noun
attachment, facility, investment
B1
Anlage is a feminine noun (die Anlage) with plural Anlagen. Main meanings: 1) attachment (e.g. email/file), 2) facility or installation, 3) investment (financial). Note the plural Anlagen and genitive der Anlagen. Not reflexive; no auxiliary verb. Context and collocations determine meaning.
Examples
In der Anlage finden Sie die benötigten Dokumente.
In the attachment you will find the required documents.
Die Anleger lasen die Beschreibung der Anlage, bevor sie eine Entscheidung trafen.
The investors read the description of the investment before they made a decision.
Die Investition in die Anlage war eine kluge Entscheidung.
Investing in the plant/equipment was a smart decision.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture a paper clip attaching a file (attachment) labelled 'Anlage'.
think 'install-ation' → 'Anlage' as an installation or facility.
Die Anlage — 'die' because many German nouns ending in -e are feminine; imagine a female manager overseeing the facility.
Notes
Many possible meanings depending on context: 'attachment' (documents), 'facility' or 'plant' (technical), and 'investment' (financial context). Plural: Anlagen.