Roetgen

Roetgen
Coat of arms
Roetgen
Location of Roetgen within Aachen district
Coordinates: 50°39′N 6°12′E / 50.650°N 6.200°ECoordinates: 50°39′N 6°12′E / 50.650°N 6.200°E
Country	Germany
State	North Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. region	Köln
District	Aachen
Government
• Mayor	Manfred Eis (SPD)
Area
• Total	39.033 km^2 (15.071 sq mi)
Population (2015-12-31)[1]
• Total	8,527
• Density	220/km^2 (570/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	52159
Dialling codes	02471
Vehicle registration	AC
Website	www.roetgen.de

Roetgen is a municipality in the district of Aachen, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Geography

Roetgen is located approximately 15 km (9 mi) south-east of Aachen, near the border with Belgium. It is in the north of the High Fens-Eifel Nature Park on the Weser stream which rises a few kilometres to the south. Between Roetgen and Rott is the Dreilägerbach Reservoir, which is fed by the Dreilägerbach strea and the artificially Schleebachgraben and Hasselbachgraben ditches. The attacked waterworks supplies large parts of Aachen and the Dutch town of Kerkrade with drinking water.

The parish of Roetgen includes the villages of Roetgen, Rott and Mulartshütte, which is the oldes part of Roetgen.

To the northwest is the borough of Aachen with its quarters of Kornelimünster and Walheim, to the northeast is the town of Stolberg with its quarters of Venwegen and Zweifall, to the southeast is the Simmerath parish of Lammersdorf. To the west, on the far side of the German-Belgian border lies the town of Eupen and the municipalities of Raeren, whose parish of Petergensfeld borders immediately on Roetgen north of Charliers Mill.

Roetgen is attractive for commuters due to its close proximity to Aachen.

History

In World War II Roetgen was the first German town to fall under American control. American forces arrived in the town on 12 September 1944 at 14.30.^[2]

The city was the location of the court martial of US Army Private Eddie Slovik in November 1944, notable because of all US military personnel in World War II, only Slovik was ever executed for desertion.

Division of the municipality

Roetgen consists of three districts:

• Roetgen
• Rott
• Mulartshütte

Mulartshütte is the oldest settlement of the three.

Sights

• St. Mary's Chapel (Marienkapelle, 1636–1660) is the surviving part of the first Roman Catholic parish church in Roetgen. It was partially demolished when the Neogothic St. Hubert's Church (1854–1856) was built. It was consecrated to Saint Hubertus of Liege, the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist.
• In Roetgen's town hall is the sculpture of a weaver by Hermann Pier (1925–1985); outside on the forecourt is a replica. It has historical and well as artistic value, because this craft was an important part of Roetgen's economic history.
• Charliers Mill (substructure of rubble stone, 1768) is an old water mill (today a domestic residence) on the Weser stream. In the countryside behind the mill, with its pastures, rows of beech rows and ponds runs Stage 1 of the Eifelsteig hiking trail.

Gallery

• 
  St. Hubert's Roman Catholic Church
• 
  St. Mary's Chapel
• 
  The Protestant church

References

1. "Amtliche Bevölkerungszahlen". Landesbetrieb Information und Technik NRW (in German). 18 July 2016.
2. New York Times, 14 Sep 1944.

External links

• Official site (German)