City (pop., 2002 est.: 198,964) and seaport, northeastern Germany.
Located on the Warnow River, 8 mi (13 km) from the Baltic Sea , Rostock was founded in 1218 and was a powerful member of the Hanseatic League in the 14th century. Sailing ships were built in its shipyards from the medieval period until 1851, when the first German steam-propelled vessel was built there. The city was heavily damaged by Allied bombing in World War II. After the war the town centre was rebuilt, and it was developed as East Germany's principal ocean port. It is an important fishing and shipbuilding centre; diesel engines and chemical products are manufactured there.