Kriegskreistag, some 20,000 people gathered at the Großdeutschlandplatz. Among the speakers were Gauleiter Wächtler and Gauamtsleiter Erbersdobler. In July 1940, the Donau-Zeitung reported that the Straubing Kreisleiter, Anton Putz, had flown toward France and not returned. In 1944 and 1945, Straubing suffered from several American air raids. The local military hospital was destroyed to the extent of 80 percent with a loss of 45 patients. In November 2016 a fire destroyed a greater part of the medieval city hall. Straubing has many industrial areas and a port at the river Danube with access to the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal, a connection from the North Sea to the Black Sea. It is the centre of the Bavarian high tech offensive in biotechnology. Main sights As one of five ducal residences of medieval Bavaria (besides Landshut, Munich, Ingolstadt and Burghausen) the old town of Straubing especially features many Gothic buildings. The Romanesque Church of St. Peter (12th century) The Gothic City Tower (begun in 1316) The Gothic city hall (large parts have been destroyed by a fire on November 25th 2016) The medieval ducal castle or Herzogsschloss. Duke Albert I began the construction in 1356. The Gothic Basilica of St. Jacob (present-day church begun in 1393), a Gothic hall church and the largest main church of Straubing. The church was built according to plans of the architect Hans von Burghausen. The Church of St. Vitus – home of the oldest still existing confraternity in Germany, the St. Salvator-Confraternity The Carmelite monastery and Church of the Holy Spirit (since 1368, by Hans von Burghausen; the only monastery which survived the dissolution of 1802) The monks especially support Palestinian Christians. Church of St. Ursula by the Asam brothers The Baroque Trinity Column at the Theresien Square The Water Tower Sossau pilgrimage church Straubing Zoo (the only zoo in East Bavaria) Festivals and cultural events Straubinger Frühlingsfest, a spring festival (annual) Gäubodenvolksfest and Ostbayernschau Museum containing Roman artifacts Agnes-Bernauer-Festspiele, a historical play to remind of the murdered Agnes Bernauer Straubing Zoo A jazz festival – bluetone (former name Jazz an der Donau) – one of the greatest jazz-festivals in Europe Bürgerfest (burgher festival) is held every two years in the historical centre of Straubing Sports Ice hockey: Straubing Tigers – DEL (Highest German League) American football: Straubing Spiders – founded in 1985 Harness racing: Trabrennbahn Straubing (Highest German Level) Volleyball: German Women's Volleyball League (Highest German League)