Rethem

Rethem
Coat of arms
Rethem
Location of Rethem within Heidekreis district
Coordinates: 52°47′5″N 9°22′41″E / 52.78472°N 9.37806°E / 52.78472; 9.37806Coordinates: 52°47′5″N 9°22′41″E / 52.78472°N 9.37806°E / 52.78472; 9.37806
Country	Germany
State	Lower Saxony
District	Heidekreis
Municipal assoc.	Rethem/Aller
Government
• Mayor	Karl-Dieter Oestmann (CDU)
Area
• Total	33.76 km2 (13.03 sq mi)
Population (2015-12-31)
• Total	2,357
• Density	70/km2 (180/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	27336
Dialling codes	05165
Vehicle registration	SFA
Website	www.rethem.de

Rethem (German pronunciation: [ˈʁeːtəm]) is a town in the Heidekreis in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Aller, approx. 25 km southwest of Bad Fallingbostel, and 18 km southeast of Verden. The town was the scene of heavy fighting over the period 10–11 April 1945 between units of the British 53rd Welsh Division and parts of the German 2. Marine-Infanterie-Division with heavy losses on both sides. Most of the German soldiers were not older than 23 years.

Rethem is the seat of the Samtgemeinde ("collective municipality") Rethem/Aller.