History
Solingen was first mentioned in 1067 by a chronicler who called the area "Solonchon". Early variations of the name included "Solengen", "Solungen", and "Soleggen", although the modern name seems to have been in use since the late 14th and early 15th centuries.
Blacksmith smelters, dating back to over 2000 years, have been found around the town adding to Solingen's fame as a Northern Europe blacksmith centre. Swords from Solingen have turned up in places such as the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in the British Isles. Northern Europe prized the quality of Solingen's manufactured weaponry, and they were traded across the European continent. Solingen today remains the knife-centre of Germany.
It was a tiny village for centuries, but became a fortified town in the 15th century.
In 1929 Ohligs, located in the Prussian Rhine Province, 17 miles (27 km) by rail north of Cologne became part of Solingen. Its chief manufactures were cutlery and hardware, and there were iron-foundries and flour mills. Other industries are brewing, dyeing, weaving and brick-making. Before 1891 it was known as Merscheid.
In World War II the Old Town was completely destroyed by an air raid in 1944 and 1,040 people died. As such, there are few pre-war sights in the centre.
More recently, the city became well known in the Anglosphere because of a May 29, 1993 arson incident, in which two women and three girls died in a fire attack on the house of a Turkish family in Solingen. Seven more people were severely injured. The fire was started by local Neo-Nazi's. The incident ignited further controversy when the German Chancellor, Helmut Kohl, refused to attend the funeral of the Solingen victims.
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