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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000931017-04-000023.txt : 20041130
<SEC-HEADER>0000931017-04-000023.hdr.sgml : 20041130
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041130172735
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000931017-04-000023
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041130
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041130
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041130

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BERKOWITZ BRUCE R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001214344

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06249
		FILM NUMBER:		041175358

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIRST UNION REAL ESTATE EQUITY & MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000037008
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				346513657
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7 BULFINCH PLACE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 500 PO BOX 9507
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02114
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6175704614

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7 BULFINCH PLACE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 500 PO BOX 9507
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02114

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FIRST UNION REALTY
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19691012
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000037008</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIRST UNION REAL ESTATE EQUITY &amp; MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>fur</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001214344</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BERKOWITZ BRUCE R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>150000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.7</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>534084</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>see</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares are held by Fairholme Ventures II, L.L.C., an entity in which Mr. Berkowitz is a managing member.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Mr. Berkowitz also directly holds an additional 36,600 shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">An additional 357,457 shares are held in investment accounts of clients of Fairholme Capital Management, L.L.C., a registered investment advisor and affiliate of Mr. Berkowitz.  Mr. Berkowitz has disavowed management and supervision responsibility for the shares owned by clients of the advisor and therefore does not beneficially own such shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Bruce R. Berkowitz</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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