The Ultimate Bornholm - American History Information Guide and Reference

Basic Facts
Municipality seat	Rønne
Area	588 km²
Inhabitants	44,100 (2003)
Website	www.bornholm.dk
County Map

Bornholm is a Danish island in the Baltic Sea, to the east of Denmark, the south of Sweden, and the north of Poland (on the map of Denmark to the right, it is not shown in its true location; see the map at the bottom of the article). The main industries on the island include fishing, pottery using locally worked clay, clockmaking and dairy farming. Tourism is important during the summer.

The small islands Ertholmene are located 18 km to the north-east of Bornholm.

Strategically located in the Baltic Bornholm has been a bone of contention usually ruled by Denmark, but also by Lübeck and Sweden. The castle ruin Hammershus on the northwestern tip of the island gives testimony to its importance.

Bornholm was bombarded at the end of the Second World War because the German officer in charge of the garrison there refused to surrender to Soviet forces as the Allies had demanded. After warning the citizens Soviet aircraft bombed and destroyed about 800 houses, with roughly 3000 more being seriously damaged on the 7th and 8th of May 1945. Eventually, the German garrison did surrender to the Soviet forces, which occupied the island until April 5, 1946.

In newer times NATO radar installations have been placed on the island.

Municipality

Bornholm Regional Municipality has county privileges, it comprise the five former municipalities (Allinge-Gudhjem, Hasle, Nexø, Rønne and Aakirkeby) and the former county.