Brzeg Dolny
Encyclopedia
Brzeg Dolny ' is a town in Wołów County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship
in south-western Poland
. It is located 31 kilometres (19.3 mi) north-west of Wrocław on the Oder River, and is the site of a large chemical complex, PCC Rokita SA. As at 2006 the town has a population of 12,786.
. In 1660 the city was bought by the Dyhrn family
. The first owner from this family was the Chancellor
Baron
George Abraham von Dyhrn
. In 1663 the city oficially received the name Dyhernfurth after the Dyhrn family and it also received town privileges
by Emperor Leopold I of Habsburg. The Dyhrns had a palace built already in 17th century, which stayed in their possession till the early 1780s, when the palace (then owned by Count Wilhelm von Dyhrn) was sold to Baroness Antoinette von Dyhrn (1745-1820) and her husband, the famous Prussian
minister
Karl Georg von Hoym, with whom she modernized the palace and the park according to plans of Carl Gotthard Langhans
.
During World War II
as part of the Grün 3 program, a plant for the manufacture of the nerve agent tabun
was established in Dyhernfurth, producing the nerve agent under the codename Trilon-83. Run by the Anorgana GmbH, a branch of IG Farben
, the plant began production in 1942. Large scale manufacturing of the agent resulted in problems with the product's degradation over time and only around 12,500 tons of material were manufactured before the plant was over-run by the advancing Soviet forces. The plant initially produced shells and aerial bombs using a 95:5 mix of tabun and chlorobenzene
, designated "Variant A" before switching in the latter half of the war to "Variant B," an 80:20 mix of tabun and chlorobenzene designed to make the mixture disperse more easily.
The Soviets, however, did not capture any tabun at Dyhernfurth. Although they occupied the area of the factory, a German raid was organized by Generalmajor
Max Sachsenheimer
. The German unit of roughly battalion strength crossed the Oder River early on February 5, 1945, seized the factory, and deployed an anti-tank screen. During the day, the tabun at the factory was pumped into the Oder River while the screening force defeated two small-scale Soviet counter-attacks. In the evening of February 5, the German force pulled back behind the Oder River.
Subsequently, the Soviet government had the plant dismantled and taken back to Russia. Nevertheless Rokita started the production of chemicals again in 1947.
Flag: for the flag of the city is being used the coat of arms of the Dyhrn noble family.
with: Barsinghausen
, Germany
Mont-Saint-Aignan
, France
Kovel
, Ukraine
Chernyakhovsk
, Russia
Lower Silesian Voivodeship
Lower Silesian Voivodeship, or Lower Silesia Province , is one of the 16 voivodeships into which Poland is currently divided. It lies in southwestern Poland...
in south-western Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. It is located 31 kilometres (19.3 mi) north-west of Wrocław on the Oder River, and is the site of a large chemical complex, PCC Rokita SA. As at 2006 the town has a population of 12,786.
History
Brzeg was first mentioned in a 1353 deed as a part of the Duchy of Wrocław, then within the Lands of the Bohemian CrownCzech lands
Czech lands is an auxiliary term used mainly to describe the combination of Bohemia, Moravia and Czech Silesia. Today, those three historic provinces compose the Czech Republic. The Czech lands had been settled by the Celts , then later by various Germanic tribes until the beginning of 7th...
. In 1660 the city was bought by the Dyhrn family
House of Dyhrn
The House of Dyhrn is a prominent German noble family originally from Saxony. The family was first mentioned in the 12th century and was settled in early age in Prussia and Silesia...
. The first owner from this family was the Chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
Baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
George Abraham von Dyhrn
George Abraham von Dyhrn
George Abraham von Dyhrn, 1st Baron of Dyhrn , was an Austrian Chancellor in the province of Silesia, politician and a landowner in the Habsburg monarchy....
