Górowo Ilaweckie
Encyclopedia
Górowo Iławeckie g is a town in Bartoszyce County
, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship
, Poland, with 4,550 inhabitants (2006). The town has a land area of 3.32 km² and is the smallest municipality (gmina
) in geographical extent in Poland.
commander of Balga, Heinrich von Muro, on February 5, 1335 at the crossing of the streets Balga
- Heilsberg
and Bartenstein - Mehlsack in the heart of the Old Prussian region of Natangia. It has been largely destroyed in the wars of 1414 and 1456. In 1440 the town was a founding member of the Prussian Confederation
trying to oppose the teutonic order. After the battle of Grunwald
/ Tannenberg and caused by the economic weakness following this defeat the Teutonic order was not able to pay off his debts to his hired freelancers anymore, for that reason the town was given as a pawn to Nikolaus von Taubenheim in 1482. Throughout the centuries the small town changed its landlords, at last the town was the property of the von Schwerin - family from 1664 to 1808.
In 1710 767 out of ca. 1000 inhabitants died of plague.
in February 1807 French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte took lodging at the presbytery of the Lutheran church on 16./17.February 1807, just a few days after the Russian General Bagration
. The church itself was used as a camp for Russian POW captured at Eylau and at the preluding battle of Hoofe
(Dworzno). 8000 wounded French soldiers were left in Landsberg. The town suffered from these battles and lost almost half of its inhabitants in the year 1807 due to hunger and diseases following this war, 400 inhabitants of the Landsberg region died only in February and march 1807. In 1809 the town counted only 1126 inhabitants and was rather a village.
In 1811 parts of the Napoleonic Grande Armée marched through Landsberg on their way to Russia. Roundabout 40.000 French soldiers camped at the Landsberg area before marching on and had to be supplied with rations by the inhabitants.
In the beginning of World War I Russian troops conquered the town for a few days in late August 1914. Caused on some shootings by German soldiers the post office, one house and several barns were burned down and 7 civilists were executed. A railway bridge was blown up. German troops reconquered the town on September 2, 1914 without fighting.
In February 1945 the town and its periphery was the scene for fierce battles between the Wehrmacht
and the Red Army
, which finally conquered the town on 2. February 1945. Because of the important street crossing a large number of civilists, trying to escape from East Prussia
were captured here. On June 19, 1945 polish administration representatives came to the town and took over the administrative power from the soviet commandant.
Following the Potsdam Conference
Gorowo became part of Poland and the German inhabitants were expelled
to western Germany in 1946/47.
Next to Poles, especially from the Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union
, a remarkable size of people of Ukraine nationality were settled by force of the polish state in the area of Gorowo throughout the Operation Vistula in 1947. Today a Ukrainian boarding school exists in Gorowo, the former Lutheran church is used by the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
.
with:
Verden an der Aller, Lower Saxony
, Germany Bagrationovsk
, Kaliningrad Oblast
, Russia Pustomyty
, Ukraine
Bartoszyce County
Bartoszyce County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, northern Poland, on the border with Russia. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest...
, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship
Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship
Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, or Warmia-Masuria Province , is a voivodeship in northeastern Poland. Its capital and largest city is Olsztyn...
, Poland, with 4,550 inhabitants (2006). The town has a land area of 3.32 km² and is the smallest municipality (gmina
Gmina
The gmina is the principal unit of administrative division of Poland at its lowest uniform level. It is often translated as "commune" or "municipality." As of 2010 there were 2,479 gminas throughout the country...
) in geographical extent in Poland.
Early history
The town was methodical founded by the Teutonic knightsTeutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
commander of Balga, Heinrich von Muro, on February 5, 1335 at the crossing of the streets Balga
Balga
Balga was a medieval castle of the Teutonic Knights. Its ruins are in the Pogranichny municipality, Bagrationovsky District in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia; located on the shore of the Vistula Lagoon north of Mamonovo, about southwest of Kaliningrad....
- Heilsberg
Heilsberg
Heilsberg:* German name of Lidzbark Warmiński* Battle of Heilsberg* Transmitter Heilsberg- See also :* Lidzbark* Lidzbark * Lidzbarski...
and Bartenstein - Mehlsack in the heart of the Old Prussian region of Natangia. It has been largely destroyed in the wars of 1414 and 1456. In 1440 the town was a founding member of the Prussian Confederation
Prussian Confederation
The Prussian Confederation was an organization formed in 1440 by a group of 53 gentry and clergy and 19 cities in Prussia to oppose the monastic state of the Teutonic Knights. It was based on the basis of an earlier similar organization, the Lizard Union...
trying to oppose the teutonic order. After the battle of Grunwald
Battle of Grunwald
The Battle of Grunwald or 1st Battle of Tannenberg was fought on 15 July 1410, during the Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War. The alliance of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, led respectively by King Jogaila and Grand Duke Vytautas , decisively defeated the Teutonic Knights, led...
