# Saxony

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State in Germany

This article is about the modern state in Germany. For other uses, see [Saxony (disambiguation)](/source/Saxony_(disambiguation)).

"Sachsen" redirects here. For various ships, see [*Sachsen* (ship)](/source/Sachsen_(ship)). For the German naval class, see [*Sachsen*-class frigate](/source/Sachsen-class_frigate).

State in Germany

Free State of Saxony Freistaat Sachsen (German) Freischdaad Saggsn (Upper Saxon) Swobodny stat Sakska (Upper Sorbian) State Flag Coat of arms Anthem: Sachsenlied [de] Coordinates: 51°1′37″N 13°21′32″E / 51.02694°N 13.35889°E / 51.02694; 13.35889 Country Germany Capital Dresden Largest city Leipzig Government • Body Landtag of Saxony • Minister-President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) • Governing parties CDU / SPD • Bundesrat votes 4 (of 69) • Bundestag seats 30 (of 630) (as of 2025) Area [1] • Total 18,449.89 km2 (7,123.54 sq mi) Population (2023)[2] • Total 4,089,467 • Density 221.6526/km2 (574.0777/sq mi) Demonym Saxon GDP [3] • Total €167.973 billion (2025) • Per capita €41,553 (2025) Time zone UTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST) ISO 3166 code DE-SN NUTS Region DED HDI (2022) 0.944[4] very high · 8th of 16 Website www.sachsen.de/en/

**Saxony**,[a] officially the **Free State of Saxony**,[b] is a landlocked [state of Germany](/source/State_of_Germany), bordering the states of [Brandenburg](/source/Brandenburg), [Saxony-Anhalt](/source/Saxony-Anhalt), [Thuringia](/source/Thuringia), and [Bavaria](/source/Bavaria), as well as the countries of [Poland](/source/Poland) and the [Czech Republic](/source/Czech_Republic). Its capital is [Dresden](/source/Dresden), and its largest city is [Leipzig](/source/Leipzig). Saxony is the [tenth largest](/source/List_of_German_states_by_area) of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of 18,450 square kilometres (7,124 sq mi), and the [seventh most populous](/source/List_of_German_states_by_population), with more than 4 million inhabitants.

The term [Saxony](/source/Saxony_(disambiguation)) has been in use for more than a millennium. It was used for the medieval [Duchy of Saxony](/source/Duchy_of_Saxony), the [Electorate of Saxony](/source/Electorate_of_Saxony) of the [Holy Roman Empire](/source/Holy_Roman_Empire), the [Kingdom of Saxony](/source/Kingdom_of_Saxony), and twice for a republic. The first [Free State of Saxony](/source/Free_State_of_Saxony_(Weimar_Republic)) was established in 1918 as a constituent state of the [Weimar Republic](/source/Weimar_Republic). After [World War II](/source/World_War_II), it was under Soviet occupation before it became part of communist [East Germany](/source/East_Germany) and was abolished by the government in 1952. Following [German reunification](/source/German_reunification), the Free State of Saxony was reconstituted with enlarged borders in 1990 and became one of the five [new states](/source/New_states_of_Germany) of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The area of the modern state of Saxony should not be confused with [Old Saxony](/source/Old_Saxony), the area inhabited by [Saxons](/source/Saxons). Old Saxony corresponds roughly to the modern German states of [Lower Saxony](/source/Lower_Saxony), [Saxony-Anhalt](/source/Saxony-Anhalt), and the [Westphalian](/source/Westphalia) portion of [North Rhine-Westphalia](/source/North_Rhine-Westphalia). Historically the region of Saxony has sometimes been referred to as Upper Saxony to distinguish it from Lower Saxony.

The state is also home to a minority of [Sorbs](/source/Sorbs), a [West Slavic](/source/West_Slavs) ethnic group native to the area, numbering an estimated 80,000 people.[5]

## History

Main article: [History of Saxony](/source/History_of_Saxony)

Saxony has a long history as a [duchy](/source/Duchy), an [electorate](/source/Prince-elector) of the [Holy Roman Empire](/source/Holy_Roman_Empire) (the [Electorate of Saxony](/source/Electorate_of_Saxony)), and finally as a [kingdom](/source/King) (the [Kingdom of Saxony](/source/Kingdom_of_Saxony)). In 1918, after Germany's defeat in [World War I](/source/World_War_I), its monarchy was overthrown and a republican form of government was established under the current name. The state was broken up into smaller units during communist rule (1949–1989), but was re-established on 3 October 1990 on the reunification of [East](/source/East_Germany) and [West Germany](/source/West_Germany).

### Prehistory

In prehistoric times, the territory of present-day Saxony was the site of some of the largest of the ancient central European [monumental temples](/source/Circular_ditches), dating from the fifth millennium BC. Notable archaeological sites have been discovered in Dresden and the villages of Eythra and [Zwenkau](/source/Zwenkau) near Leipzig. The [Germanic](/source/Germanic_peoples) presence in the territory of today's Saxony is thought to have begun in the first century BC.

Parts of Saxony were possibly under the control of the Germanic King [Marobod](/source/Marobod) during the Roman empire era. By the late Roman period, several tribes known as the [Saxons](/source/Saxons) emerged, from which the subsequent state(s) draw their name.

### Stem Duchy of Saxony

Main articles: [Old Saxony](/source/Old_Saxony), [Duchy of Saxony](/source/Duchy_of_Saxony), and [Sorbian March](/source/Sorbian_March)

[Henry the Lion](/source/Henry_the_Lion) (with his wife [Matilda of England, Duchess of Saxony](/source/Matilda_of_England%2C_Duchess_of_Saxony)) being crowned as the [Duke of Saxony](/source/List_of_rulers_of_Saxony)

Since the late 6th century, the territory of modern-day Saxony and parts of Thuringia was populated by [Polabian Slavs](/source/Polabian_Slavs), most prominently the [Sorbs](/source/Sorbs_(tribe)). It was conquered by [Francia](/source/Francia) and subsequently organized as the [Sorbian March](/source/Sorbian_March).[6][7] A legacy of this period is the modern ethnic group of [Sorbs](/source/Sorbs) in Saxony. Eastern and western[8] parts of present Saxony were ruled by [Bohemia](/source/Kingdom_of_Bohemia) at various times between 1075 and 1635 (with some intermissions), and [Schirgiswalde](/source/Schirgiswalde) (Upper Sorbian: *Šěrachów*; [Czech](/source/Czech_language): *Šerachov*) remained a Bohemian exclave until 1809. Eastern parts were also ruled by Poland between 1002 and 1032, by the [Duchy of Jawor](/source/Duchy_of_Jawor), the southwesternmost duchy of fragmented [Piast](/source/Piast_dynasty)-ruled Poland, from 1319 to 1346,[9][10] and by [Hungary](/source/Kingdom_of_Hungary) from 1469 to 1490,[11] and [Pechern](/source/Krauschwitz) (Upper Sorbian: *Pěchč*) was part of the [Duchy of Żagań](/source/Duchy_of_%C5%BBaga%C5%84), one of the [Lower Silesian](/source/Lower_Silesia) duchies formed in the course of the medieval fragmentation of Poland,[12] remaining under the Piast dynasty until 1472.

The first medieval **Duchy of Saxony** was a late [Early Middle Ages](/source/Early_Middle_Ages) "[Carolingian](/source/Carolingian_Empire) [stem duchy](/source/Stem_duchy)", which emerged around the start of the 8th century AD and grew to include the greater part of Northern [Germany](/source/Germany), what are now the modern German states of [Bremen](/source/Bremen), [Hamburg](/source/Hamburg), [Lower Saxony](/source/Lower_Saxony), [North Rhine-Westphalia](/source/North_Rhine-Westphalia), [Schleswig-Holstein](/source/Schleswig-Holstein) and [Saxony-Anhalt](/source/Saxony-Anhalt). Saxons converted to Christianity during this period, with [Charlemagne](/source/Charlemagne) outlawing pagan practices.[13] This geographical region is unrelated to present-day Saxony but the name moved southwards due to certain historical events (see below).

### Holy Roman Empire

Main article: [Electorate of Saxony](/source/Electorate_of_Saxony)

Meissen, with Albrechtsburg and Cathedral

The territory of the Free State of Saxony became part of the [Holy Roman Empire](/source/Holy_Roman_Empire) by the 10th century, when the dukes of Saxony were also kings (or emperors) of the Holy Roman Empire, comprising the [Ottonian](/source/Ottonian_dynasty), or Saxon, dynasty. The [Margravate of Meissen](/source/Margravate_of_Meissen) was founded in 985 as a [frontier march](/source/Frontier_march), that soon extended to the [Kwisa](/source/Kwisa) (Queis) river to the east and as far as the Ore Mountains. In the process of *[Ostsiedlung](/source/Ostsiedlung)*, settlement of German farmers in the sparsely populated area was promoted. Around this time, the [Billungs](/source/Billung), a [Saxon](/source/Saxons) noble family, received extensive lands in Saxony. The emperor eventually gave them the title of [dukes of Saxony](/source/List_of_rulers_of_Saxony). After [Duke Magnus](/source/Magnus%2C_Duke_of_Saxony) died in 1106, causing the extinction of the male line of Billungs, oversight of the duchy was given to [Lothar of Supplinburg](/source/Lothair_III%2C_Holy_Roman_Emperor), who also became emperor for a short time.

In 1137, control of Saxony passed to the [Guelph](/source/House_of_Welf) dynasty, descendants of Wulfhild Billung, eldest daughter of the last Billung duke, and the daughter of Lothar of Supplinburg. In 1180 large portions west of the Weser were ceded to the [Bishops of Cologne](/source/Electorate_of_Cologne), while some central parts between the Weser and the Elbe remained with the Guelphs, becoming later the Duchy of [Brunswick-Lüneburg](/source/Brunswick-L%C3%BCneburg). The remaining eastern lands, together with the title of Duke of Saxony, passed to an [Ascanian](/source/House_of_Ascania) dynasty (descended from [Eilika Billung](/source/Eilika_of_Saxony), Wulfhild's younger sister) and were divided in 1260 into the two small states of [Saxe-Lauenburg](/source/Saxe-Lauenburg) and [Saxe-Wittenberg](/source/Saxe-Wittenberg). The former state was also named *[Lower Saxony](/source/Lower_Saxony)*, the latter *[Upper Saxony](/source/Upper_Saxony)*, thence the later names of the two [Imperial Circles](/source/Imperial_Circle) Saxe-Lauenburg and Saxe-Wittenberg. Both claimed the Saxon [electoral privilege](/source/Prince-elector) for themselves, but the [Golden Bull of 1356](/source/Golden_Bull_of_1356) accepted only Wittenberg's claim, with Lauenburg nevertheless continuing to maintain its claim. In 1422, when the Saxon electoral line of the Ascanians became extinct, the Ascanian [Eric V of Saxe-Lauenburg](/source/Eric_V_of_Saxe-Lauenburg) tried to reunite the Saxon duchies.

However, [Sigismund](/source/Sigismund%2C_Holy_Roman_Emperor), [King of the Romans](/source/King_of_the_Romans), had already granted Margrave [Frederick IV the Warlike](/source/Frederick_the_Warlike) of [Meissen](/source/Margraviate_of_Meissen) ([House of Wettin](/source/House_of_Wettin)) an expectancy of the Saxon electorate in order to remunerate his military support. On 1 August 1425 Sigismund enfeoffed the Wettinian Frederick as Prince-Elector of Saxony, despite the protests of Eric V. Thus the Saxon territories remained permanently separated.

The [Electorate of Saxony](/source/Electorate_of_Saxony) was then merged with the much larger Wettinian [Margraviate of Meissen](/source/Margraviate_of_Meissen); however, it used the higher-ranking title Electorate of Saxony and even the Ascanian coat-of-arms for the entire monarchy.[14] Thus Saxony came to include [Dresden](/source/Dresden) and [Meissen](/source/Meissen). Hence, the territory of the modern Free State of Saxony shares the name with the old Saxon stem duchy for historical and dynastic reasons rather than any significant ethnic, linguistic or cultural connection. In the 18th and 19th centuries Saxe-Lauenburg was colloquially called the [Duchy of Lauenburg](/source/Duchy_of_Lauenburg), which was held in a personal union by the [Electorate of Hanover](/source/Electorate_of_Hanover) from the 18th century to the Napoleonic wars, and in a personal union with Denmark (along with neighbouring [Holstein](/source/Holstein) and [Schleswig](/source/Schleswig)) for much the 19th century. In 1876 it was absorbed into [Prussia](/source/Kingdom_of_Prussia) as the [Duchy of Lauenburg district](/source/Herzogtum_Lauenburg) of the [Province of Schleswig-Holstein](/source/Province_of_Schleswig-Holstein)).

### Foundation of the second Saxon state

Redistribution of Wettin lands upon the [Capitulation of Wittenberg](/source/Capitulation_of_Wittenberg) (1547)

Saxe-Wittenberg, mostly in modern [Saxony-Anhalt](/source/Saxony-Anhalt), became subject to the [margravate of Meissen](/source/Margravate_of_Meissen), ruled by the [Wettin](/source/House_of_Wettin) dynasty in 1423. This established a new and powerful state, occupying large portions of the present Free State of Saxony, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt and Bavaria (Coburg and its environs). Although the centre of this state was far to the southeast of the former Saxony, it came to be referred to as **Upper Saxony** and then simply **Saxony**, while the former Saxon territories in the north were now known as **Lower Saxony** (the modern term [Niedersachsen](/source/Niedersachsen) deriving from this).

In 1485, Saxony was split in the [Treaty of Leipzig](/source/Treaty_of_Leipzig). Ernest kept the [Saxon electoral title](/source/Elector_of_Saxony) (attached to the [Duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg](/source/Duchy_of_Saxe-Wittenberg)) and several domains in southern parts of [Thuringia](/source/Thuringia). The territories in Thuringia later developed into the [Ernestine duchies](/source/Ernestine_duchies). Since these princes were allowed to use the Saxon coat of arms, in many towns of Thuringia, the coat of arms can still be found in historical buildings. [Albert](/source/Albert_III%2C_Duke_of_Saxony) received the [Saxon ducal title](/source/Duke_of_Saxony) and rule over the old [Margraviate of Meissen](/source/Margraviate_of_Meissen), together with various domains in northern parts of Thuringia. He established [Dresden](/source/Dresden) as the capital of the newly established [Duchy of Saxony](/source/Duchy_of_Saxony_(1485-1547)) [[nl](https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hertogdom_Saksen_(1485-1547)); [fr](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duch%C3%A9_de_Saxe_(1485-1547)); [es](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ducado_de_Sajonia_(1485-1547))].[15]

Following the [Imperial reform](/source/Imperial_reform) of 1500, both the Electorate and the Duchy of Saxony became part of the [Saxon Circle](/source/Saxon_Circle) of the Holy Roman Empire, and after the division of that circle in 1512 formed part of the [Upper Saxon Circle](/source/Upper_Saxon_Circle).

As a result of the [Capitulation of Wittenberg](/source/Capitulation_of_Wittenberg), the Electorate of Saxony and its core territory (the Duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg) passed from the elder [Ernestine](/source/Ernestine_Wettins) branch of the Saxon ruling House of Wettin, to the cadet [Albertine](/source/Albertine_Wettins) branch, headed by duke [Maurice, Duke of Saxony](/source/Maurice%2C_Duke_of_Saxony), who became the first Saxon prince-elector from the Albertine line.[16]

Depiction of the ruins  of Dresden's [Kreuzkirche](/source/Kreuzkirche%2C_Dresden) following its destruction by Prussian artillery during the [Seven Years' War](/source/Seven_Years'_War) (Canaletto, 1765)

In the 17th century, the Electorate of Saxony grew even more powerful, receiving [Upper](/source/Upper_Lusatia) and [Lower Lusatia](/source/Lower_Lusatia) in the [Peace of Prague (1635)](/source/Peace_of_Prague_(1635)). It also became known in the 18th century for its cultural achievements, although it was politically weaker than [Prussia](/source/Kingdom_of_Prussia) and [Austria](/source/Habsburg_monarchy), states which oppressed Saxony from the north and south, respectively.

Between 1697 and 1763, two successive [Electors of Saxony](/source/Electors_of_Saxony) were also elected [Kings of Poland](/source/Kings_of_Poland) in [personal union](/source/Personal_union_of_Poland_and_Saxony). Many landmarks in Saxony date from this period and contain remnants of the former close Polish-Saxon relation, such as the [coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth](/source/Coat_of_arms_of_the_Polish%E2%80%93Lithuanian_Commonwealth) on the facades and in the interiors of palaces, churches, edifices, etc. (e.g. [Zwinger](/source/Zwinger_(Dresden)), [Dresden Cathedral](/source/Dresden_Cathedral), [Moritzburg Castle](/source/Moritzburg_Castle)), and on numerous mileposts, and the close political and cultural relationship persisted well into the 19th century, with Saxony being the place of preparations for the Polish [Kościuszko Uprising](/source/Ko%C5%9Bciuszko_Uprising) against the [partitioning](/source/Partitions_of_Poland) powers,[17] and one of the chief destinations for Polish refugees from partitioned Poland, including the artistic and political elite, such as composer [Frédéric Chopin](/source/Fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9ric_Chopin), war hero [Józef Bem](/source/J%C3%B3zef_Bem) and writer [Adam Mickiewicz](/source/Adam_Mickiewicz).[18]

In 1756, Saxony joined a coalition of Austria, [France](/source/Kingdom_of_France) and [Russia](/source/Russian_Empire) against Prussia. [Frederick II of Prussia](/source/Frederick_II_of_Prussia) chose to attack preemptively and invaded Saxony in August 1756, precipitating the [Third Silesian War](/source/Third_Silesian_War) (part of the [Seven Years' War](/source/Seven_Years'_War)). The Prussians quickly defeated Saxony and incorporated the [Saxon army](/source/Royal_Saxon_Army) into the [Prussian Army](/source/Prussian_Army). At the end of the Seven Years' War, Saxony recovered its independence in the 1763 [Treaty of Hubertusburg](/source/Treaty_of_Hubertusburg).

### 19th century

Further information: [Kingdom of Saxony](/source/Kingdom_of_Saxony)

The Kingdom of Saxony after the [Congress of Vienna](/source/Congress_of_Vienna)

In 1806, French Emperor [Napoleon](/source/Napoleon) abolished the [Holy Roman Empire](/source/Holy_Roman_Empire) and established the Electorate of Saxony as a kingdom in exchange for military support. The [Elector](/source/Prince-elector) Frederick Augustus III accordingly became King [Frederick Augustus I of Saxony](/source/Frederick_Augustus_I_of_Saxony). Frederick Augustus remained loyal to Napoleon during the wars that swept Europe in the following years; he was taken prisoner and his territories were declared forfeit by the allies in 1813, after the defeat of Napoleon. Prussia intended the annexation of Saxony but the opposition of [Austria](/source/Austrian_Empire), France, and the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom_of_Great_Britain_and_Ireland) to this plan resulted in the restoration of Frederick Augustus to his throne at the [Congress of Vienna](/source/Congress_of_Vienna) although he was forced to cede the northern part of the kingdom to Prussia, which led to the loss of nearly 60% of the Saxon territory,[19] and 40% of its population. Most of these lands were merged with the [Duchy of Magdeburg](/source/Duchy_of_Magdeburg), the [Altmark](/source/Altmark) and some smaller territories to become the Prussian [Province of Saxony](/source/Province_of_Saxony), a predecessor of the modern state of [Saxony-Anhalt](/source/Saxony-Anhalt). [Lower Lusatia](/source/Lower_Lusatia) and part of the former Saxe-Wittenberg territory became part of the [Province of Brandenburg](/source/Province_of_Brandenburg) and the northeastern part of [Upper Lusatia](/source/Upper_Lusatia) became part of the [Province of Silesia](/source/Province_of_Silesia). The [rump](/source/Rump_state) Kingdom of Saxony had roughly the same extent as the present state, albeit slightly smaller.

