GERA, a town of Germany in the Land of Thuringia, on the banks of the White Elster, 45 m. S.S.W. of Leipzig. Pop. Gera (in ancient chronicles Geralia) became a town in the I Ith century, and in the I2th century it came into the possession of the lords of Reuss. It was sacked by the Bohemians in 1450, was burned down by the Swedes in 1639, and suffered from fires in 1686 and 178o, after which it has been mostly rebuilt.
Its educational establishments include a weaving school. Oster stein, the former residence of the princes of Reuss, stands on the site of a 9th century castle. Gera is noted for its industrial ac tivity. Its industries include wool-weaving and spinning, dyeing, iron-founding, the manufacture of textiles, machinery, musical instruments, leather and tobacco, and printing (books and maps) and flower gardening.