Ostrów Wielkopolski
Encyclopedia
Ostrów Wielkopolski ' is a town
in central Poland
with 72,360 inhabitants (2008), situated in the Greater Poland Voivodeship
; the seat of Ostrów Wielkopolski County
.
Ostrów received town privileges in 1404 but the economic stagnation caused by fires, wars, and a weak 16th century nobility, led to the town’s officials dropping its town status in 1711. In 1714, one of the nobility of Ostrów, Jan Jerzy Przebendowski intervened at the royal court, for the status to be reinstated. By the power of a Royal Marshall (Marshal
), Franciszek Bielinski
, the town received its status back with greater privileges. Another noble family, the Radziwiłłowie took patronage over the town and looked over its many investments. The care of the town’s owners, work of its people, dedication of its officials and its location, have favored the town’s continuous growth. In Ostrów, a railroad hub was formed and became a vital point of the town’s development. It also helped to establish its prominent status on the local and national scene. During the time of Partition
and both World Wars, the town had become an important source for nationalist movements. One of the town’s historic episodes was the so called Republic of Ostrów
(Republika Ostrowska), which was the citizens’ upheaval of 1918. No blood was shed at that upheaval and all political powers were taken over from the Prussia
n authorities. In between the First and Second WW, Ostrów was one of the fastest growing towns: the number of inhabitants doubled, showy houses were built and modern Railcar Manufacturing (Fabryka Wagon) began.
During World War II
, a Nazi labor camp Staatspolizeistelle Litzmannstadt Arbeitserziehungslager Ostrowo operated within the town's limits, where 193 people died. The town was one of the major anti-Nazi conspiracy centers in the Great Poland region. In 1941, after the Gestapo
’s crackdown on the headquarters of the Poznań branch of the underground army Union for Armed Struggle-ZWZ
, the headquarters were moved to Ostrów. From here the re-structure of the Poznań region of the Union was conducted.
with:
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in central 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...
with 72,360 inhabitants (2008), situated in the Greater Poland Voivodeship
Greater Poland Voivodeship
Wielkopolska Voivodeship , or Greater Poland Voivodeship, is a voivodeship, or province, in west-central Poland. It was created on 1 January 1999 out of the former Poznań, Kalisz, Konin, Piła and Leszno Voivodeships, pursuant to the Polish local government reforms adopted in 1998...
; the seat of Ostrów Wielkopolski County
Ostrów Wielkopolski County
Ostrów Wielkopolski County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Greater Poland Voivodeship, west-central Poland. 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 town is Ostrów...
.
History
Recently, a small fortified dwelling dating from the 10th century was discovered on the north-east side of the town's limits. An archeological excavation is now in progress.Ostrów received town privileges in 1404 but the economic stagnation caused by fires, wars, and a weak 16th century nobility, led to the town’s officials dropping its town status in 1711. In 1714, one of the nobility of Ostrów, Jan Jerzy Przebendowski intervened at the royal court, for the status to be reinstated. By the power of a Royal Marshall (Marshal
Marshal
Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf...
), Franciszek Bielinski
Franciszek Bielinski
Franciszek Bieliński of Junosza was a Polish politician and statesman. A Grand Marshal of the Crown, Marshal of Prussia and a voivode of Chełmno, he is best remembered as a strong proponent of the expansion and the modernisation of the city of Warsaw...
, the town received its status back with greater privileges. Another noble family, the Radziwiłłowie took patronage over the town and looked over its many investments. The care of the town’s owners, work of its people, dedication of its officials and its location, have favored the town’s continuous growth. In Ostrów, a railroad hub was formed and became a vital point of the town’s development. It also helped to establish its prominent status on the local and national scene. During the time of Partition
Partitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years...
and both World Wars, the town had become an important source for nationalist movements. One of the town’s historic episodes was the so called Republic of Ostrów
Republic of Ostrów
The Republic of Ostrów was a short-lived autonomous republic in the Ostrów Wielkopolski area. The republic, declared on 10 November 1918, had the goal of liberating Poles from the German Empire and specifically Prussia...
(Republika Ostrowska), which was the citizens’ upheaval of 1918. No blood was shed at that upheaval and all political powers were taken over from the Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n authorities. In between the First and Second WW, Ostrów was one of the fastest growing towns: the number of inhabitants doubled, showy houses were built and modern Railcar Manufacturing (Fabryka Wagon) began.