Meanwhile, in 1815, the Kingdom of Saxony joined the [German Confederation](/source/German_Confederation).[20] In the politics of the Confederation, Saxony was overshadowed by Prussia and Austria. King [Anthony of Saxony](/source/Anthony_of_Saxony) came to the throne of Saxony in 1827. Shortly thereafter, liberal pressures in Saxony mounted and broke out in revolt during 1830—a [year of revolution](/source/Revolutions_of_1830) in Europe.[20] The revolution in Saxony resulted in a constitution for the Kingdom of Saxony that served as the basis for its government until 1918.[20]

During the [1848–49 constitutionalist revolutions in Germany](/source/German_revolutions_of_1848%E2%80%931849), Saxony became a hotbed of revolutionaries, with anarchists such as [Mikhail Bakunin](/source/Mikhail_Bakunin) and democrats including [Richard Wagner](/source/Richard_Wagner) and [Gottfried Semper](/source/Gottfried_Semper) taking part in the [May Uprising in Dresden](/source/May_Uprising_in_Dresden) in 1849. The May uprising in Dresden forced King [Frederick Augustus II of Saxony](/source/Frederick_Augustus_II_of_Saxony) to concede further reforms to the Saxon government.[20]

In 1854 Frederick Augustus II's brother, King [John of Saxony](/source/John%2C_King_of_Saxony), succeeded to the throne. A scholar, King John translated [Dante](/source/Dante_Alighieri).[20] King John followed a federalistic and pro-Austrian policy throughout the early 1860s until the outbreak of the [Austro-Prussian War](/source/Austro-Prussian_War). During that war, Prussian troops overran Saxony without resistance and then invaded Austrian [Bohemia](/source/Kingdom_of_Bohemia).[21] After the war, Saxony was forced to pay an indemnity and to join the [North German Confederation](/source/North_German_Confederation) in 1867.[22] Under the terms of the North German Confederation, Prussia took over control of the Saxon postal system, railroads, military and foreign affairs.[22] In the [Franco-Prussian War](/source/Franco-Prussian_War) of 1870, Saxon troops fought together with Prussian and other German troops against France.[22] In 1871, Saxony joined the newly formed [German Empire](/source/German_Empire).[22]

### 20th century

The Free State of Saxony 1945–1952

After King [Frederick Augustus III of Saxony](/source/Frederick_Augustus_III_of_Saxony) abdicated on 13 November 1918, Saxony, remaining a constituent state of Germany ([Weimar Republic](/source/Weimar_Republic)), became the [Free State of Saxony](/source/Free_State_of_Saxony_(Weimar_Republic)) under a new constitution enacted on 1 November 1920. In October 1923, when the [Communist Party of Germany](/source/Communist_Party_of_Germany) entered the [Social Democratic](/source/Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany)-led government in Dresden with [hidden revolutionary intentions](/source/German_October), the Reich government under Chancellor [Gustav Stresemann](/source/Gustav_Stresemann) used a *[Reichsexekution](/source/Reichsexekution)* to send troops into Saxony to remove the Communists from the government.[23] The state retained its name and borders during the Nazi era as a *[Gau](/source/Administrative_divisions_of_Nazi_Germany)* ([Gau Saxony](/source/Gau_Saxony)), but lost its quasi-autonomous status and its parliamentary democracy.

During [World War II](/source/World_War_II), under the secret Nazi programme *[Aktion T4](/source/Aktion_T4)*, an estimated 15,000 people suffering from mental and physical disabilities, as well as a number of concentration camp inmates, were murdered at [Sonnenstein killing centre](/source/Sonnenstein_Euthanasia_Centre) near [Pirna](/source/Pirna). Numerous subcamps of the [Buchenwald](/source/Buchenwald_concentration_camp), [Flossenburg](/source/Flossenburg_concentration_camp) and [Gross-Rosen](/source/Gross-Rosen_concentration_camp) concentration camps were operated in Saxony.[24][25][26]

The [State of Saxony](/source/State_of_Saxony_(1945%E2%80%931952)) within the [Soviet occupation zone in Germany](/source/Soviet_occupation_zone_in_Germany) and later the [German Democratic Republic](/source/East_Germany). (1945–1952)

As the war drew to its end, U.S. troops under General [George Patton](/source/George_Patton) occupied the western part of Saxony in April 1945, while [Soviet troops occupied](/source/Soviet_occupation_zone_in_Germany) the eastern part. That summer, the entire state was handed over to Soviet forces as agreed in the [London Protocol of September 1944](/source/London_Protocol_(1944)). Britain, the US, and the USSR then negotiated Germany's future at the [Potsdam Conference](/source/Potsdam_Conference). Under the [Potsdam Agreement](/source/Potsdam_Agreement), all German territory East of the [Oder-Neisse line](/source/Oder-Neisse_line) was annexed by Poland and the Soviet Union, and, unlike in the aftermath of [World War I](/source/World_War_I), the annexing powers were allowed to expel the inhabitants. During the following three years, [Poland](/source/Flight_and_expulsion_of_Germans_from_Poland_during_and_after_World_War_II) and [Czechoslovakia expelled](/source/Expulsion_of_Germans_from_Czechoslovakia) German-speaking people from their territories, and some of these expellees came to Saxony. Only a small area of Saxony lying east of the [Neisse](/source/Neisse) River and centred around the town of [Reichenau](/source/Bogatynia) (Bogatynia) was annexed by Poland. Traditional close relations of Saxony with neighbouring German-speaking [Egerland](/source/Egerland) were thus completely destroyed, making the border of Saxony along the [Ore Mountains](/source/Ore_Mountains) a linguistic border.

Part of the former [Prussian](/source/Free_State_of_Prussia_(1918-1933)) [province of Lower Silesia](/source/Province_of_Lower_Silesia) lay west of the [Oder-Neisse line](/source/Oder-Neisse_line) and therefore was separated from the bulk of its former province; the [Soviet Military Administration in Germany](/source/Soviet_Military_Administration_in_Germany) (SVAG) merged this territory into Saxony.[27] This former Silesian territory broadly corresponded with the Upper Lusatian territory annexed by Prussia in 1815.

On [20 October 1946, SVAG organised elections for the Saxon state parliament](/source/1946_Soviet_occupation_zone_state_elections) (*Landtag*), but many people were arbitrarily excluded from candidacy and suffrage, and the Soviet Union openly supported the [Socialist Unity Party of Germany](/source/Socialist_Unity_Party_of_Germany) (SED). The new minister-president [Rudolf Friedrichs](/source/Rudolf_Friedrichs) (SED), had been a member of the [SPD](/source/Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany) until April 1946. He met his Bavarian counterparts in the U.S. zone of occupation in October 1946 and May 1947, but died suddenly in mysterious circumstances the following month. He was succeeded by [Max Seydewitz](/source/Max_Seydewitz), a loyal follower of [Joseph Stalin](/source/Joseph_Stalin).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

The [German Democratic Republic](/source/German_Democratic_Republic) (East Germany), including Saxony, was established in 1949 out of the [Soviet](/source/Soviet_Union) zone of [Occupied Germany](/source/Occupied_Germany), becoming a [constitutionally socialist state](/source/State_socialism), part of [COMECON](/source/COMECON) and the [Warsaw Pact](/source/Warsaw_Pact), under the leadership of the [SED](/source/Socialist_Unity_Party_of_Germany). In 1952 the government abolished the Free State of Saxony, and divided its territory into three *[Bezirke](/source/Administrative_divisions_of_the_German_Democratic_Republic#Division_into_Bezirke)*: [Leipzig](/source/Leipzig_(Bezirk)), [Dresden](/source/Dresden_(Bezirk)), and [Karl-Marx-Stadt](/source/Karl-Marx-Stadt_(Bezirk)) (formerly and currently [Chemnitz](/source/Chemnitz)). Areas around [Hoyerswerda](/source/Hoyerswerda) were also part of the [Cottbus Bezirk](/source/Cottbus_(Bezirk)).

The Free State of Saxony was reconstituted with slightly altered borders in 1990, following [German reunification](/source/German_reunification). Besides the formerly Silesian area of Saxony, which was mostly included in the territory of the new Saxony, the free state gained further areas north of [Leipzig](/source/Leipzig) that had belonged to [Saxony-Anhalt](/source/Saxony-Anhalt) until 1952.

