the communist regime in East Germany in 1989 (Die Wende) the first democratic municipal elections took place in May 1990. Today's municipality of Amt Neuhaus then still consisted of eight independent municipalities: Dellien, Haar, Kaarßen, Neuhaus upon Elbe, Stapel, Sückau, Sumte and Tripkau. These became part of the reconstituted state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in October 1990. On 31 March 1992, the eight municipalities formed components of a new collective municipality of Amt Neuhaus. The eight newly-elected municipal councils each decided unanimously for a reintegration into the District of Lüneburg, which since 1946 had belonged to the West German state of Lower Saxony. In an interstate treaty, both states agreed to separate Amt Neuhaus from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on 30 June 1993, when it was annexed to Lower Saxony. The treaty also included the historically Mecklenburgian village of Niendorf, which had belonged to Sumte since 1 January 1974, and the north-Elbian suburbs of the otherwise south-Elbian city of Bleckede, which were also reunited after their separation by the occupying British in 1945. On 30 June the number of component municipalities of Amt Neuhaus shrank to six, before the remaining ones merged into the unitary municipality of the same name. With the Elbe bridge between Darchau and Neu Darchau a solid street connection between Amt Neuhaus and the rest of Lower Saxony is in the process being planned. In a referendum the inhabitants of Amt Neuhaus voted for a merger with the city of Bleckede on 7 June 2009. Bleckede, however, had not decided Coat of arms The coat-or-arms combines the coats of arms of the Saxon and Saxe-Lauenburgian dukes of the House of Ascania, a barry of ten in sable and or with a crancelin bendwise, the Saxon horse of modern Lower Saxony (also used by the pre-1180 Duchy of Saxony) and an image of the former Neuhaus Castle. Villages and localities in Amt Neuhaus The municipality comprises the following seven component localities: Dellien, Haar, Kaarßen, Neuhaus upon Elbe, Stapel, Sumte and Tripkau. They include the following settlements and places: Banke, Bitter, Bohnenburg, Brandstade, Darchau, Dellien, Gosewerder, Gülstorf, Gülze, Gutitz, Haar, Herrenhof, Kaarßen, Klein Banratz, Konau, Krusendorf, Laake, Laave, Neu Garge, Neuhaus, Niendorf, Pinnau, Pommau, Preten, Privelack, Raffatz, Rassau, Rosien, Stapel, Stiepelse, Stixe, Strachau, Sückau, Sumte, Tripkau, Viehle, , , Wilkenstorf and Zeetze. Language Northern Low Saxon is still widely spoken in Amt Neuhaus. Partnership Ryn, Poland Sons and daughters of Amt Neuhaus Anna