Meiningen

Meiningen is a town in the southern part of the state of Thuringia, Germany. It has a population of around 21,000 and is the capital of the Schmalkalden-Meiningen district. From 1680 to 1920, Meiningen was the capital of the Duchy (and briefly of the Free State) of Saxe-Meiningen.

After World War II, Meiningen was included in the Soviet zone of occupation, and then became part of East Germany. After reunification, Meiningen became a thriving business section.

Meiningen in The Hot War
Meiningen the site of a Soviet Red Army base just prior to the outbreak of World War III. After the United States dropped several atomic bombs in Manchuria on January 23, 1951,, and Joseph Stalin ordered retaliatory attacks in Europe on February 1, Stalin also ordered the Red Army west. The tank company in Meiningen moved to the border between Soviet zone and the American zone under the cover of darkness a few days after the European bombings.