'''Essen''' is a city in the ''Land'' (federal state) of [[Nord Rhein-Westfalen]] in western [[Germany]]; it forms part of the industrial [[Ruhr]] [[conurbation]]. It grew rapidly in the nineteenth century, its industries based on coal mining and iron and steel manufacture, and it was also the birthplace of the giant Krupp engineering and armaments works. Because of its strategic economic significance, it was subjected to extremely heavy aerial bombardment during the [[Second World War]]. The population of Essen is 582,000 (2006). | '''Essen''' is a city in the ''Land'' (federal state) of [[Nord Rhein-Westfalen]] in western [[Germany]]; it forms part of the industrial [[Ruhr]] [[conurbation]]. It grew rapidly in the nineteenth century, its industries based on coal mining and iron and steel manufacture, and it was also the birthplace of the giant Krupp engineering and armaments works. Because of its strategic economic significance, it was subjected to extremely heavy aerial bombardment during the [[Second World War]]. The population of Essen is 582,000 (2006). |