Lauchhammer

a city in the German Democratic Republic, in the district of Cottbus. Population, 27,200 (1971; 5,200 in 1939). Its coking combine produces annually more than 1 million tons of metallurgical coke from lignite. Lauchhammer has a thermoelectric power plant. There is a heavy machine-building industry (mainly equipment for mining lignite), and cast pieces of art have been produced since 1725. A large chemical enterprise producing synthetic gasoline, paraffin, and fertilizers is located south of Lauchhammer.