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...
, a Nazi labor camp Staatspolizeistelle Litzmannstadt Arbeitserziehungslager Ostrowo operated within the town's limits, where 193 people died. The town was one of the major anti-Nazi conspiracy centers in the Great Poland region. In 1941, after the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
’s crackdown on the headquarters of the Poznań branch of the underground army Union for Armed Struggle-ZWZ
Zwiazek Walki Zbrojnej
Związek Walki Zbrojnej was an underground army formed in Poland following its invasion in September 1939 by Germany and the Soviet Union that opened World War II.The precursor to the ZWZ was the Service...
, the headquarters were moved to Ostrów. From here the re-structure of the Poznań region of the Union was conducted.
Notable residents
- Ehrenfried-Oskar BoegeEhrenfried-Oskar BoegeEhrenfried-Oskar Boege was a German general who held several Corps level commands during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield...
(1889–1965), German general - Paweł Bryliński – folklore sculptor
- Heinrich GraetzHeinrich GraetzHeinrich Graetz was amongst the first historians to write a comprehensive history of the Jewish people from a Jewish perspective....
, historian - Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz - poet, writer (Letters from Ostrów)
- Bartłomiej Jaszka - handball star player
- Krzysztof KomedaKrzysztof KomedaKrzysztof Komeda was a Polish film music composer and jazz pianist. Perhaps best-known for his work in film scores, Komeda wrote the scores for Roman Polanski’s films Rosemary’s Baby, The Fearless Vampire Killers, Knife in the Water and Cul-de-sac...
- jazz pianist - Krzysztof LijewskiKrzysztof LijewskiKrzysztof Lijewski is a Polish team handball player, playing on the Poland national handball team. He received a silver medal with the Polish team at the 2007 World Men's Handball Championship and a bronze medal at the 2009 World Men's Handball Championship in Croatia...
, handball star player - Marcin LijewskiMarcin LijewskiMarcin Lijewski is a Polish team handball player, playing on the Poland national handball team. He received a silver medal with the Polish team at the 2007 World Men's Handball Championship and a bronze medal at the 2009 World Men's Handball Championship in Croatia...
, handball star player - Władysław Marcinkowski - sculptor
- Władysław Markiewicz- sociologist
- Manfred von RichthofenManfred von RichthofenManfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen , also widely known as the Red Baron, was a German fighter pilot with the Imperial German Army Air Service during World War I...
"Red Baron", German fighter pilot (World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
) - Jan ŻniniewiczJan ZniniewiczJan Norbert Żniniewicz was a Polish balneologist, pioneer of modern hydrotherapy in Poland.He introduced new methods in a hydrotherapy treatment. He founded hydrotherapy institute in Poznań....
- physician, author of the new method of hydrotherapy (balneological method of treatment of chronic rheumatic diseases) - Krzysztof KwiatkowskiKrzysztof KwiatkowskiKrzysztof Kwiatkowski is a Polish politician, Minister of Justice of Poland in Cabinet of Donald Tusk. He is also a member of Senate . He did not die in that one plane crash.- External links :* *...
- computer scientists & researcher, software developer
Education
- Społeczna Wyższa Szkoła Przedsiębiorczości i Zarządzania in Łódź, branch in Ostrów Wlkp.
- Technical University of Łódź, branch in Ostrów Wlkp.
Sports
- Atlas Stal Ostrów Wlkp. - men basketball team, 7th in Dominet Bank Ekstraliga in 2006/2007 season.
- Ostrovia 1909 Ostrów WielkopolskiKP Ostrovia Ostrów WielkopolskiKP Ostrovia Ostrow Wielkopolski is a Polish football club based in Ostrów Wielkopolski, the oldest still existing football club in the Greater Poland region.- External links :*...
- men soccer team - KM Ostrów WielkopolskiKM Ostrów WielkopolskiKlub Motorowy Ostrów Wielkopolski is a Polish motorcycle speedway team based in Ostrów Wielkopolski who currently race in First League . The club never won Team Polish Champion title.- Stadium :...
- speedwayMotorcycle speedwayMotorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
team
Twin towns — Sister cities
Ostrów Wielkopolski 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:
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