Zeithain

Zeithain
Zeithain
Municipality
	Coat of arms
	Location of Zeithain within Meißen district
	Zeithain Zeithain
	Coordinates: 51°20′N 13°21′E / 51.333°N 13.350°E
Country	Germany
State	Saxony
District	Meißen
Subdivisions	11
Government
• Mayor (2021–28)	Mirko Pollmer
Area
• Total	81.49 km2 (31.46 sq mi)
Elevation	98 m (322 ft)
Population (2022-12-31)
• Total	5,520
• Density	68/km2 (180/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes	01619
Dialling codes	03525
Vehicle registration	MEI, GRH, RG, RIE
Website	www.zeithain.de

Zeithain is a municipality in the district of Meißen, in Saxony, Germany.

Historically, it is known for the Zeithain Encampment (Zeithainer Zeltlager or Zeithainer Lustlager, i. e. the pleasure camp of Zeithain), which was a huge agglomeration of tents and troops, involving the whole 27,000-men-strong army of Augustus II the Strong between the towns of Zeithain and Glaubitz. This event took place from 1 to 26 June 1730.^[3] After the victorious conclusion of the Great Northern War, the Polish-Saxon king had his army reorganized and equipped and now presented it in a large, magnificent maneuver, organized by Field Marshal Count August Christoph von Wackerbarth, to the Prussian king present, Frederick William I, and 48 invited European princes with their military officers as well as envoys of the European powers. It was not only the largest troop show in Europe, proving military capabilities, it was also considered the most gigantic baroque festival of its time, the “military spectacle of the century”, with great festivities, showcasing the high level of Saxon art and culture, concluded with a 23 feet long and 10 feet wide Dresden Stollen.^[4] A five-hour fireworks display on June 24th bathed the river and the town of Riesa in bright colors. For this purpose, a "fairy palace" measuring 80 x 230 feet was built from scaffolding and canvases, opposite the specially converted Promnitz Castle on the banks of the Elbe River. At the same time, a fleet illuminated to the top of the masts, led by fire-breathing whales and dolphins, sailed past the guests gathered in front of the castle, whose glory and splendor were praised with songs of praise from the royal chapel on the main ship. Captured Ottoman state tents were also used, two of which can now be viewed in the Türckische Kammer (Turkish Chamber) in the Dresden Palace.

During World War II, a large prisoner-of-war camp, Stalag IV-B/H, was located in Zeithain. A memorial and museum commemorate it.^[5]

The first encounter of US and Soviet troops on German soil occurred on Elbe Day, 25 April 1945, at 12 p.m. on the banks of the Elbe in the village of Lorenzkirch, Zeithain. There is a memorial stone commemorating this event.