Rethem

Rethem
Town
Coat of arms
Location of Rethem within Heidekreis district
Interactive map of Rethem
Location within Germany Location within Lower Saxony
Coordinates: 52°47′5″N 9°22′41″E
Country	Germany
State	Lower Saxony
District	Heidekreis
Subdivisions	4 Ortschaften
Government
• Mayor	Karl-Dieter Oestmann (CDU)
Area
• Total	34.08 km2 (13.16 sq mi)
Elevation	16 m (52 ft)
Population  (2025-12-31)
• Total	2,327
• Density	68.28/km2 (176.8/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes	27336
Dialling codes	05165
Vehicle registration	HK, SFA
Website	www.rethem.de

Rethem (German: [ˈʁeːtəm] ^ⓘ) is a town in the Heidekreis in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Aller, approx. 25 km southwest of Bad Fallingbostel, and 18 km southeast of Verden. The town was the scene of heavy fighting over the period 10–11 April 1945 between units of the British 53rd Welsh Division and parts of the German 2. Marine-Infanterie-Division with heavy losses on both sides. Most of the German soldiers were not older than 23 years.

Rethem is the seat of the Samtgemeinde ("collective municipality") Rethem/Aller.