Fürstenfeldbruck | ||
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Coordinates: 48°10′40″N 11°15′20″E / 48.17778°N 11.25556°ECoordinates: 48°10′40″N 11°15′20″E / 48.17778°N 11.25556°E | ||
Country | Germany | |
State | Bavaria | |
Admin. region | Oberbayern | |
District | Fürstenfeldbruck | |
Government | ||
• Lord Mayor | Sepp Kellerer (CSU) | |
Area | ||
• Total | 32.53 km2 (12.56 sq mi) | |
Elevation | 517 m (1,696 ft) | |
Population (2015-12-31) | ||
• Total | 35,708 | |
• Density | 1,100/km2 (2,800/sq mi) | |
Time zone | CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) | |
Postal codes | 82256 | |
Dialling codes | 08141 | |
Vehicle registration | FFB | |
Website | www.bayregio-fuerstenfeldbruck.de |
Fürstenfeldbruck is a town in Bavaria, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Fürstenfeldbruck. As of 2004[update] it has a population of 35,494. Since the 1930s, Fürstenfeldbruck has had an air force base.
The name of Fürstenfeldbruck is composed of two parts, namely 'Bruck', Bavarian dialect for 'bridge' (meaning the bridge over the Amper river) and after the famous monastery of Fürstenfeld Abbey.
Fürstenfeldbruck covers an area of 32.53 km². It is located halfway between Munich and Augsburg, and along the Amper river.
Fürstenfeldbruck has been the site of an Air Base since 1936. It was used by the Luftwaffe before and during World War II. It was used by United States Air Force after World War II and returned to the German government in 1957 and used as a base for the modern German Air Force ever since.
The air force base was the site of the denouement of the Munich Massacre during the 1972 Summer Olympics. The nine Israeli hostages and eight Black September terrorists who held them were flown to the base from the Olympic Village via helicopter, where the terrorists believed they would be flown to a friendly Arab nation. After a bungled ambush and rescue attempt by Bavarian border guards and Munich police, the terrorists shot their bound captives and blew up a helicopter containing four of them. Five of the terrorists and a Munich police brigadier were also killed in the gunfight. In fact, some hostages died from Munich police firing from an armoured car to "rescue" them. The official goal was not to let the hostage takers leave Germany, whatever the cost.