a town of Germany, in the Prussian province of Brandenburg, on the Elbe, near the influx of the Stepenitz into that river, 77 m. N.W. from Berlin by the main line of railway to Hamburg, and at the junction of railways to Stendal, Luneburg and Perleberg. Pop. (1905) 18,501. The magnificent bridge here spanning the Elbe, one mile in length, was built in 1851 at a cost of £237,500. The chief industries are the manufacture of railway plant, cloth, wool, soap, shoddy, furniture, bricks and cement.