Von Oschatz nach Zeithain und um die Gohrischheide

Historically interesting, varied circular route near Oschatz, Saxony. The nature reserve “Gorischheide and Elbniederterasse Zeithain” was established in 1993 in an unpopulated forest area. It encompasses two sub-areas totaling 28.5 km². The area was used as a military training area until the Soviet troops withdrew from East Germany. The Zeithain location is closely linked to Saxon military history. It all began with the “Great Campement near Mühlberg”, also known as the “Lustlager von Zeithain”. That was a grandiose troop show by Augustus the Strong, where 27,000 men of the Saxon army gathered in the field camp. From 1874 the area was used as a shooting range for the Saxon army. The village of Gohrisch is bought by the German Empire in 1892. The residents have to leave their homes. From now on, the houses in Gohrisch serve as targets for the artillery. At the beginning of the 20th century, the military training area increased to 4,000 hectares and 140 buildings. Soldiers who moved from here to the world wars were trained at the military training area. During the Second World War, the prisoner-of-war camp Stalag IVB was built in the north of the site. Even after World War II, it was not over here. The prisoner-of-war camp Stalag IVB has now become special camp No. 1 of the Soviet NKVD. What happened here did not become known to the world until the 1990s, when Moscow archives were partially opened. On the site, 6,700 people were buried anonymously in mass graves. During the GDR era, it was kept silent about it. Today the dead have a name and a worthy memorial. After World War II, the area was used by the National People's Army and the Red Army. In 1992, with the withdrawal of the Red Army, a new section for the Gohrischheide began with the establishment of a nature reserve. Ammunition residues are still stored in the ground. For this reason, the nature reserve is largely closed to visitors. The Haidehäuser forest path and the heather path near Spansberg have been set up for nature lovers. There is also an observation tower on the Heidepfad. The Gohrischheiderundweg is 45 km long, well signposted and leads through a very beautiful pond landscape in the east. Historically interested cyclists and nature lovers will get their money's worth on the route. Highlights of the circular route: - Varying landscape - Great prospects - Historically valuable