## Geography

Saxony has a total area of 18,449.89 km²,[28] making it the [10th-largest](/source/List_of_German_states_by_area) of Germany's 16 states by land area. It is bordered by the German states of [Brandenburg](/source/Brandenburg) to the north, [Saxony-Anhalt](/source/Saxony-Anhalt) to the northwest, [Thuringia](/source/Thuringia) to the west, and [Bavaria](/source/Bavaria) to the southwest, while its southern and eastern boundaries form part of Germany's international borders with the [Czech Republic](/source/Czech_Republic) and [Poland](/source/Poland). Its eastern frontier follows sections of the [Neisse](/source/Neisse) and [Oder–Neisse line](/source/Oder%E2%80%93Neisse_line), which also constitutes the modern [German–Polish border](/source/German%E2%80%93Polish_border) established after the Second World War.

### Topography

See also: [List of mountains and hills of Saxony](/source/List_of_mountains_and_hills_of_Saxony), [Natural regions of Saxony](/source/Natural_regions_of_Saxony), and [List of rivers of Saxony](/source/List_of_rivers_of_Saxony)

Topographic map of Saxony

Saxony spans a broad transition from the lowlands of the [North German Plain](/source/North_German_Plain) in the north to upland and mountainous terrain along its southern border with the Czech Republic.[29] This north–south gradient in relief is one of the defining features of the state's physical geography.

The northern part of Saxony lies within the glacially influenced lowlands of the southern edge of the North German Plain. It comprises the [Leipzig Bay](/source/Leipzig_Bay) and much of the [Lusatian](/source/Lusatia) region, where sandy soils, moraine deposits, and post-glacial landscape forms predominate. These areas were shaped primarily during the [Pleistocene](/source/Pleistocene) glaciations.[30]

Northern Saxony is among the most fertile agricultural regions of eastern Germany, where loess-rich lowlands support intensive arable farming of crops such as [wheat](/source/Wheat), [barley](/source/Barley), [rapeseed](/source/Rapeseed), [sugar beet](/source/Sugar_beet), [peas](/source/Peas), and [apples](/source/Apple), while [cattle](/source/Cattle) farming and [dairy farming](/source/Dairy_farming) are more prominent in the less fertile upland areas approaching the [Ore Mountains](/source/Ore_Mountains), with [forestry](/source/Forestry) also contributing in parts of the region.[31]

[Elbe Valley](/source/Elbe_Valley) in [Dresden](/source/Dresden)

The region is traversed by the [Elbe](/source/Elbe) and its tributaries, which have shaped broad valley landscapes and floodplains. The Elbe enters Saxony from the south-east, passes through the [Elbe Sandstone Mountains](/source/Elbe_Sandstone_Mountains) and the [Dresden Basin](/source/Dresden_Basin), and continues north-westwards into Saxony-Anhalt.[32] Major tributaries include the [Mulde](/source/Mulde), [White Elster](/source/White_Elster), [Spree](/source/Spree_(river)), and Neisse rivers.

Southern Saxony is dominated by upland and low mountain ranges forming part of the [Central Uplands](/source/Central_Uplands). These include the Ore Mountains, the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, the [Lusatian Mountains](/source/Lusatian_Mountains), and the [Zittau Mountains](/source/Zittau_Mountains). The Ore Mountains form much of the border with the Czech Republic and contain the highest elevations in the state.[33] Saxony's highest point is the [Fichtelberg](/source/Fichtelberg) at 1,215 metres (3,985 ft).[34]

The Elbe Sandstone Mountains, commonly referred to as [Saxon Switzerland](/source/Saxon_Switzerland), are noted for their deeply incised sandstone gorges, mesas, and isolated rock towers. Much of this landscape is protected within the [Saxon Switzerland National Park](/source/Saxon_Switzerland_National_Park).[35]

Former and ongoing [lignite](/source/Lignite) mining in Lusatia (eastern Saxony) has significantly altered the regional landscape, with decommissioned open-cast mines increasingly being flooded and recultivated into artificial lake districts.[36] In the Ore Mountains, centuries of [mining](/source/Mining) activity have likewise produced a heavily modified cultural landscape.[37]

### Largest cities and towns

See also: [List of cities in Saxony by population](/source/List_of_cities_in_Saxony_by_population)

The largest cities and towns in Saxony according to the 31 July 2022 estimate are listed below.[38] Leipzig forms a [conurbation](/source/Conurbation) with [Halle](/source/Halle_(Saale)), known as *Ballungsraum Leipzig/Halle*.[39] The latter city is located just across the border of [Saxony-Anhalt](/source/Saxony-Anhalt). Leipzig shares, for instance, an [S-train](/source/S-train) system (known as *S-Bahn Mitteldeutschland*)[40] and an airport[41] with Halle.

Rank City Population 1 Leipzig 612,441 2 Dresden 560,648 3 Chemnitz 246,537 4 Zwickau 87,027 5 Plauen 64,419 6 Görlitz 56,443 7 Freiberg 40,271 8 Freital 39,576 9 Pirna 38,771 10 Bautzen 38,331

		- [Leipzig](/source/Leipzig)

		- [Dresden](/source/Dresden)

		- [Chemnitz](/source/Chemnitz)

		- [Zwickau](/source/Zwickau)

		- [Plauen](/source/Plauen)

		- [Görlitz](/source/G%C3%B6rlitz)

		- [Freiberg](/source/Freiberg)

		- [Freital](/source/Freital)

		- [Bautzen](/source/Bautzen)

## Politics

Michael Kretschmer, Minister President since 2017

Saxony is a parliamentary democracy. The [Minister President of Saxony](/source/Minister_President_of_Saxony) heads the government of Saxony. [Michael Kretschmer](/source/Michael_Kretschmer) has been Minister President since 13 December 2017.

### 2024 state election

Main article: [2024 Saxony state election](/source/2024_Saxony_state_election)

Party Party-list Constituency Total seats +/– Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Christian Democratic Union 749,216 31.91 15 805,231 34.43 27 42 3 Alternative for Germany 719,274 30.63 13 794,176 33.96 28 41 3 Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht 277,173 11.81 15 148,350 6.34 0 15 New Social Democratic Party 172,002 7.33 9 144,407 6.17 0 9 1 Alliance 90/The Greens 119,964 5.11 4 119,016 5.09 2 6 6 The Left 104,888 4.47 4 149,120 6.38 2 6 8 Free Voters 53,008 2.26 0 113,042 4.83 1 1 1 Free Saxons 52,195 2.22 0 12,771 0.55 0 0 0 Action Party for Animal Welfare 23,576 1.00 0 0 0 Free Democratic Party 21,003 0.89 0 33,644 1.44 0 0 0 Die PARTEI 19,870 0.85 0 2,607 0.11 0 0 0 Pirate Party 6,842 0.29 0 0 0 Bündnis Deutschland 6,753 0.29 0 972 0.04 0 0 New Values Union 6,469 0.28 0 1,819 0.08 0 0 New Grassroots Democratic Party of Germany 4,483 0.19 0 702 0.03 0 0 New Alliance C 4,368 0.19 0 0 0 V-Partei3 3,286 0.14 0 0 0 Ecological Democratic Party 1,966 0.08 0 322 0.01 0 0 0 Civil Rights Movement Solidarity 1,580 0.07 0 752 0.03 0 0 0 Team Zastrow 6,984 0.30 0 0 0 Solutions for our region 2,152 0.09 0 0 0 Party of Progress 248 0.01 0 0 0 We Are Leipzig 382 0.02 0 0 0 Independents 2,038 0.09 0 0 0 Total 2,347,916 100.00 60 2,338,735 100.00 60 120 – Valid votes 2,347,916 99.16 2,338,735 98.78 Invalid/blank votes 19,783 0.84 28,964 1.22 Total votes 2,367,699 100.00 2,367,699 100.00 Registered voters/turnout 3,181,013 74.43 3,181,013 74.43

### Members of the state government

See also: [Second Kretschmer cabinet](/source/Second_Kretschmer_cabinet) and [List of ministers-president of Saxony](/source/List_of_ministers-president_of_Saxony)

Government office Picture Name Party State Secretary Party Minister President Michael Kretschmer CDU First Deputy of the Minister President Wolfram Günther B'90/Die Grünen Saxon State Ministry for Energy, Climate protection, Environment und Agriculture (SMEKUL) Gerd Lippold Gisela Reetz B'90/Die Grünen Second Deputy of the Minister President Martin Dulig SPD Saxon State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labour and Transport (SMWA) Hartmut Mangold Ines Fröhlich SPD Saxon State Ministry of the Interior (SMI) Roland Wöller CDU Thomas Rechentin Head of office CDU Saxon State Ministry of Finance (SMF) Hartmut Vorjohann CDU Dirk Diedrichs Head of office non-party Saxon State Ministry of Justice and for Democracy, European Affairs and Equality (SMJ) Katja Meier B'90/Die Grünen Mathias Weilandt Gesine Märtens B'90/Die Grünen Saxon State Ministry of Education (SMK) Christian Piwarz CDU Herbert Wolff CDU Saxon State Ministry of Science (SMWK) Sebastian Gemkow CDU Andrea Franke CDU Saxon State Ministry of Culture and Tourism (SMWK) Barbara Klepsch CDU Saxon State Ministry of Social Affairs (SMS) Petra Köpping SPD Uwe Gaul (until July 5, 2021) Sebastian Vogel (since July 6, 2021) Dagmar Neukirch SPD Saxon State Ministry of Regional Development (SMR) Thomas Schmidt CDU Frank Pfeil non-party Head of the Saxon State Chancellery and State Minister of Federal matters and Media Oliver Schenk CDU Thomas Popp Digital Administration and Administrative modernization (Member of the state government) Conrad Clemens Authorized representative of the free state Saxony to the federal government of Germany CDU