. In 1663 the city oficially received the name Dyhernfurth after the Dyhrn family and it also received town privileges
Town privileges
Town privileges or city rights were important features of European towns during most of the second millennium.Judicially, a town was distinguished from the surrounding land by means of a charter from the ruling monarch that defined its privileges and laws. Common privileges were related to trading...
by Emperor Leopold I of Habsburg. The Dyhrns had a palace built already in 17th century, which stayed in their possession till the early 1780s, when the palace (then owned by Count Wilhelm von Dyhrn) was sold to Baroness Antoinette von Dyhrn (1745-1820) and her husband, the famous Prussian
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
minister
Minister
Minister can mean several things:* Minister , a Christian who ministers in some way* Minister , the rank of diplomat directly below ambassador* Minister , a politician who heads a ministry...
Karl Georg von Hoym, with whom she modernized the palace and the park according to plans of Carl Gotthard Langhans
Carl Gotthard Langhans
Carl Gotthard Langhans was a Prussian builder and architect. His works are among the earliest buildings in the German classicism movement. His best-known work is the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.- Life :...
.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as part of the Grün 3 program, a plant for the manufacture of the nerve agent tabun
Tabun (nerve agent)
Tabun or GA is an extremely toxic chemical substance. It is a clear, colorless, and tasteless liquid with a faint fruity odor. It is classified as a nerve agent because it fatally interferes with normal functioning of the mammalian nervous system...
was established in Dyhernfurth, producing the nerve agent under the codename Trilon-83. Run by the Anorgana GmbH, a branch of IG Farben
IG Farben
I.G. Farbenindustrie AG was a German chemical industry conglomerate. Its name is taken from Interessen-Gemeinschaft Farbenindustrie AG . The company was formed in 1925 from a number of major companies that had been working together closely since World War I...
, the plant began production in 1942. Large scale manufacturing of the agent resulted in problems with the product's degradation over time and only around 12,500 tons of material were manufactured before the plant was over-run by the advancing Soviet forces. The plant initially produced shells and aerial bombs using a 95:5 mix of tabun and chlorobenzene
Chlorobenzene
Chlorobenzene is an aromatic organic compound with the chemical formula C6H5Cl. This colorless, flammable liquid is a common solvent and a widely used intermediate in the manufacture of other chemicals.-Uses:...
, designated "Variant A" before switching in the latter half of the war to "Variant B," an 80:20 mix of tabun and chlorobenzene designed to make the mixture disperse more easily.
The Soviets, however, did not capture any tabun at Dyhernfurth. Although they occupied the area of the factory, a German raid was organized by Generalmajor
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
Max Sachsenheimer
Max Sachsenheimer
Max Sachsenheimer was a German Generalmajor, serving during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
. The German unit of roughly battalion strength crossed the Oder River early on February 5, 1945, seized the factory, and deployed an anti-tank screen. During the day, the tabun at the factory was pumped into the Oder River while the screening force defeated two small-scale Soviet counter-attacks. In the evening of February 5, the German force pulled back behind the Oder River.
Subsequently, the Soviet government had the plant dismantled and taken back to Russia. Nevertheless Rokita started the production of chemicals again in 1947.
Flag: for the flag of the city is being used the coat of arms of the Dyhrn noble family.
International relations
Twin towns — Sister cities
Brzeg Dolny is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with: Barsinghausen
Barsinghausen
Barsinghausen is a town in the district of Hanover, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated at the Deister chain of hills approx. 20 km west of Hanover...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Mont-Saint-Aignan
Mont-Saint-Aignan
-People:*Birthplace of Jacques Anquetil , the first cyclist to win the Tour de France five times.*Viviane Asseyi footballer*Jackson Mendy footballer*Matthieu Louis-Jean footballer*Mohamed Sissoko, Juventus F.C footballer, was born here....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Kovel
Kovel
Kovel is a city located in the Volyn Oblast , in northwestern Ukraine. Serving as the administrative center of the Kovelskyi Raion , the city itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast. The current estimated population is around 65,777.Kovel gives its name to one of the...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
Chernyakhovsk
Chernyakhovsk
Chernyakhovsk is a town and the administrative center of Chernyakhovsky District of Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Instruch and the Angrapa Rivers, forming the Pregolya...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...