Glubczyce
Encyclopedia
Głubczyce g is a town in southern Poland
, near the border with the Czech Republic
. It is located approximately 62 km (38 mi) from Opole
, and just northwest of Ostrava
.It is part of Opole Voivodeship
, and is the seat of Głubczyce County.
) on the Psina/Cyna River (left tributary of the Oder
River).
n village, named Glubcici, and was dominated by a large wooden castle. The town stood on the right bank of the Psina River, which from 1137 on formed the border between Moravia and Silesia
. The exact date of the city's founding is unknown, but it is traceable, back to 1224, that the city is also Lubschicz, a settlement founded by Ottokar I
. However, the town was destroyed by invading Mongolian hordes
. During the city's rebuilding, the left bank of the Psina was also settled, and in 1270, city rights were granted to the town by Ottokar II
.
During this time, a wall stood around the city, complete with watchtowers and a moat
. A large church was also constructed in the town, and was assigned by Ottokar II to the Order of Saint John
. In 1298, the town received expanded rights from Venceslaus II. The rights extended to the town were to serve as an example for other towns in the years that followed. In 1365, the town became the seat of a principality
, and in 1482, the town was the seat of the Přemyslids
. However, the last member of the family entered a Franciscan
cloister. The city lost its status as a principality seat in 1503, and the principality ceased to exist. The city was transferred to the control of the principality of Jägerndorf (now Krnov
).
reached the town, and in 1558, a Lutheran church and school were built in the town. In response to this, Franciscans and Jew
s were expelled from the city. During the Thirty Years' War
, the city was completely destroyed, most devastatingly by the Swede
s in 1645. The city came under the rule of Prussia
in 1743 and was made the capital city of its Landkreis, or district. In 1781, the town's population stood at only, 2,637. In order to accommodate the city's expansion, the parts of the city's wall were torn down. The population stood at 4,565 in 1825, and 9,546 in 1870. After World War I
and the creation of the Republic of Poland
, the Silesian plebiscite was held in Upper Silesia
. The percentage of 99.5% of Leobschütz citizens voted for Germany
. The Silesian Uprisings
did not directly affect the city, which had almost exclusively German-speaking inhabitants.
came to power in 1933, the town hosted schools and training grounds for both the SS
and the SA
, becoming the honorary centre of the Nazi Party in province of Upper Silesia
. The town's synagogue
was burned down in 1938, the same year as Kristallnacht
. On March 18, 1945, Soviet troops began a siege of the city, which was resisted by the 18th SS Panzergrenadierdivision (Tank grenadiers) and the 371st Wehrmacht
sdivision. The siege ended on March 24, and the Red Army occupied the town. Approximately forty percent of the town was destroyed in the siege or by Soviet plundering in the first weeks of the occupation. After the Soviet occupation, the name of the town was changed to Głubczyce, its current name. The city was transferred, like most of Silesia
, to the People's Republic of Poland
. The remaining German population was replaced
by Polish colonists and refugees transferred from the Kresy
in the former Polish east. The city became seat of a county, or Powiat
. Głubczyce lost that distinction in 1975, but regained it in 1999.
with:
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...
, near the border with the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. It is located approximately 62 km (38 mi) from Opole
Opole
Opole is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River . It has a population of 125,992 and is the capital of the Upper Silesia, Opole Voivodeship and, also the seat of Opole County...
, and just northwest of Ostrava
Ostrava
Ostrava is the third largest city in the Czech Republic and the second largest urban agglomeration after Prague. Located close to the Polish border, it is also the administrative center of the Moravian-Silesian Region and of the Municipality with Extended Competence. Ostrava was candidate for the...
.It is part of Opole Voivodeship
Opole Voivodeship
- Administrative division :Opole Voivodeship is divided into 12 counties : 1 city county and 11 land counties. These are further divided into 71 gminas.The counties are listed in the following table .- Economy :...
, and is the seat of Głubczyce County.
Geography
Głubczyce is located on the Głubczyce Plateau ' onMouseout='HidePop("86315")' href="/topics/Silesian_Lowlands">Silesian LowlandsSilesian Lowlands
Silesian Lowlands are lowlands located in Silesia, Poland and Czechia. It's part of the North European Plain...
) on the Psina/Cyna River (left tributary of the Oder
Oder
The Oder is a river in Central Europe. It rises in the Czech Republic and flows through western Poland, later forming of the border between Poland and Germany, part of the Oder-Neisse line...
River).
History
The Middle Ages
The town was historically mentioned for the first time in 1107. At the time, it was a small MoraviaMoravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
n village, named Glubcici, and was dominated by a large wooden castle. The town stood on the right bank of the Psina River, which from 1137 on formed the border between Moravia and Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
. The exact date of the city's founding is unknown, but it is traceable, back to 1224, that the city is also Lubschicz, a settlement founded by Ottokar I
Ottokar I of Bohemia
-External links:...
