Friesoythe

Friesoythe
Coat of arms
Friesoythe
Location of Friesoythe within Cloppenburg district
Coordinates: 53°01′14″N 07°51′31″E / 53.02056°N 7.85861°E / 53.02056; 7.85861Coordinates: 53°01′14″N 07°51′31″E / 53.02056°N 7.85861°E / 53.02056; 7.85861
Country	Germany
State	Lower Saxony
District	Cloppenburg
Government
• Mayor	Sven Stratmann
Area
• Total	247.14 km2 (95.42 sq mi)
Elevation	6 m (20 ft)
Population (2015-12-31)
• Total	21,918
• Density	89/km2 (230/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	26169
Dialling codes	0 44 91
Vehicle registration	CLP
Website	www.friesoythe.de

Friesoythe, in Saterland Frisian language Ait or Äit, is a town in the district of Cloppenburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Soeste, approximately 25 km northwest of Cloppenburg, and 30 km southwest of Oldenburg.

Friesoythe shares a diverse culture in Lower Saxony history. Many cultural influences of German, Anglo-Saxon, Dutch, East Frisian, Danish and Swedish culture are noticeable in the town and citizens. The town has a large following of Roman Catholicism and small percentages of Calvinism and Lutheranism. It was part of the Prussian empire and also under rule to the French Empire in the 18th century.

In April 1945, the town of Friesoythe felt the full force of an attack by the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division, under General Christopher Vokes. Most of the town's population of 4,000 moved out to the surrounding countryside on about April 11–12, 1945.

The town was defended by some 200 paratroopers of Battalion Raabe of the 7th German Parachute Division. These paratroopers repelled the first attack by the Lake Superior Regiment (Motor) on April 13. The Lake Superior Regiment suffered two dead and nineteen wounded. German casualties are not known.