Prienai
| Prienai | ||
|---|---|---|
| City | ||
Prienai Church
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 Prienai
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| Coordinates: 54°38′0″N 23°56′30″E / 54.63333°N 23.94167°ECoordinates: 54°38′0″N 23°56′30″E / 54.63333°N 23.94167°E | ||
| Country |
 Lithuania
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| Ethnographic region | Suvalkija | |
| County |
 Kaunas County
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| Municipality | Prienai district municipality | |
| Eldership | Prienai city eldership | |
| Capital of |
Prienai district municipality Prienai city eldership |
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| First mentioned | 1502 | |
| Granted city rights | 1609 | |
| Population (2005) | ||
| • Total | 11,131 | |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) | |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) | |
Prienai (
pronunciation ) is a city in Lithuania situated on the Neman River, 39 km (24 mi) south of Kaunas. In 2001 the city had 11,353 inhabitants. The name of the city is a derivative from a surname Prienas.Pociūnai Airport is associated with the city.
The first documented mention of Prienai is in 1502 when the Grand Duke of Lithuania Alexander gave the land of Prienai to the noble Mykolas Glinskis. Magdeburg rights were granted to the city in 1609, beginning a period of growth that continued through the 17th and 18th century.
During World War II, when it was occupied by German troops, Prienai lost many of its inhabitants. People emigrated or were expelled, while the Nazis killed the Jews. On August 27, 1941, 1,078 Jews from Prienai and surrounding areas were assassinated in Prienai. The massacre was perpetrated by Rollkommando Hamann and local Lithuanians.
Industry establishment began at the end of the 17th century, when paper manufactory was founded. 1868 beer brewery of high quality beer founded. It was active until 1941. AB „Sportinė aviacija“ for a long time was the only glider factory in Soviet Union. It was founded 1969. Here was created the first Lithuanian glassfibre glider BK-7 "Lietuva".
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Wikipedia