### 2024 European Parliament Election

In the [2024 European Parliament election](/source/2024_European_Parliament_election), [AfD](/source/Alternative_for_Germany) received the highest percentage of votes in Saxony, winning 31.8% of the ballots. The other states where AfD has become the strongest party are [Thuringia](/source/Thuringia), [Saxony-Anhalt](/source/Saxony-Anhalt), [Mecklenburg-Vorpommern](/source/Mecklenburg-Vorpommern), and [Brandenburg](/source/Brandenburg). These four states were part of [East Germany](/source/East_Germany) like Saxony. Compared to the last election, AfD increased their votes in Saxony which was 25.3% in the [2019 European Parliament election](/source/2019_European_Parliament_election).[42][43]

[CDU/CSU](/source/CDU%2FCSU) received 21.8% of the votes in Saxony and became the second strongest party in the 2024 EP election. [BSW](/source/B%C3%BCndnis_Sahra_Wagenknecht) was in the third place by receiving 12.6% of the votes. [The Left](/source/The_Left_(Germany)) lost a significant proportion of their votes compared to the 2019 election. Their votes regressed from 11.7% to 4.9%.[44]

#### Federal politics

Saxony has 16 [constituencies](/source/Electoral_district) for the [Bundestag](/source/Bundestag).

v t e Electoral districts of Saxony in the German Bundestag Current Nordsachsen Leipzig I Leipzig II Leipzig-Land Meissen Bautzen I Görlitz Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge Dresden I Dresden II – Bautzen II Mittelsachsen Chemnitz Chemnitzer Umland – Erzgebirgskreis II Erzgebirgskreis I Zwickau Vogtlandkreis Other states Baden-Württemberg Bavaria‎ Berlin Brandenburg‎ Bremen Hamburg‎ Hesse Lower Saxony Mecklenburg-Vorpommern North Rhine-Westphalia Rhineland-Palatinate‎ Saarland Saxony-Anhalt‎ Schleswig-Holstein‎ Thuringia‎ See also List of Bundestag constituencies Elections in Germany

### Administration

Saxony is divided into 10 districts:

Map of Saxony's 10 districts

1. [Bautzen](/source/Bautzen_(district)) (BZ) 2. [Erzgebirgskreis](/source/Erzgebirgskreis) (ERZ) 3. [Görlitz](/source/G%C3%B6rlitz_(district)) (GR) 4. [Leipzig](/source/Leipzig_(district)) (L) 5. [Meissen](/source/Meissen_(district)) (MEI) (Meissen) 6. [Mittelsachsen](/source/Mittelsachsen) (FG) 7. [Nordsachsen](/source/Nordsachsen) (TDO) 8. [Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge](/source/S%C3%A4chsische_Schweiz-Osterzgebirge) (PIR) 9. [Vogtlandkreis](/source/Vogtlandkreis) (V) 10. [Zwickau](/source/Zwickau_(district)) (Z)

In addition, three cities have the status of an [urban district](/source/Urban_districts_of_Germany) ([German](/source/German_language): *kreisfreie Stadt*):

1. [Chemnitz](/source/Chemnitz) (C)

1. [Dresden](/source/Dresden) (DD)

1. [Leipzig](/source/Leipzig) (L)

Between 1990 and 2008, Saxony was divided into the three regions (*Regierungsbezirke*) of [Chemnitz](/source/Chemnitz_(region)), [Dresden](/source/Dresden_(region)), and [Leipzig](/source/Leipzig_(region)). The [1994–1996 Saxony district reform](/source/1994%E2%80%931996_Saxony_district_reform) created 22 new districts and seven independent cities. After the [2008 Saxony district reform](/source/2008_Saxony_district_reform), these regions – with some alterations of their respective areas – were called *Direktionsbezirke*. In 2012, the authorities of these regions were merged into one central authority, the *[Landesdirektion Sachsen](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Landesdirektion_Sachsen&action=edit&redlink=1) [[de](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landesdirektion_Sachsen)]*.

## Demographics

### Population change

Saxony is a densely populated state if compared with more rural German states such as [Bavaria](/source/Bavaria) or [Lower Saxony](/source/Lower_Saxony). However, the population has declined over time. The population of Saxony began declining in the 1950s due to emigration, a process which accelerated after the fall of the [Berlin Wall](/source/Berlin_Wall) in 1989. After bottoming out in 2013, the population has stabilized due to increased immigration and higher fertility rates. The cities of Leipzig, Dresden and Chemnitz, and the towns of Radebeul and Markkleeberg in their vicinity, have seen their populations increase since 2000. The following tables illustrate the foreign resident populations and the population of Saxony from 1816 to 2022:

Significant foreign resident populations as of 31 December[45] Nationality Population (2022) Population (2023) Ukraine 61,795 65,750 Syria 31,310 37,985 Poland 23,730 25,170 Romania 15,725 16,200 Afghanistan 9,270 14,605 Russia 11,620 13,985 Vietnam 9,735 10,020 Turkey 7,130 9,790 Czech Republic 8,840 9,745 India 7,675 8,670

‹ The [template](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Template) *[Historical populations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Historical_populations)* is being [considered for merging](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Templates_for_discussion/Log/2026_June_24#Template:Infobox_demographics). ›

Historical population Year Pop. ±% 1816 1,200,000 — 1837 1,652,114 +37.7% 1849 1,894,431 +14.7% 1858 2,122,148 +12.0% 1871 2,556,244 +20.5% 1880 2,972,805 +16.3% 1885 3,182,003 +7.0% 1890 3,502,684 +10.1% 1895 3,787,688 +8.1% 1900 4,202,216 +10.9% 1905 4,508,601 +7.3% 1910 4,806,661 +6.6% 1914 4,986,000 +3.7% Year Pop. ±% 1919 4,670,311 −6.3% 1925 4,996,138 +7.0% 1939 5,158,329 +3.2% 1946 5,558,566 +7.8% 1950 5,682,802 +2.2% 1964 5,463,571 −3.9% 1970 5,419,187 −0.8% 1981 5,152,857 −4.9% 1990 4,775,873 −7.3% 2000 4,384,192 −8.2% 2011 4,056,799 −7.5% 2022 4,038,131 −0.5%

### Birthrate

The average number of children per woman in Saxony was 1.60 in 2018, the fourth-highest rate of all German states.[46] Within Saxony, the highest is the [Bautzen](/source/Bautzen) district with 1.77, while Leipzig is the lowest with 1.49. Dresden's fertility rate of 1.58 is the highest of all German cities with more than 500,000 inhabitants.

### Sorbian population

Saxony is home to the [Sorbs](/source/Sorbs). There are currently between 45,000 and 60,000 Sorbs living in Saxony (Upper Lusatia region).[47][48] Today's Sorb minority is the remainder of the Slavic population that settled throughout Saxony in the early Middle Ages and over time slowly assimilated into the German speaking society. Many geographic names in Saxony are of Sorbic origin (including the three largest cities [Chemnitz](/source/Chemnitz), [Dresden](/source/Dresden) and [Leipzig](/source/Leipzig)). The Sorbic language and culture are protected by special laws and cities and villages in eastern Saxony that are inhabited by a significant number of Sorbian inhabitants have bilingual street signs and administrative offices provide service in both, German and Sorbian. The Sorbs enjoy cultural self-administration which is exercised through the [Domowina](/source/Domowina). Former [Minister President](/source/Minister_president_(Germany)) [Stanislaw Tillich](/source/Stanislaw_Tillich) is of Sorbian ancestry and has been the first leader of a German state from a national minority.

### Religion

Religion in Saxony – 2011 religion fraction EKD Protestants 21.4% Roman Catholics 3.8% Evangelische Freikirchen 0.9% Orthodox churches 0.3% Other religions 1.0% Unaffiliated 72.6%

As of 2011, 72.6% of people are not affiliated with any religion. The [Protestant Church in Germany](/source/Protestant_Church_in_Germany) represents the largest [Christian](/source/Christian) denomination in the state, adhered to by 21.4% of the population. Members of the [Roman Catholic Church](/source/Roman_Catholic_Church) formed a minority of 3.8%. About 0.9% of the Saxons belonged to an Evangelical [free church](/source/Free_church) (*Evangelische Freikirche*, i.e. various Protestants outside the EKD), 0.3% to Orthodox churches and 1% to other religious communities.[49] The [Moravian Church](/source/Moravian_Church) (see above) still maintains its religious centre in Herrnhut and it is there where 'The *[Daily Watchwords](/source/Daily_Watchwords)*' (Losungen) are selected each year which are in use in many churches worldwide. In particular in the larger cities, there are numerous smaller religious communities.

The international [Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints](/source/Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints) has a presence in the [Freiberg Germany Temple](/source/Freiberg_Germany_Temple) which was the first of its kind in Germany, opened in 1985 even before its counterpart in Western Germany. It now also serves as a religious center for the church members in Poland, the Czech Republic, [Slovakia](/source/Slovakia), and [Hungary](/source/Hungary).[50] In Leipzig, there is a significant [Buddhist](/source/Buddhist) community, which mainly caters to the population of Vietnamese origin, with one Buddhist temple built in 2008 and another one currently under construction.[51] The [Sikh](/source/Sikh) faith also maintains a presence in Saxony's three largest cities with three (though small) [Gurdwara](/source/Gurdwara).[52]

## Economy

The [Gross domestic product](/source/Gross_domestic_product) (GDP) of the state was 124.6 billion euros in 2018, accounting for 3.7% of German economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was 28,100 euros or 93% of the EU27 average in the same year. The GDP per employee was 85% of the EU average. The GDP per capita was the highest of the states of the former GDR.[53] Saxony has a "very high" [Human Development Index](/source/Human_Development_Index) value of 0.930 (2018), which is at the same level as Denmark.[54] Within Germany Saxony is [ranked 9th](/source/List_of_German_states_by_Human_Development_Index).

