Schwedt

Schwedt, city, Brandenburg Land (state), eastern Germany. It lies along the Westoder River, southwest of Szczecin (German: Stettin), Poland, about 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Berlin. Mentioned as a town in 1265, it was the seat of a lordship that passed from Pomerania to Brandenburg in 1479. From 1689 to 1788 it was a seat of the Hohenzollern line of the Brandenburgs. The town suffered widespread destruction in World War II, but the palace (1719–23) survived. Traditionally the centre of a tobacco-growing region, Schwedt grew rapidly after World War II through extensive industrial development. An oil refinery, supplied by a pipeline from the Soviet Union and also connected by pipeline with the Baltic port of Rostock and with the Leuna chemical complex near Halle, commenced operations in 1964; it is now one of Germany’s larger installations. Paper production is also important. Other notable industrial activities include metalworking and the production of telecommunications equipment, chemicals, and foodstuffs. Lower Oder Valley National Park is nearby. Pop. (2003 est.) 38,691.