Mogendorf

Mogendorf is a municipality in Westerwaldkreis district, Rhineland-Palatinate, in western Germany.

Geography
Mogendorf is located in a valley in the southwestern part of the Westerwald mountains and within the boundaries of the Kannenbäckerland, which is well-known for clay mining and its porcelain industry. It is located northeast of the Montabaur Heights, a 15km-long mountain ridge, which serves as a rainshadow for the area. With the entire region being prone to westerly winds, the ridge spares the settlement from heavy convective storms during summertime, which usually divert to the north and south. Mogendorf experiences an oceanic climate (Köppen classification Cfb), which is warmer than in the rest of the region due to its relatively low altitude and proximity to the Middle Rhine. Its unique location allows warmer air from the deep valley to croach up the westernmost slopes of the Lower Westerwald and reach the lowlands of the Kannenbäckerland. A varity of thermophilic plants and fruits, which are rather uncommon in the area, can be grown in the village.

Since 1971, Mogendorf is administered as part of the Wirges municipality.

History
The settlement was first mentioned in 1384 under the name of 'Oberdorf' (translated: Upper Village) within the Nassau-Dillenburg province of the Holy Roman Empire. Due to its location on the Rhinish salt road, the area was considered to be an ideal location for permanent settlement. The settlement saw a rapid decline in population during Thirty Years' War, which started to sustainably recover during the 17th century. In 1696, the first settlement of Ashkenazi Jews in the village was recorded.

Due to the Year Without a Summer and its subsequent, long-lasting effects, which included crop failure, Mogendorf became the scene of heavy emigration to the United States, which lasted until the early 20th century.

During the rule of the Nazi regime, Mogendorf became the scene of brutal pogroms, during which SA officers unsuccessfully attempted to burn down the local synagogue. In total 22 Jews were killed after being deported into concentration camps in Eastern Europe. Only two Jewish families from Mogendorf managed to go abroad. At the end of World War II, the local Jewish community completely ceased to exist.

Politics
Results of the 2021 German federal election in Mogendorf:

Results of the 2024 European Parliament election in Mogendorf:

During the 2024 Local elections, three parties and election groups ran for the village council, with all archieving to receive mandates. The village council composition is as follows:

Manuel Hemmerling won the mayor election in a runoff, defeating Bernd Altwasser in the second round, and is set to overtake mayor duties in August 2024.

Infrastructure
Mogendorf is located on the six-lane A3 motorway and has an own intersection, from where Frankfurt am Main and Cologne can be reached within an hour.

The Montabaur station is located 12km (7.5 miles) southeast from Mogendorf.