Flensburg is an independent town in the north of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Flensburg is the centre of the region of Southern Schleswig. After Kiel and L�beck it is the third largest town in Schleswig-Holstein.
In May 1945 Flensburg was the seat of the last government of Nazi Germany, the so called Flensburg government led by Grand Admiral Karl D�nitz, which was in power from 1 May (Hitler's death) until its dissolution on 23 May.
The nearest larger towns are Kiel (86 km south) and Odense in Denmark (92 km northeast). Flensburg's city centre lies about 7 km from the Danish border.
In Germany, Flensburg is known for
� the nationwide database of traffic violators
� its beer Flensburger Pilsener, also called "Flens"
� the centre of the Danish national minority in Germany
� the greeting Moin
� the large erotic mail-order companies Beate Uhse and Orion
� its handball team SG Flensburg-Handewitt
� the Naval Academy at M�rwik with its sail training ship Gorch Fock