Unemployment rate Year % 1999 17.2 2000 17.0 2001 17.5 2002 17.8 2003 17.9 2004 17.8 2005 18.3 2006 17.0 2007 14.7 2008 12.8 2009 12.9 Year % 2010 11.8 2011 10.6 2012 09.8 2013 09.8 2014 08.8 2015 08.2 2016 07.5 2017 06.7 2018 06.0 2019 05.5

Saxony has, after Saxony-Anhalt,[55] the most vibrant economy of the states of the former [East Germany](/source/East_Germany) (GDR). Its economy grew by 1.9% in 2010.[56] Nonetheless, unemployment remains above the German average. The eastern part of Germany, excluding [Berlin](/source/Berlin), qualifies as an "Objective 1" development-region within the [European Union](/source/European_Union), and was eligible to receive investment subsidies up to 30% until 2013.[57] [FutureSAX](/source/FutureSAX), a business plan competition and entrepreneurial support organisation, has been in operation since 2002.[58]

Microchip-makers near Dresden have given the region the nickname "[Silicon Saxony](/source/Silicon_Saxony)". The publishing and porcelain industries of the region are well known, although their contributions to the regional economy are no longer significant. Today, the automobile industry, machinery production, and services mainly contribute to the economic development of the region.

Saxony reported an average unemployment of 5.5% in 2019.[59]

The Leipzig area, which until recently was among the regions with the highest unemployment rate, could benefit greatly from investments by [Porsche](/source/Porsche) and [BMW](/source/BMW). With the [VW Phaeton](/source/VW_Phaeton) factory in Dresden, and many parts suppliers, the automobile industry has again become one of the pillars of Saxon industry, as it was in the early 20th century. [Zwickau](/source/Zwickau) is another major Volkswagen location. [Freiberg](/source/Freiberg), a former mining town, has emerged as a foremost location for solar technology. Dresden and some other regions of Saxony play a leading role in some areas of international biotechnology, such as electronic bioengineering. While these high-technology sectors do not yet offer a large number of jobs, they have stopped or even reversed the [brain drain](/source/Brain_drain) that was occurring until the early 2000s in many parts of Saxony.[60] Regional universities have strengthened their positions by partnering with local industries. [Glashütte](/source/Glash%C3%BCtte) is the birthplace of the [German watchmaking industry](/source/List_of_German_watch_manufacturers) and home to highly regarded watch manufacturers such as [A. Lange & Söhne](/source/A._Lange_%26_S%C3%B6hne) and [Glashütte Original](/source/Glash%C3%BCtte_Original).

		- Dresden is the hub of [Silicon Saxony](/source/Silicon_Saxony).

		- [Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk](/source/Mitteldeutscher_Rundfunk) is one of Germany's public broadcasters.

		- [Leipzig/Halle Airport](/source/Leipzig%2FHalle_Airport) is the main hub of [DHL](/source/European_Air_Transport_Leipzig) and the fifth-busiest airport in Europe in terms of cargo traffic.

		- [Glashütte](/source/Glash%C3%BCtte) is the birthplace of the German watchmaking industry.

		- [VNG – Verbundnetz Gas](/source/VNG_%E2%80%93_Verbundnetz_Gas) in Leipzig is the third-largest natural-gas importer in Germany.

		- [Porsche](/source/Porsche) customer center in Leipzig

		- [BMW](/source/BMW) production facility in Leipzig

		- [Bombardier Transportation](/source/Bombardier_Transportation) in Bautzen

### International trade

Saxony is a strongly export-oriented economy. In 2018, exports amounted to 40.48 billion euros while imports stood at 24.41 billion euros. The largest export partner of Saxony is [China](/source/China) with an amount of 6.72 billion euros, while the second largest export market are the United States with 3.59 billion.[61] The largest exporting sectors are the automobile industry and mechanical engineering.

In April 2022, Saxony received about 84% of its imported oil and gas from Russia while nationally Germany only imported about one third from Russia.[62] This is mainly due to the pipeline network, which since the time of the GDR has been strongly integrated with the Soviet Union, similar to other states of Eastern Europe.[63]

### Tourism

Saxony is a renowned [tourist destination in Germany](/source/Tourism_in_Germany). The cities of Dresden and Leipzig are two of Germany's most visited cities.[64] Areas along the border with the Czech Republic, such as the [Lusatian Mountains](/source/Lusatian_Mountains), [Ore Mountains](/source/Ore_Mountains), [Saxon Switzerland](/source/Saxon_Switzerland), and [Vogtland](/source/Vogtland), attract significant numbers of visitors. In addition, Saxony has well-preserved historic towns such as [Görlitz](/source/G%C3%B6rlitz), [Bautzen](/source/Bautzen), [Freiberg](/source/Freiberg), [Pirna](/source/Pirna), [Meissen](/source/Meissen) and [Stolpen](/source/Stolpen) as well as numerous castles and palaces. New tourist destinations are developing, notably in the [Lusatian Lake District](/source/Lusatian_Lake_District).[65]

		- Dresden is one of the most visited cities in Germany and Europe.

		- The [Dresden Frauenkirche](/source/Dresden_Frauenkirche). It now serves as a symbol of reconciliation between former warring enemies.

		- [Leipziger Neuseenland](/source/Neuseenland) is a large lake district south of Leipzig, one of Germany's most vibrant cities.

		- The [Bastei](/source/Bastei) bridge in [Saxon Switzerland](/source/Saxon_Switzerland)

		- The Rakotz bridge at [Azalea and Rhododendron Park Kromlau](/source/Azalea_and_Rhododendron_Park_Kromlau)

		- The historical city of [Görlitz](/source/G%C3%B6rlitz)

		- The [Elbe valley](/source/Elbe) with [Meissen](/source/Meissen) in the background

		- Saxony is home to numerous castles, such as *[Schloss Moritzburg](/source/Schloss_Moritzburg)* north of Dresden.

		- [Oberwiesenthal](/source/Oberwiesenthal), [Ore Mountains](/source/Ore_Mountains)

## Education

Saxony has four large universities, six *Fachhochschulen* (Universities of Applied Sciences) and six [art schools](/source/Art_school).

[TU Dresden](/source/TU_Dresden) is the largest university in Saxony.

The [Dresden University of Technology](/source/Dresden_University_of_Technology) (TU Dresden), founded in 1828, is one of Germany's oldest universities, and one of the ten largest universities in Germany. It is a member of [TU9](/source/TU9), a consortium of nine leading German Institutes of Technology.

[Leipzig University](/source/Leipzig_University), founded in 1409, is one of the oldest universities in the world, and the [second-oldest](/source/List_of_universities_in_Germany#Universities_by_date_of_establishment) university (by consecutive years of existence) in Germany. Famous alumni include [Leibniz](/source/Gottfried_Wilhelm_von_Leibniz), [Goethe](/source/Johann_Wolfgang_von_Goethe), [Ranke](/source/Leopold_von_Ranke), [Nietzsche](/source/Friedrich_Nietzsche), [Wagner](/source/Richard_Wagner), [Cai Yuanpei](/source/Cai_Yuanpei), [Angela Merkel](/source/Angela_Merkel), [Raila Odinga](/source/Raila_Odinga), and [Tycho Brahe](/source/Tycho_Brahe); the university is, additionally, associated with nine Nobel laureates.

With over 11,000 students, the [Chemnitz University of Technology](/source/Chemnitz_University_of_Technology) is the third largest university in Saxony.

Established in 1765, the [Freiberg University of Mining and Technology](/source/Freiberg_University_of_Mining_and_Technology), located in the former mining town of [Freiberg](/source/Freiberg), is the oldest university of mining and metallurgy in the world.[66]

Saxony is home to several [Max Planck Institutes](/source/Max_Planck_Institutes) and research institutions of the [Fraunhofer Society](/source/Fraunhofer_Society), and one of the two main campuses of the [German National Library](/source/German_National_Library) is located in Leipzig.

## Culture

Saxony is part of [Central Germany](/source/Central_Germany_(cultural_area)) as a cultural area. As such, throughout German history it has played an important role in shaping [German culture](/source/German_culture).

### Languages

Boundary sign of [Bautzen](/source/Bautzen) / Budyšin in [German](/source/German_language) and [Upper Sorbian](/source/Upper_Sorbian_language). Many place names in eastern Saxony are derived from Sorbian.

The most common [patois](/source/Patois) spoken in Saxony are combined in the group of "[Thuringian](/source/Thuringian_dialect) and [Upper Saxon dialects](/source/Upper_Saxon_German)". Due to the inexact use of the term "Saxon dialects" in colloquial language, the Upper Saxon attribute has been added to distinguish it from [Old Saxon](/source/Old_Saxon) and [Low Saxon](/source/Low_German). Other German dialects spoken in Saxony are the dialects of the [Ore Mountains](/source/Ore_Mountains), which have been affected by Upper Saxon dialects, and the dialects of the Vogtland, which are more affected by the [East Franconian](/source/East_Franconian_German) languages.

[Upper Sorbian](/source/Upper_Sorbian_language) (a [West Slavic language](/source/West_Slavic_languages)) is spoken in the parts of [Upper Lusatia](/source/Upper_Lusatia) that are inhabited by the Sorbian minority. The Germans in Upper Lusatia speak distinct dialects of their own (Lusatian dialects).

### Motherland of the Reformation

Saxony is often seen as the *[motherland](/source/Motherland) of the [Reformation](/source/Reformation)*.[67] It was predominantly [Lutheran](/source/Lutheran) [Protestant](/source/Protestant) from the [Reformation](/source/Reformation) until the late 20th century.

