Zella-Mehlis

Zella-Mehlis is a town in the Schmalkalden-Meiningen district, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated in the Thuringian Forest, 5 km north of Suhl, and 20 km east of Meiningen. The town of Zella-Mehlis is the site of the original Walther Arms and J.G.Anschutz weapons factories. They remained there until the Russians occupied eastern Germany at the end of World War II.Twin townsZella-Mehlis is twinned with: Andernach, Germany Gemünden am Main, Germany Saint-Martin-d'Hères, FrancePersonalitiesHonorary citizen Helmut Recknagel (* 1937), the first German Olympic ski jumping champion and world champion, started for SC Motor Zella-MehlisSons and daughters of the city Johann Kaspar Friedrich Manso (1759-1826), teacher, historian and philologist Johann Heinrich Ehrhardt (1805-1883), locomotive builder, engineer of the Saxon Railroad Johann Peter Haseney (1812-1869), copper engraver, creator of the first German stamp "Schwarzer Einser" (Black one) Michael Schumann (1946-2000), professor of pphilosophy, politician (SED, PDS), Member of Brandenburg Landtag, Member of Bundestag