Sonnenstein Castle

The Sonnenstein Euthanasia Clinic (German: NS-Tötungsanstalt Sonnenstein; literally "National Socialist Killing Centre Sonnenstein") was a Nazi killing centre located in the former fortress of Sonnenstein Castle near Pirna in eastern Germany, where a hospital had been established in 1811. In 1940 and 1941, the facility was used by the Nazis to murder around 15,000 people under the euphemism of "euthanasia". The majority of victims had psychological disorders or intellectual disabilities, but their number also included inmates from the concentration camps. Sonnenstein was one of six killing centres set up after the beginning of the Second World War as part of a nationwide, centrally coordinated and largely secret programme called Aktion T4 for the "elimination of life unworthy of life" (Vernichtung lebensunwerten Lebens) or the murder of what the Nazis called "dead weight existences" (Ballastexistenzen). These murders at Sonnenstein and elsewhere served as organizational and technical preparation for the Holocaust; many of the key personnel of Aktion T4 had prominent roles in Operation Reinhard. The method of murdering prisoners with gas was adopted at Auschwitz and other extermination camps. Today, the Pirna Sonnenstein Memorial Site commemorates the victims of these crimes.

The Eisenkammer Pirna ("Iron Chamber") was an Electoral Saxon institution with the task of distributing and allocating the iron products within its area of responsibility (Revier), the Pirna Iron Mining District (Pirnaer Eisenrevier). It was founded in 1472 and existed until 1686. It had its seat in the house Am Markt 10, the present town community hall, in the Old Town (Altstadt) of Pirna. Other Eisenkammern existed as authorities regulating the iron trade for instance in the former Austria iron centres of Steyr and Scheibbs.

Pirna (German: [ˈpɪʁna] ; Upper Sorbian: Pěrno, pronounced [ˈpʲɪʁnɔ]) is a town in Saxony, Germany and capital of the administrative district Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge. The town's population is over 37,000. Pirna is located near Dresden and is an important district town as well as a Große Kreisstadt.

Posta is a village in the municipality of Pirna, in Saxony, Germany. It was incorporated into Pirna in 1922. It consists of Niederposta (Lower Posta) and Oberposta (Upper Posta). The place was mentioned for the first time in 1417. It is situated on the right bank of the river Elbe, northeast of Pirna town centre.

The Seidewitz is a river of Saxony, Germany. It is a left tributary of the Gottleuba, into which it flows in the town Pirna. Its source is in the Eastern Ore Mountains, near the village Breitenau. It flows through the town Liebstadt. Its length is about 25 km (16 mi).

The Sächsische Schweiz (English: Saxon Switzerland) is a former district (Kreis) in the south of Saxony, Germany. Neighboring districts were (from west clockwise) Weißeritzkreis, the district-free city Dresden and the districts Kamenz and Bautzen. To the south it borders the Czech Republic.

The Pirna Rowing Club 1872 (Pirnaer Ruderverein 1872), from Pirna (Germany) is the first and oldest rowing club in the Freestate of Saxony. Founded in 1872 and reshaped in 1991. One of the best known is the rower Peggy Waleska, who won 2 World Championships and one silver medal on the Olympics. And the rower Dieter Schubert, who won 2 times Olympic gold, 2 World- championships and 3 European championships. Sybille Reinhardt won the Olympic gold during the competitions Rowing at the 1980 Summer Olympics. During the time of the German Democratic Republic their names were been: Betriebssportgemeinschaft Kommunales Wirtschaftsunternehmen (BSG KWU) Pirna, BSG Einheit Pirna, BSG Fortschritt Pirna and SV Fortschritt Pirna.

The siege of Pirna (or Investment of Pirna) took place in 1756 as part of the Prussian invasion of Saxony during the Third Silesian War (part of the Seven Years' War). Following the occupation of the capital Dresden by Frederick the Great on 9 September the Saxon army had withdrawn south and taken up position at the fortress of Pirna under Frederick von Rutowski. The Saxons hoped to receive relief from the Austrian army which was across the border in neighbouring Bohemia under Marshal Browne. Following the Battle of Lobositz the Austrians withdrew, and tried to approach Pirna by a different route but they failed to make contact with the defenders. Despite a Saxon attempt to escape by crossing the River Elbe, it soon became apparent that their position was hopeless. On 14 October Rutowski concluded a capitulation with Frederick. In total 18,000 troops surrendered. They were swiftly and forcibly incorporated into the Prussian forces, an act which caused widespread protest even from Prussians. Many of them later deserted and fought with the Austrians against the Prussian forces - with whole regiments changing sides at the Battle of Prague.

The Geibeltbad Pirna is a public bath and water sport facility in Pirna near Dresden, Saxony in Germany. Finished under the Nazis on June 20, 1937, it is one of the largest baths in the world. Completely paid by the Anna Marie Geibelt Foundation (House of Wettin Royalists) and constructed on a her mud area, between April - June 20, 1937 (three months construction only). The foundation got it's inspiration from the International Hygiene Exhibition, were the public bath in that new form had been invented. The 20,000 square metre site was renovated and upgraded in 2001-02 to include an indoor swimming pool, wellness centre and other facilities. From 1937 to 1990 Geibeltbad was a venue for the German swimming championships as well as a training site. In 2006, the bath welcomed 233,588 visitors.

Copitz is a subdivision of Pirna, in Saxony, Germany. It was incorporated into Pirna in 1923. The place was mentioned for the first time in 1417. It is situated on the right bank of the river Elbe, directly opposite Pirna town centre.

Pirna station is the largest railway station in the town of Pirna in the German state of Saxony. The station is integrated into the network of the Dresden S-Bahn. It is also the starting point of a Regionalbahn service and a Regional-Express stop.

The Gottleuba (Czech: Rybný potok) is a small river in the Czech Republic and in Saxony, Germany. It is a left tributary of the Elbe. The Gottleuba's source is in the eastern part of the Ore Mountains in Krásný Les within the municipality of Petrovice. After a few km, it crosses the Czech-German border and flows the rest of its 34 km (21 mi) in Saxony. It passes the Gottleuba Dam and the town Bad Gottleuba-Berggießhübel, and flows into the Elbe in Pirna. In July 1927, there was a flash flood in the river due to heavy rain.