Wysoka
Encyclopedia
Wysoka w is a town in Piła County, Greater Poland Voivodeship
, Poland
, with 2,760 inhabitants (2004). The current Mayor is Marek Madej.
In 1505 the neighbouring village of Wysoka Wielka was exchanged for the town of Wysoka, which was owned by the Szlachta or landed gentry (particularly the Kościelskich and Tuczyńskich families). Over 1727-29 the Baroque church of St. Mary of the Rosary (późnobarokowy kościół NMP Różańcowej) was built.
In 1772 Wysoka/Wissek was absorbed into the Kingdom of Prussia
. Between 1807 and 1815 the town was part of the Napoleonic Grand Duchy of Warsaw. In 1815 the town was returned to Prussia
and after 1818 Wysoka/Wissek belonged to the Prussian Wirsitz county of the Prussian province of Posen
.
In January 1919 Polish nationalist insurgents took power in the town. They created the Polish People's Council (polską Radę Ludową) and the Civic Guard (Straż Obywatelską). However, later that same month, irregulars from Germany
captured the town. A Polish counter attack from Wirsitz / Wyrzysk failed.
In January 1920 Wysoka/Wissek was transferred from Weimar Germany to Poland
by the Treaty of Versailles
and attached to the Powiat (county) Wyrzysk (to 1939).
In September 1939 the Nazis invaded and 19 Poles
were executed immediately on the slope of the Góry Wysokiej hills. The town was annexed into the "Regierungsbezirk Bromberg" of the Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia and governed by the Nazi Gauleiter
Albert Forster
. During the occupation the administration changed the name of the town to “Weisseck” (1939–42) and then “Weißeck” (1942–1945). After the war the town became part of Communist Poland.
Between 1975-1998 the city administratively belonged to Piła Voivodeship. Since 1999 the town has been part of the Województwo wielkopolskie district.
was fully integrated into the wider Imperial German economy. Many Germans
left after World War I
and those who remained were expelled after World War II
. A small gauge rail still serves the area.
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...
, 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 2,760 inhabitants (2004). The current Mayor is Marek Madej.
History
The city was first mentioned officially in 1260. In the year 1505 the city law (Stadtrecht) was promulgated. This was renewed after a big fire in 1722. Wysoka/Wissek was the centre of a significant territory of property that Nicholas Lodz (Mikołaja Łodzi) gave to Boleslaw the Pious (Bolesława Pobożnego).In 1505 the neighbouring village of Wysoka Wielka was exchanged for the town of Wysoka, which was owned by the Szlachta or landed gentry (particularly the Kościelskich and Tuczyńskich families). Over 1727-29 the Baroque church of St. Mary of the Rosary (późnobarokowy kościół NMP Różańcowej) was built.
In 1772 Wysoka/Wissek was absorbed into the Kingdom of 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...
. Between 1807 and 1815 the town was part of the Napoleonic Grand Duchy of Warsaw. In 1815 the town was returned to 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...
and after 1818 Wysoka/Wissek belonged to the Prussian Wirsitz county of the Prussian province of Posen
Province of Posen
The Province of Posen was a province of Prussia from 1848–1918 and as such part of the German Empire from 1871 to 1918. The area was about 29,000 km2....
.
In January 1919 Polish nationalist insurgents took power in the town. They created the Polish People's Council (polską Radę Ludową) and the Civic Guard (Straż Obywatelską). However, later that same month, irregulars from 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...
captured the town. A Polish counter attack from Wirsitz / Wyrzysk failed.
In January 1920 Wysoka/Wissek was transferred from Weimar Germany to 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...
by the Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
and attached to the Powiat (county) Wyrzysk (to 1939).
In September 1939 the Nazis invaded and 19 Poles
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
were executed immediately on the slope of the Góry Wysokiej hills. The town was annexed into the "Regierungsbezirk Bromberg" of the Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia and governed by the Nazi Gauleiter
Gauleiter
A Gauleiter was the party leader of a regional branch of the NSDAP or the head of a Gau or of a Reichsgau.-Creation and Early Usage:...
Albert Forster
Albert Forster
Albert Maria Forster was a Nazi German politician. Under his administration as the Gauleiter of Danzig-West Prussia during the Second World War, the local non-German population suffered ethnic cleansing, mass murder, and forceful Germanisation...
. During the occupation the administration changed the name of the town to “Weisseck” (1939–42) and then “Weißeck” (1942–1945). After the war the town became part of Communist Poland.
Between 1975-1998 the city administratively belonged to Piła Voivodeship. Since 1999 the town has been part of the Województwo wielkopolskie district.
Economy
Wysoka is a small business centre, which serves the needs of the surrounding agricultural area. There is a small wood and brick factory. There was much economic development during the 19th century when the Prussian province of PosenProvince of Posen
The Province of Posen was a province of Prussia from 1848–1918 and as such part of the German Empire from 1871 to 1918. The area was about 29,000 km2....
was fully integrated into the wider Imperial German economy. Many Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
left after World War I
World War I
World 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...
and those who remained were expelled after 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 small gauge rail still serves the area.
Names
The urban and rural community of Wysoka covers an area of 123 square kilometers with 6900 inhabitants. These include the following 12 places:| Current Name | German Name (1815–1920) | German Name (1939–45) |
|---|---|---|
| Bądecz | Bondecz 1873-1920 Collin |
Kollin |
| Czajcze | - Heinrichsfelde - Gut Czaycze |
Heinrichsfelde |
| Czajcze-Wybudowanie | Heinrichsfelde Abbaue | (zu Heinrichsfelde) |
| Eleonorka | Eleonorenhof | Eleonorenhof |
| Gmurowo | Orlandshof | Orlandshof |
| Jeziorki Kosztowskie | Schönsee | Schönsee |
| Kijaszkowo | Wolfshagen | Wolfshagen |
| Kostrzynek | Künstrinchen | Küstrinchen |
| Młotkowo | Kaisersdorf | Kaisersdorf |
| Mościska | Moschütz | Moschütz |
| Mościska-Kolonia | Moschütz Abbaue | (zu Moschütz) |
| Nowa Rudna | Neu Ruhden | Neu Ruhden |
| Rudna | Deutsch Ruhden | Ruhden |
| Sędziniec | Richtershof | Richtershof |
| Stare | Stahren 1917-20 Staren |
Staren |
| Tłukomy | Tlukom 1873-1920 Groß Elsingen |
Groß Elsingen |
| Wysoczka | Karlshof | Karlshof |
| Wysoka | Wissek | 1939-42 Wissek 1942-45 Weißeck |
| Wysoka Mała | Klein Wissek | 1939-42 Klein Wissek 1942-45 Kleinweißeck |
| Wysoka Wielka | Wissek Abbaue | (zu Wissek) |
Famous people
- Karl-Gustav SauberzweigKarl-Gustav SauberzweigKarl-Gustav Sauberzweig was a German Wehrmacht General who transferred to the Waffen-SS during World War II and led the "13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Handschar" over 1943 and 1944. Sauberzweig was a bespectacled Prussian career army officer who had earned an Iron Cross in his late teens...
, German army officer.