The [Electoral Saxony](/source/Electoral_Saxony), a predecessor of today's Saxony, was the original birthplace of the Reformation. The [elector](/source/Electors_of_Saxony) was Lutheran starting in 1525. The Lutheran church was organized through the late 1510s and the early 1520s. It was [officially established](/source/State_religion) in 1527 by [John the Steadfast](/source/John%2C_Elector_of_Saxony). Although some of the sites associated with [Martin Luther](/source/Martin_Luther) also lie in the current state of Saxony-Anhalt (including [Wittenberg](/source/Wittenberg), [Eisleben](/source/Eisleben) and [Mansfeld](/source/Mansfeld)), today's Saxony is usually viewed as the formal successor to what used to be Luther's country back in the 16th century (i.e. the Electoral Saxony).

Martin Luther personally oversaw the Lutheran church in Saxony and shaped it consistently with [his own views and ideas](/source/Theology_of_Martin_Luther). The 16th, 17th and 18th centuries were heavily dominated by [Lutheran orthodoxy](/source/Lutheran_orthodoxy). In addition, the [Reformed faith](/source/Reformed_faith) made inroads with the so-called [crypto Calvinists](/source/Crypto-Calvinism), but was strongly persecuted in an overwhelmingly Lutheran state. In the 17th century, [Pietism](/source/Pietism) became an important influence. In the 18th century, the [Moravian Church](/source/Moravian_Church) was set up on [Count von Zinzendorf](/source/Count_von_Zinzendorf)'s property at [Herrnhut](/source/Herrnhut). From 1525, the rulers were traditionally Lutheran and widely acknowledged as [defenders of the Protestant faith](/source/Defender_of_the_faith), although – beginning with [Augustus II the Strong](/source/Augustus_II_the_Strong), who was required to convert to Roman Catholicism in 1697 in order to become King of Poland – its monarchs were exclusively Roman Catholic. That meant Augustus and the subsequent Electors of Saxony, who were Roman Catholic, ruled over a state with an almost entirely Protestant population.

In 1925, 90.3% of the Saxon population was Protestant, 3.6% was Roman Catholic, 0.4% was Jewish and 5.7% was placed in other religious categories.[68]

After World War II, Saxony was incorporated into East Germany which pursued a policy of [state atheism](/source/State_atheism). After 45 years of Communist rule, the majority of the population has become unaffiliated. Nonetheless, even during this time Saxony remained an important place of religious dialogue and it was at [Meissen](/source/Meissen) where the agreement on mutual recognition between the German Evangelical Church and the [Church of England](/source/Church_of_England) was signed in 1988.[69]

### Sports

[Red Bull Arena](/source/Red_Bull_Arena_(Leipzig)) in [Leipzig](/source/Leipzig)

In 2020, there were 4,447 registered sports clubs of various disciplines with over 600,000 members in Saxony.[70] The most popular sport in Saxony is [football](/source/Association_football). With [RB Leipzig](/source/RB_Leipzig) there is one Saxon team playing in the [Bundesliga](/source/Bundesliga) as well as the European [Champions League](/source/UEFA_Champions_League). Leipzig is notable for a longstanding football tradition, a Leipzig [team](/source/1._FC_Lokomotive_Leipzig) having been the first national football champion in German history. Another popular sport is [handball](/source/Handball) with [SC DHfK Leipzig](/source/SC_DHfK_Leipzig_Handball) playing in the [Bundesliga](/source/Handball-Bundesliga). On a local level sports such as [table tennis](/source/Table_tennis), [cycling](/source/Cycling), [mountaineering](/source/Mountaineering) and [volleyball](/source/Volleyball) are popular.

#### Rock climbing

See also: [Saxon Switzerland climbing region](/source/Saxon_Switzerland_climbing_region)

Saxony prides itself to have been one of the first places in the world where modern recreational rock climbing was developed. [Falkenstein](/source/Falkenstein_(Saxon_Switzerland)) rock in the area of [Bad Schandau](/source/Bad_Schandau) is considered to be the place were the German rock climbing tradition started in 1864.

#### Winter sports

The Ore Mountains in southern Saxony are a traditional center for winter sports, and there are a number of training facilities for the German Winter Olympics team in the region. Thus, climate change poses a certain threat to the development of the region's winter sports industry.

The ski resort of [Oberwiesenthal](/source/Oberwiesenthal) is the highest town of Germany, at an altitude of 900 m, though the surrounding mountains do not reach the same height as those found in the alpine areas of [Southern Germany](/source/Southern_Germany).

### Art

The 'Dresden Green Diamond' – the largest natural green diamond – is part of the collection of the [Green Vault](/source/Green_Vault).

The two major cultural centers of Saxony are [Dresden](/source/Dresden) and [Leipzig](/source/Leipzig). The two cities have each a unique character which is reflecting the role they played throughout Saxon and German history, Dresden being a political center while Leipzig has been a major trading city. Thus, Dresden is well known for the art collections of the former Saxon kings ([Dresden State Art Collections](/source/Dresden_State_Art_Collections) with the [Green Vault](/source/Green_Vault) and [Zwinger](/source/Zwinger_(Dresden)) as the most well-known parts).

Leipzig on the other hand never had a royal court, so its culture is borne largely by its citizens. The city is famous for its relationship with classical music and names like [Johann Sebastian Bach](/source/Johann_Sebastian_Bach), [Mendelssohn](/source/Mendelssohn) or [Wagner](/source/Wagner) are linked to it. Over the past decades the city became famous for its modern art scene, most notably the Neue Leipziger Schule ([New Leipzig School](/source/New_Leipzig_School)) with artists such as [Neo Rauch](/source/Neo_Rauch).

### Porcelain

Saxony was the first place in Europe to develop and produce white [porcelain](/source/Porcelain), a luxury good until then imported only from China. The [Meissen Porcelain](/source/Meissen_Porcelain) manufactory has been producing porcelain since 1710. It is one of the world's leading porcelain manufacturers and one of the oldest and most internationally known German luxury brands.[71]

### Cuisine

Main article: [Saxon cuisine](/source/Saxon_cuisine)

Saxon cuisine encompasses regional cooking traditions of Saxony. In general the cuisine is very hearty and features many peculiarities of Mid-Germany such as a great variety of [sauces](/source/Sauce) which accompany the [main dish](/source/Main_dish) and the fashion to serve potato dumplings (Klöße/[Knödel](/source/Kn%C3%B6del)) as a [side dish](/source/Side_dish) instead of [potatoes](/source/Potato), [pasta](/source/Pasta) or [rice](/source/Rice). Also much [freshwater fish](/source/Freshwater_fish) is used in Saxon cuisine. The area around Dresden is home to the easternmost wine region in Germany (see: [Saxony (wine region)](/source/Saxony_(wine_region))).

### Anthem

Saxony (as other German states) has its own anthem, dating back to the monarchy of the 19th century. 'Gott segne Sachsenland' (God save Saxony) is based on the melody of [God save the King](/source/God_save_the_King).

## Transport

### Air

The state has two major international airports:

- [Leipzig/Halle Airport](/source/Leipzig%2FHalle_Airport) which provides flights to other parts of Germany and other European destinations. The airport also serves as the main European hub for cargo flights operated by [DHL Aviation](/source/DHL_Aviation) and the main hub for [AeroLogic](/source/AeroLogic).

- [Dresden Airport](/source/Dresden_Airport) also provides flights to other parts of Germany and other European destinations.

## See also

- [Germany portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Germany)
- [Saxony portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Saxony)

- [Saxony (wine region)](/source/Saxony_(wine_region))

- [States of Germany](/source/States_of_Germany)

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [German](/source/German_language): *Sachsen* [\[ˈzaksn̩\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Standard_German) [ⓘ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:De-Sachsen.ogg); [Upper Saxon](/source/Upper_Saxon_German): *Saggsn*; [Upper Sorbian](/source/Upper_Sorbian_language): *Sakska*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** German: *Freistaat Sachsen* [\[ˈfʁaɪʃtaːt ˈzaksn̩\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Standard_German); Upper Saxon: *Freischdaad Saggsn*; Upper Sorbian: *Swobodny stat Sakska* [\[ˈswɔbɔdnɨ ˈstat ˈsakska\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Sorbian)

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1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-p510_22-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-p510_22-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-p510_22-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-p510_22-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-p510_22-4) [Pollock & Thomas (1952)](#CITEREFPollockThomas1952), p. 510

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1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-p511_24-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-p511_24-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-p511_24-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-p511_24-3) [Pollock & Thomas (1952)](#CITEREFPollockThomas1952), p. 511

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-gebel_50-0)** Gebel, K. (2002). [*Language and ethnic national identity in Europe: the importance of Gaelic and Sorbian to the maintenance of associated cultures and ethno cultural identities*](https://web.archive.org/web/20190501090225/https://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/6353/1/Gebel-Language_and_ethnic_national_identity.pdf) (PDF). London: Middlesex University. Archived from [the original](https://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/6353/1/Gebel-Language_and_ethnic_national_identity.pdf) (PDF) on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-51)** ["Zensusdatenbank"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161110002707/https://ergebnisse.zensus2011.de/?locale=en#StaticContent:14,BEG_4_2_6,m,table). *Ergebnisse.zensus2011.de*. 2 December 2021. Archived from [the original](https://ergebnisse.zensus2011.de/?locale=en#StaticContent:14,BEG_4_2_6,m,table) on 10 November 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-taylor20100906_52-0)** Taylor, Scott (6 September 2010). ["Non-Mormons call Freiberg Germany LDS temple their own"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161022133938/http://www.deseretnews.com//article/print/700063465/Non-Mormons-call-Freiberg-Germany-LDS-temple-their-own.html). *Deseret News*. Archived from [the original](http://www.deseretnews.com/article/print/700063465/Non-Mormons-call-Freiberg-Germany-LDS-temple-their-own.html) on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-53)** ["Hier entsteht der größte buddhistische Tempel Sachsens"](https://www.sachsen-fernsehen.de/hier-entsteht-der-groesste-buddhistische-tempel-sachsens-410220/). *www.sachsen-fernsehen.de*. 22 October 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-54)** ["Gurdwara Germany"](http://gurdwara-germany.com/).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-55)** ["Regional GDP per capita ranged from 30% to 263% of the EU average in 2018"](https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/10474907/1-05032020-AP-EN.pdf/81807e19-e4c8-2e53-c98a-933f5bf30f58). *Eurostat*.

