and upper Lusatia. From 1635, both Zschornegosda and Naundorf were part of the Electorate of Saxony. In 1815 both villages came to Prussia because of the Congress of Vienna. From 1815 to 1947, they were part of the Prussian Province of Brandenburg. Between 1818 and 1952, Zschornegosda and Naundorf were part of Kreis Calau. From 1952 to 1990, Schwarzheide was a part of Kreis Senftenberg in the Bezirk Cottbus of East Germany. In 1990, town was annexed to Brandenburg, and, on December 6, 1993, to Oberspreewald-Lausitz. Parliament The town parliament of Schwarzheide comprises the mayor and 18 members. Christian Democratic Union 5 seats (27.3%) Freie Wählergruppe Schwarzheide 4 seats (22.3%) Social Democratic Party 3 seats (18.2%) The Left 3 seats (17.0%) Free Democratic Party 3 seats (15.2%) The turnout stood at 56,9 percent. Partnerships Krosno Odrzańskie (Poland) Karcag (Hungary) Piano di Sorrento (Italy) Demography Culture and art Symbol is the 36 m high water tower built in 1943/44 by French prisoners of war. Lutherkirche from 1754 is also located in the center. The oldest nightclub in eastern Germany is Freizeitpark Wandelhof and there is also a cinema with four sals and 650 places. Museums Kulturhaus of BASF (Schipkauer Straße) Museum of Schwarzheide (Dorfaue) Historical monuments Memorial for the victims of the concentration camp Monument from 1965 on cemetery Schwarzheide-West for more than 23 unfree workers Brabagvictims Buildings Evangelical church (1953 first new church in the GDR, Otto-Nuschke-Straße) Lutheran church (Schwarzheide) Evangelical chapel (Parkstraße) Catholic Holy Cross church (Otto-Nuschke-Straße) Natur and recreation areas Pine forests, lakes, meadows, and pastures surround Schwarzheide. The Lusatian Lake District and Spreewald are also near Schwarzheide. Sports Eurospeedway Lausitz is near. Infrastructure Transport federal highway 13 Bundesautobahn 13 from Berlin to Dresden, in south B 169. There is a rail way point in Schwarzheide-Ost. Street A 13 (E 55): Berlin–Dresden (Anschlussstelle (16) Schwarzheide and Anschlussstelle (17) Ruhland) Railway RE 18: Falkenberg (Elster)–Bad Liebenwerda–Lauchhammer–Ruhland–Schwarzheide-Ost–Senftenberg–Drebkau–Cottbus Companies The largest employer is BASF Schwarzheide GmbH, and the company is building a battery supply plant. Other companies include Fränkische Rohrwerke and PeinigerRöRo. Media Local broadcasting Schwarzheide & Ruhland Education In Schwarzheide exist a secondary school (Schwarzheide-Wandelhof), a high school (Emil-Fischer), a division of Oberstufenzentrums Lausitz (OSZ) to train laboratory technicians and chemistss, and a music school. Important persons Honored 2002: Hans-Herman Dehmel (chief executive officer of BASF Schwarzheide from 1990 to 1995) 2004: Sokratis Giapapas (chief of Fränkisch Rohrwerke in Schwarzheide)