Ulm, city in southwestern Germany, in Baden-Württemberg, a port on the Danube River. Manufactures include textiles, electrical equipment, and processed food. Of architectural significance is the Gothic cathedral, begun in 1377 and completed in 1890, with a spire 161 m (528 ft) high. Originally a Roman Catholic cathedral, it has served as a Lutheran church since 1529. The area was settled by the Alamanni peoples in the 7th century. Founded by the 9th century, Ulm became a free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire in 1154 and was the leader of the Swabian League from 1376 to 1534. Ulm was the scene of a battle in 1805 in which Napoleon defeated the Austrians. The city is the birthplace of Albert Einstein. During World War II (1939-1945) the city was severely damaged by Allied bombing. Population (1997) 115,123.
