Under British occupation, Kiel became the capital of the new, independent State of Schleswig-Holstein in 1946. The population, which included many refugees, had to rebuild their city almost fully and they did so in accordance with what were then the latest standards. For instance, the Holstenstrasse shopping centre was opened in 1953 as one of Germany's first pedestrian precincts.

International Links

Kiel quickly developed into a gateway to the international community for the young Federal Republic of Germany and Kiel Week played an important part in this. Over the subsequent years, Kiel operated an unofficial but effective 'communal foreign policy', which resulted in many good contacts, firstly with Scandinavia and then with the emphasis on East Europe.

Kiel is twinned with Brest (France), Coventry (Great Britain), Gdynia (Poland), Kaliningrad and Sovetsk (both in the Russian Federation), Stralsund (Germany), Tallinn (Estonia) and Vaasa (Finland).

In addition to this, the capital of Schleswig-Holstein also maintains friendly relations with many communities, especially in the Baltic region. Kiel is a member of the 'Union of the Baltic Cities' and of the worldwide 'City Solidarity for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament' initiative of the City of Hiroshima in Japan. Furthermore, in common with many other cities of the world, Kiel has decided on a local 'Agenda 21', which aims at both social and ecological improvements.

With the expansion of the European Union, Kiel has moved into the middle of Europe. The Baltic region represents one of the areas with the greatest potential for development on the continent. Kiel, the capital of the State of Schleswig-Holstein, will play its part in this.