GUBEN

guben, a town of germany, in the kingdom of prussia, at the confluence of the lubis with the neisse, 28 m. s.s.e. of frankfort-on-oder, at the junction of railways to breslau, halle and forst. pop. (1875) 23,704; (1905) 36,666. it possesses three evangelical churches, a roman catholic church, a synagogue, a gymnasium, a modern school, a museum and a theatre. the principal industries are the spinning and weaving of wool, dyeing, tanning, and the manufacture of pottery ware, hats, cloth, paper and machinery. the vine is cultivated in the neighbourhood to some extent, and there is also some trade in fruit and vegetables. guben is of wendish origin. it is mentioned in 1207 and received civic rights in 1235. it was surrounded by walls in 1311, about which time it came into the possession of the margrave of brandenburg, from whom it passed to bohemia in 1368. it was twice devastated by the hussites, and in 1631 and 1642 it was occupied by the swedes. by the peace of prague in 1635 it came into the possession of the elector of saxony, and in 1815 it was, with the rest of lower lusatia, united to prussia.