Naila


Naila is a town located in the Hof district of Bavaria, Germany. It lies in the Franconian Forest. Naila is from the larger city of Hof, on both banks of the Selbitz river.

History

The earliest documentation of Naila was recorded on 9 January 1343. The first settlements in the area around Naila probably happened between the 12th and 14th century. The name Naila first appeared as "Neulins", has its origins most likely in the meaning "Small new settlement". In 1454, Naila was awarded a coat of arms by its overlord, Margrave John.
After a brief episode under Prussian reign, Naila was included into the newly-established Kingdom of Bavaria. In 1818, it was awarded town privileges and in 1886, a railroad station was opened in Naila. However, after World War II, the establishment of Iron Curtain just north of Naila, cut off a large part of the market for the local industries.
The town served as the seat of the then district of Naila until this was merged into Hof district in 1972, and had to give up their number-plate code NAI in favour of HO. In 1978, the nearby villages of Marxgrün, Lippertsgrün and Marlesreuth were incorporated to Naila.
In 1979, Naila was the landing site of the Strelzyk and Wetzel families' famous homemade hot-air balloon escape from East Germany.

Mayors

  • 1906–1919: Wilhelm Hagen
  • 1919–1926: Heinrich Kanzler
  • 1926–1933: Julius Borger
  • 1933-1933: Ludwig Wunner
  • 1933–1945: Karl Jakob Schmidt
  • 1945–1945: Georg Fugmann
  • 1945–1948: Heinrich Lang senior
  • 1948–1952: Christian Schlicht
  • 1952–1953: Georg Fugmann
  • 1953–1956: Karl Otto Zander
  • 1956–1959: Hilmar Jahn
  • 1960–1964: Fritz Jahn
  • 1964–1968: Hans Künzel
  • 1968–1972: Albin Bischoff
  • 1972–1996: Robert Strobel
  • 1996–2001: Hannsjürgen Lommer
  • 2001- : Frank Stumpf

    Population development

The numbers are with the incorporated districts.

Personalities