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-Der_Arbeitsmarket_im_Juli_2014_57-0)** ["Die Arbeitsmarkt im Juli 2014"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141017063756/http://m.ihk-berlin.de/linkableblob/bfachkraefte/produktmarken/statistiken_und_umfragen/818034/.62./data/Fakten_Arbeitsmarkt-data.pdf) (PDF). IHK Berlin. Archived from [the original](http://m.ihk-berlin.de/linkableblob/bfachkraefte/produktmarken/statistiken_und_umfragen/818034/.62./data/Fakten_Arbeitsmarkt-data.pdf) (PDF) on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-58)** [Freistaat Sachsen – Die angeforderte Seite existiert leider nicht](https://www.smwa.sachsen.de/de/Wirtschaft/Wirtschaftsstandort_Sachsen/Zahlen_und_Fakten/19159.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070730002714/http://www.smwa.sachsen.de/de/Wirtschaft/Wirtschaftsstandort_Sachsen/Zahlen_und_Fakten/19159.html) 30 July 2007 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine). Smwa.sachsen.de. Retrieved on 2013-07-16.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-59)** ["Germany"](https://www.economist.com/taxonomy/term/%25?page=37). *The Economist*. Retrieved 13 October 2022.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-60)** ["NextGen | futureSAX"](https://www.futuresax.de/en/nextgen). *www.futuresax.de*. Retrieved 8 June 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-61)** ["Arbeitslosenquote* in Sachsen von 1999 bis 2019"](https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/2522/umfrage/entwicklung-der-arbeitslosenquote-in-sachsen-seit-1999/). *Statista*. Retrieved 2 February 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-62)** Emmanuel, Ojukwu (6 July 2022). ["Nigeria Tech Talent Shortage – How Brain Drain Is Threatening Recruitment"](https://www.tekedia.com/nigeria-tech-talent-shortage-how-brain-drain-is-threatening-recruitment/). *Tekedia*. Retrieved 8 June 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-63)** ["Sachsens Exportpartner 2020 (insgesamt €36,79 Mrd.)"](https://standort-sachsen.de/de/exporteure/sachsens-aussenhandel). Saechsisches Landesamt fuer Statistik (Saxon Statistics Authority). Retrieved 7 June 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-64)** Stanley-Becker, Isaac; Guinan-Bank, Vanessa (19 April 2022). ["Russia finds sympathy in Germany's east, Putin's old stomping ground: As Berlin faces calls to deepen its support for Ukraine, attitudes in Saxony show competing pressures on German leaders"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/04/15/germany-ukraine-communist-east-russia/). *[Washington Post](/source/Washington_Post)*. Retrieved 20 April 2022.{{[cite news](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_news)}}: CS1 maint: url-status ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_url-status))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-65)** Vale, Michel; Bethkenhagen, Jochen (1982). ["The Development of GDR Economic Relations with the USSR"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/40470040). *International Journal of Politics*. **12** (1/2): 232–260. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0012-8783](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0012-8783). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [40470040](https://www.jstor.org/stable/40470040).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-deutschertourismusverband_66-0)** [Zahlen Daten Fakten 2012](http://www.deutschertourismusverband.de/fileadmin/Mediendatenbank/PDFs/Zahlen_Daten_Fakten_2012_aktuell.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150101015058/http://www.deutschertourismusverband.de/fileadmin/Mediendatenbank/PDFs/Zahlen_Daten_Fakten_2012_aktuell.pdf) 1 January 2015 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) (in German), German National Tourist Board

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-68)** ["From the history of the TU Bergakademie Freiberg"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200812092534/https://tu-freiberg.de/en/university/profiles/history). *tu-freiberg.de*. Archived from [the original](https://tu-freiberg.de/en/university/profiles/history) on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-69)** ["Motherland of the Reformation"](https://www.sachsen-tourismus.de/en/travel-topics/art-culture/motherland-of-the-reformation/). *sachsen-tourismus.de*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160325123753/https://www.sachsen-tourismus.de/en/travel-topics/art-culture/motherland-of-the-reformation/) from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-70)** Grundriss der Statistik. II. Gesellschaftsstatistik by Wilhelm Winkler, p. 36

1. **[^](#cite_ref-71)** [\[1\]](https://www.churchofengland.org/media/3320&ved=2ahUKEwjUh6uiztfpAhWKFMAKHbW8DpYQFjACegQIBRAC&usg=AOvVaw1xmR136YlRRPfMCxfjH_cG)[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-72)** E-Mail, Annegret Müller Referentin Öffentlichkeitsarbeit / Pressesprecherin +49 341 21631-14. ["Pressemitteilungen"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200710223203/https://www.sport-fuer-sachsen.de/de/presse/pressemitteilungen/?tx_ifabprins_pressmanagement%5Bid%5D=654&tx_ifabprins_pressmanagement%5Baction%5D=show&tx_ifabprins_pressmanagement%5Bcontroller%5D=PressManagement&cHash=0cd8f0d3dda23366d10ae368459b0d50). *Landessportbund Sachsen* (in German). Archived from [the original](https://www.sport-fuer-sachsen.de/de/presse/pressemitteilungen/?tx_ifabprins_pressmanagement%5Bid%5D=654&tx_ifabprins_pressmanagement%5Baction%5D=show&tx_ifabprins_pressmanagement%5Bcontroller%5D=PressManagement&cHash=0cd8f0d3dda23366d10ae368459b0d50) on 10 July 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2021.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_numeric_names:_authors_list))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-73)** Florian Langenscheidt, [Bernd Venohr](/source/Bernd_Venohr) (Hrsg.): *Lexikon der deutschen Weltmarktführer. Die Königsklasse deutscher Unternehmen in Wort und Bild*. Deutsche Standards Editionen, Köln 2010, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-86936-221-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-86936-221-2).

### Bibliography

- Pollock, James K.; Thomas, Homer (1952). *Germany in Power and Eclipse*. New York, NY: Dylan Hill.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Saxony](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Saxony).

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for ***[Saxony](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Saxony#Q1202)***.

- [Official governmental portal](https://www.sachsen.de/en/)

- Geographic data related to [Saxony](https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/62467) at [OpenStreetMap](/source/OpenStreetMap)

v t e States of the Federal Republic of Germany States Baden-Württemberg (since 1952) Bavaria (since 1949) Brandenburg (since 1990) Hesse (since 1949) Lower Saxony (since 1949) Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (since 1990) North Rhine-Westphalia (since 1949) Rhineland-Palatinate (since 1949) Saarland (since 1957) Saxony (since 1990) Saxony-Anhalt (since 1990) Schleswig-Holstein (since 1949) Thuringia (since 1990) City-states Berlin (since 1990) Bremen (since 1949) Hamburg (since 1949) Former states South Baden (1949–1952) Württemberg-Baden (1949–1952) Württemberg-Hohenzollern (1949–1952)

Places adjacent to Saxony Saxony-Anhalt Brandenburg Lubusz Voivodeship, Poland Thuringia Saxony Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland Bavaria Karlovy Vary Region, Czechia Ústí nad Labem Region, Czechia Liberec Region, Czechia

v t e Urban and rural districts in Saxony, Germany Urban districts Chemnitz Dresden Leipzig Rural districts Bautzen Erzgebirgskreis Görlitz Leipzig Meißen Mittelsachsen Nordsachsen Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge Vogtlandkreis Zwickau Former urban districts Görlitz Hoyerswerda Plauen Zwickau Former rural districts Annaberg Aue-Schwarzenberg Chemnitzer Land Delitzsch Döbeln Freiberg Kamenz Leipziger Land Löbau-Zittau Mittlerer Erzgebirgskreis Mittweida Muldentalkreis Niederschlesischer Oberlausitzkreis Riesa-Großenhain Sächsische Schweiz Stollberg Torgau-Oschatz Weißeritzkreis Zwickauer Land Districts of German states full list Baden-Württemberg Bavaria Brandenburg Bremen Hesse Lower Saxony Mecklenburg-Vorpommern North Rhine-Westphalia Rhineland-Palatinate Saarland Saxony Saxony-Anhalt Schleswig-Holstein Thuringia

v t e States of the Weimar Republic (1919–1933) States Anhalt Baden Bavaria Brunswick Hesse Lippe Mecklenburg-Schwerin Mecklenburg-Strelitz Oldenburg Prussia Saxony Schaumburg-Lippe Thuringia (from 1920) Waldeck (until 1929) Württemberg City-states Bremen Hamburg Lübeck Until 1920 Ernest Altenburg Coburg Gotha Meiningen Weimar-Eisenach Reuss Reuss Schwarzburg Rudolstadt Sondershausen Unrecognized separatist movements Bavarian SR Bremen SR Bottleneck Bavaria Rhenish Würzburg SR

Authority control databases International ISNI GND FAST National United States Czech Republic Spain Norway Israel Geographic MusicBrainz area Other IdRef Historical Dictionary of Switzerland Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Saxony](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxony) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxony?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.