Eisenhüttenstadt – A Town founded on Industry

Eisenhüttenstadt occupies a special position among all the towns in East Germany, because Eisenhüttenstadt was conceived as the "first socialist town on German soil" on the drawing board and built on a "greenfield site" between the 750-year-old town of Fürstenberg/Oder and the villages of Schönfließ and Diehlo.

The reason for building the socialist model town was the construction of the first ironworks in the former GDR in 1951. The name of the town itself shows the close connection between the town and the works, which still sets the pulse of the region today. The plant, known as Eisenhüttenkombinat Ost (EKO), is now one of the most modern flat steel producers in Europe and a successful member of the global ArcelorMittal group. But Eisenhüttenstadt not only has the mighty silhouette of cooling towers, blast furnaces and steelworks that the city name implies, but also a green island, lots of water and art.

Unique in Brandenburg is the collection of historic fire engines and small equipment in the Fire Brigade and Technology Museum.  

There is so much more to discover in this city of contrasts - between modernity and tradition. The US actor Tom Hanks felt the same and never tires of talking enthusiastically about our special city. He has given Eisenhüttenstadt the name "Iron Hat City" and we have not missed the opportunity to tell everyone about it...