Borkum is an island in the Leer District in Lower Saxony, northwestern Germany. It has an area of about 30.6 km² (11.84 sq miles) and a population of about 5,587. Borkum is bordered to the west by the Westereems strait (which forms the border with the Netherlands), to the east by the Osterems strait, to the north by the North Sea, and to the south by the Wadden Sea. It is the largest and westernmost of the East Frisian Islands in the North Sea, due north of the Dutch province of Groningen.
The island was formed by two previously separate islands which were still separated by a shallow water in 1863. The seam between the former eastern and western parts is called Tüskendör ('through in between').
On 19 and 20 December 1934, Werner von Braun launched 'Max' and 'Moritz', the two devices of the A2-rocket. Lager Borkum, the Nazi labour camp on Alderney was named after the island.
A number of former German soldiers of the 216th Marine-Flak-Abeitlung (Naval Flak Battalion) were tried for war crimes by the Dachau International Military Tribunal, from February 6 to March 21, 1946 (US v Kurt Goebell et al). They were charged with the unlawful execution of seven United States Army Air Forces personnel who had survived the crash of their damaged B-17 Flying Fortress on the island on April 8, 1944. (See talk page for list of those tried).
The island is partially car-free. Off-season, driving by car is permitted everywhere, otherwise there are car-free zones. The only town on the island is also called Borkum.
