklenburg contributed about two-thirds of the geographical size of the new state and the majority of its population. Also, the new state became temporary or permanent home for many refugees expelled from former German territories seized by the Soviet Union and Poland after the war. The Soviets changed the name from "Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania" to "Mecklenburg" in 1947.

In 1952, the [[German Democratic Republic|East German]] government ended the independent existence of Mecklenburg, creating three districts ("Bezirke") out of its territory: Rostock, Schwerin and Neubrandenburg.

During [[German reunification]] in 1990, the state of [[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]] was revived, and is now one of the 16 states of the [[Germany|Federal Republic of Germany]].