In 1244 the Margraves John I and Otto III of Brandenburg set the seal on the foundation of Friedland on former fortress grounds. The settlement was generously structured. In 1304 Friedland was surrendered to the dukes of Mecklenburg who fortified the town with mighty town walls.
Although the livelihood of the inhabitants of Friedland was handcraft and agriculture, the town also gained in military importance as a northeastern frontier fortress, marking the borderline to Pomerania. This is probably why so many townspeople lost their lives during the Thirty Years' War - only 200 survived. Numerous large fires in the aftermath of the war made the reconstruction of Friedland difficult.
It was not before the 19th century that the town of Friedland underwent a modest economic upturn with the establishment of smaller industries. Friedland withstood World War I without greater losses but was almost completely destroyed in World War II. Its reconstruction in GDR times always took second place behind the expansion of the district capital of Neubrandenburg.
Stadtinformation Friedland
Mühlenstr. 1
17098 Friedland
phone: 039601-39384
e-mail: Stadtinfo.Friedland@gmx.de
internet: www.friedland-mecklenburg.de