Country Poland Area 80.40 km2 Mayor Malgorzata Manka-Szulik | Population 187,315 (2010) Founded thirteenth century | |
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Map of Zabrze
Zabrze [ˈzabʐɛ] (English: ) (German: 1915–1945: Hindenburg O.S., full form: Hindenburg in Oberschlesien, 1905–1915: Zabrze, Silesian: Zobrze) is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The west district of the Silesian Metropolis, a metropolis with a population of around 2 million. It is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Bytomka River, a tributary of the Oder.
Contents
- Map of Zabrze
- Bakshish rocket 2012 xi 17 zabrze
- Deep purple zabrze poland 1993 part 2
- Early history
- Early twentieth century
- World War Two and aftermath
- Districts and housing estates
- Infrastructure
- Politics
- Sport
- Economy
- Notable people
- Twin towns Sister cities
- References
Zabrze is situated in the Silesian Voivodeship which was reformulated in 1999. Prior to 1999 it was situated in Katowice Voivodeship. It is one of the cities composing the 2.7 million inhabitant conurbation referred to as the Katowice urban area, itself a major centre in the greater Silesian metropolitan area which is populated by just over five million people. The population of Zabrze as of June 2009, is 188,122.
Bakshish rocket 2012 xi 17 zabrze
Deep purple zabrze poland 1993 part 2
Early history
Biskupice (Biskupitz), which is now a subdivision of Zabrze, was first mentioned in 1243 as Biscupici dicitur cirka Bitom. Alt-Zabrze was mentioned in 1295-1305 as Sadbre sive Cunczindorf (sive = or). In the Late Middle Ages, the local Silesian Piast dukes invited German settlers into the territory resulting in increasing German settlement. Zabrze became part of the Habsburg Monarchy of Austria in 1526, and was later annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia during the Silesian Wars. In 1774, the Dorotheendorf settlement was founded. When the first mine in Zabrze became operational in 1790, the town became an important mining center.
Early twentieth century
In 1905, the Zabrze commune was formed by the former communes Alt-Zabrze, Klein-Zabrze and Dorotheendorf. The Zabrze commune was renamed Hindenburg in 1915 in honour of Generalfeldmarschall Paul von Hindenburg. The name change was approved by King Wilhelm II on 21 February 1915. During the plebiscite held after World War I, 21,333 inhabitants (59%) of the Hindenburg commune voted to remain in Germany, while 14,873 (41%) voted for incorporation to Poland. In May 1921 the Third Silesian Uprising broke out and Hindenburg was captured by Polish insurgents, who held it until the end of the uprising. When Upper Silesia was divided between Poland and Germany in 1921, the Hindenburg commune remained in Germany. It received its city charter in 1922. Just five years after founding Hindenburg became the biggest city in German Upper Silesia and the second biggest City in German Silesia after Breslau. In the March 1933 elections, most of the citizens voted for Nazi Party, followed by Zentrum and the Communist Party. Nazi politician Max Fillusch became the city's mayor and remained in the position until 1945.
World War Two and aftermath
The town's synagogue, that had stood since 1872, was destroyed in the Kristallnacht pogroms of November 1938. Following World War II, the city was assigned to Poland in 1945 and was renamed back to Zabrze on May 19, 1945. Most of the German inhabitants were expelled.
Districts and housing estates
On 17 September 2012, the Zabrze city council decided on a new administrative division of the city. Zabrze was subsequently divided into 15 districts and 3 housing estates.
Infrastructure
The polish A4, which is part of the European E40, has a motorway junction near Zabrze. The Drogowa Trasa Srednicowa leads through the town.
Politics
Members of Parliament (Sejm) elected from Bytom/Gliwice/Zabrze constituency
Sport
Economy
Like other towns in this populous region, it is an important manufacturing centre, having coal-mines, iron, wire, glass, chemical and oil works, and local Upper Silesia Brewery, etc.
Notable people
Twin towns — Sister cities
Zabrze is twinned with these cities: