Regierungsbezirk

A Regierungsbezirk (German pronunciation: [ʁeˈɡiːʁʊŋsbəˌtsɪʁk] ⓘ) means "governmental district" and is a type of administrative division in Germany.

Beneath these are rural and urban districts Regierungsbezirke (pronounced [ʁeˈɡiːʁʊŋsbəˌt͡sɪʁkə] ⓘ) serve as regional mid-level local government units in four of Germany's sixteen federal states: Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia.

The Regierungsbezirke in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in modern Germany are in direct continuation of those created in the Prussian Rhine and Westphalia provinces in 1816.

In 1946, Lower Saxony was founded by the merger of the three former Free States of Brunswick, Oldenburg, Schaumburg-Lippe, and the former Prussian province of Hanover.

Brunswick and Oldenburg became Verwaltungsbezirke [fɛɐ̯ˈvaltʊŋsbəˌt͡sɪʁkə] ⓘ(roughly administrative regions of extended competence) alongside six less autonomous Prussian-style Regierungsbezirke comprising the Province of Hanover and Schaumburg-Lippe.

The vertical (federal) separation of powers across the federal government (white), the states (yellow), and the municipalities (brown). Federal Level Federal States City States (Governmental Districts) (Rural) Districts (Collective Municipalities) Municipalities (Municipalities) Urban Districts
Administrative divisions of Germany (clickable image )
Regierungsbezirke in Germany as of 1 August 2008. The map also shows the former Regierungsbezirke of Lower Saxony , Rhineland-Palatinate , Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony .