Time and again, the only imperial city in Mainfranken had to struggle for its political independence against the neighboring bishops of Würzburg – a conflict that took on a confessional dimension following the introduction of the Reformation in 1542. It was only with the annexation by Bavaria in 1802 that the long-term rise to an industrial city became possible: Following the chemical industry, the rolling bearing industry emerged in the late 19th century, soon operating on a global scale. After the inferno of the strategic air war from 1943 to 1945, a new city of ball bearings and sports arose during the economic miracle years, becoming an educational hub and, since the 1990s, a city of industry and culture. The brief city history provides a multifaceted, concentrated overview of the history of Schweinfurt, one of the most significant industrial cities in Bavaria: covering aspects of economy and society, politics, architecture, and art.