Wittenberg (district)

Wittenberg is a district (Kreis) in the east of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Neighboring districts are (from west clockwise) Anhalt-Bitterfeld, the district-free city of Dessau-Roßlau, the districts of Potsdam-Mittelmark, Teltow-Fläming and Elbe-Elster in Brandenburg, and the district of Nordsachsen in Saxony. The capital and largest city is Wittenberg, famous for its association with the influential religious reformer Martin Luther and containing a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History
In 1994, the district was merged with the district of Jessen and a small part of the district of Gräfenhainichen. In 2007, 27 municipalities from the former district Anhalt-Zerbst were added to the district of Wittenberg.

Geography
The area of the district is 1933.3 km2. The main rivers in the district are the Elbe and its tributary, the Schwarze Elster.

Coat of arms
The coat of arms shows two swords, which is the symbol of a field marshal in the Holy Roman Empire. This title was bestowed upon the counts of Saxony, who therefore added the symbol to their coat of arms. The center of the principality of Saxony was located in the area now covered by the district.

Towns and municipalities
The district of Wittenberg consists of the following towns:


 * Annaburg
 * Bad Schmiedeberg
 * Coswig
 * Gräfenhainichen
 * Jessen (Elster)
 * Kemberg
 * Oranienbaum-Wörlitz
 * Wittenberg
 * Zahna-Elster

After the resolution of 6 October 2005, as part of municipal reform, the (then) 27 towns and municipalities of the former Verwaltungsgemeinschaften of Coswig and Wörlitzer Winkel, formerly in the Anhalt-Zerbst district, were assigned to Wittenberg district on 1 July 2007.