/ Tannenberg and caused by the economic weakness following this defeat the Teutonic order was not able to pay off his debts to his hired freelancers anymore, for that reason the town was given as a pawn to Nikolaus von Taubenheim in 1482. Throughout the centuries the small town changed its landlords, at last the town was the property of the von Schwerin - family from 1664 to 1808.
In 1710 767 out of ca. 1000 inhabitants died of plague.
Napoleonic time
After the battle of EylauBattle of Eylau
The Battle of Eylau or Battle of Preussisch-Eylau, 7 and 8 February 1807, was a bloody and inconclusive battle between Napoléon's Grande Armée and a Russian Empire army under Levin August, Count von Bennigsen near the town of Preußisch Eylau in East Prussia. Late in the battle, the Russians...
in February 1807 French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte took lodging at the presbytery of the Lutheran church on 16./17.February 1807, just a few days after the Russian General Bagration
Bagration
Bagration may refer to* Bagrationi dynasty* Prince Pyotr Bagration , a Russian general in the Napoleonic Wars* The Bagrationi, a royal family of Georgia, from whom the Prince was descended...
. The church itself was used as a camp for Russian POW captured at Eylau and at the preluding battle of Hoofe
Dwórzno, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship
Dwórzno is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Górowo Iławeckie, within Bartoszyce County, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in northern Poland, close to the border with the Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia...
(Dworzno). 8000 wounded French soldiers were left in Landsberg. The town suffered from these battles and lost almost half of its inhabitants in the year 1807 due to hunger and diseases following this war, 400 inhabitants of the Landsberg region died only in February and march 1807. In 1809 the town counted only 1126 inhabitants and was rather a village.
In 1811 parts of the Napoleonic Grande Armée marched through Landsberg on their way to Russia. Roundabout 40.000 French soldiers camped at the Landsberg area before marching on and had to be supplied with rations by the inhabitants.
20th century
In 1898 Landsberg was connected to the railway - line and in 1908 a municipal gas fabrication was established, which is today a technical museum.In the beginning of World War I Russian troops conquered the town for a few days in late August 1914. Caused on some shootings by German soldiers the post office, one house and several barns were burned down and 7 civilists were executed. A railway bridge was blown up. German troops reconquered the town on September 2, 1914 without fighting.
In February 1945 the town and its periphery was the scene for fierce battles between the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
and the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
, which finally conquered the town on 2. February 1945. Because of the important street crossing a large number of civilists, trying to escape from East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
were captured here. On June 19, 1945 polish administration representatives came to the town and took over the administrative power from the soviet commandant.
Following the Potsdam Conference
Potsdam Conference
The Potsdam Conference was held at Cecilienhof, the home of Crown Prince Wilhelm Hohenzollern, in Potsdam, occupied Germany, from 16 July to 2 August 1945. Participants were the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States...
Gorowo became part of Poland and the German inhabitants were expelled
Expulsion of Germans after World War II
The later stages of World War II, and the period after the end of that war, saw the forced migration of millions of German nationals and ethnic Germans from various European states and territories, mostly into the areas which would become post-war Germany and post-war Austria...
to western Germany in 1946/47.
Next to Poles, especially from the Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union
Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union
Immediately after the German invasion of Poland in 1939, which marked the beginning of World War II, the Soviet Union invaded the eastern regions of the Second Polish Republic, which Poles referred to as the "Kresy," and annexed territories totaling 201,015 km² with a population of 13,299,000...
, a remarkable size of people of Ukraine nationality were settled by force of the polish state in the area of Gorowo throughout the Operation Vistula in 1947. Today a Ukrainian boarding school exists in Gorowo, the former Lutheran church is used by the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church , Ukrainska Hreko-Katolytska Tserkva), is the largest Eastern Rite Catholic sui juris particular church in full communion with the Holy See, and is directly subject to the Pope...
.
Twin towns — Sister cities
Górowo Iławeckie 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:
Verden an der Aller, Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
, Germany Bagrationovsk
Bagrationovsk
Bagrationovsk is a town and the administrative center of Bagrationovsky District of Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, located south of Kaliningrad. Population: -History:...
, Kaliningrad Oblast
Kaliningrad Oblast
Kaliningrad Oblast is a federal subject of Russia situated on the Baltic coast. It has a population of The oblast forms the westernmost part of the Russian Federation, but it has no land connection to the rest of Russia. Since its creation it has been an exclave of the Russian SFSR and then the...
, Russia Pustomyty
Pustomyty
Pustomyty is a city in Lviv Oblast of Ukraine. It is administrative center of the Pustomyty Raion. Population is 9,798 ....
, 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...