. However, the town was destroyed by invading Mongolian hordes
Mongol Empire
The Mongol Empire , initially named as Greater Mongol State was a great empire during the 13th and 14th centuries...
. During the city's rebuilding, the left bank of the Psina was also settled, and in 1270, city rights were granted to the town by Ottokar II
Ottokar II of Bohemia
Ottokar II , called The Iron and Golden King, was the King of Bohemia from 1253 until 1278. He was the Duke of Austria , Styria , Carinthia and Carniola also....
.
During this time, a wall stood around the city, complete with watchtowers and a moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
. A large church was also constructed in the town, and was assigned by Ottokar II to the Order of Saint John
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
. In 1298, the town received expanded rights from Venceslaus II. The rights extended to the town were to serve as an example for other towns in the years that followed. In 1365, the town became the seat of a principality
Duchy of Głubczyce
Duchy of Głubczyce Duchy of Głubczyce Duchy of Głubczyce ( was one of the duchies of Silesia. Its capital was Głubczyce in Upper Silesia.The town was historically mentioned for the first time in 1107. At the time, it was a small Moravian village, named Glubcici, and was dominated by a large wooden...
, and in 1482, the town was the seat of the Přemyslids
Premyslid dynasty
The Přemyslids , were a Czech royal dynasty which reigned in Bohemia and Moravia , and partly also in Hungary, Silesia, Austria and Poland.-Legendary rulers:...
. However, the last member of the family entered a Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
cloister. The city lost its status as a principality seat in 1503, and the principality ceased to exist. The city was transferred to the control of the principality of Jägerndorf (now Krnov
Krnov
Krnov is an Upper Silesian city in the northeastern Czech Republic, in the Moravian-Silesian Region, the District of Bruntál, on the Opava River, near the Polish border....
).
16th century-early 20th century
In 1523, the Protestant ReformationProtestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
reached the town, and in 1558, a Lutheran church and school were built in the town. In response to this, Franciscans and Jew
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
s were expelled from the city. During the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
, the city was completely destroyed, most devastatingly by the Swede
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
s in 1645. The city came under the rule 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...
in 1743 and was made the capital city of its Landkreis, or district. In 1781, the town's population stood at only, 2,637. In order to accommodate the city's expansion, the parts of the city's wall were torn down. The population stood at 4,565 in 1825, and 9,546 in 1870. 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 the creation of the Republic of Poland
Second Polish Republic
The Second Polish Republic, Second Commonwealth of Poland or interwar Poland refers to Poland between the two world wars; a period in Polish history in which Poland was restored as an independent state. Officially known as the Republic of Poland or the Commonwealth of Poland , the Polish state was...
, the Silesian plebiscite was held in Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of...
. The percentage of 99.5% of Leobschütz citizens voted for Germany
Weimar Republic
The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...
. The Silesian Uprisings
Silesian Uprisings
The Silesian Uprisings were a series of three armed uprisings of the Poles and Polish Silesians of Upper Silesia, from 1919–1921, against German rule; the resistance hoped to break away from Germany in order to join the Second Polish Republic, which had been established in the wake of World War I...
did not directly affect the city, which had almost exclusively German-speaking inhabitants.
1933-today
After Adolf HitlerAdolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
came to power in 1933, the town hosted schools and training grounds for both the SS
Schutzstaffel
The Schutzstaffel |Sig runes]]) was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Built upon the Nazi ideology, the SS under Heinrich Himmler's command was responsible for many of the crimes against humanity during World War II...
and the SA
Sturmabteilung
The Sturmabteilung functioned as a paramilitary organization of the National Socialist German Workers' Party . It played a key role in Adolf Hitler's rise to power in the 1920s and 1930s...
, becoming the honorary centre of the Nazi Party in province of Upper Silesia
Province of Upper Silesia
The Province of Upper Silesia was a province of the Free State of Prussia created in the aftermath of World War I. It comprised much of the region of Upper Silesia and was eventually divided into two administrative regions , Kattowitz and Oppeln...
. The town's synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
was burned down in 1938, the same year as Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht, also referred to as the Night of Broken Glass, and also Reichskristallnacht, Pogromnacht, and Novemberpogrome, was a pogrom or series of attacks against Jews throughout Nazi Germany and parts of Austria on 9–10 November 1938.Jewish homes were ransacked, as were shops, towns and...
. On March 18, 1945, Soviet troops began a siege of the city, which was resisted by the 18th SS Panzergrenadierdivision (Tank grenadiers) and the 371st 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:...
sdivision. The siege ended on March 24, and the Red Army occupied the town. Approximately forty percent of the town was destroyed in the siege or by Soviet plundering in the first weeks of the occupation. After the Soviet occupation, the name of the town was changed to Głubczyce, its current name. The city was transferred, like most of Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
, to the People's Republic of Poland
People's Republic of Poland
The People's Republic of Poland was the official name of Poland from 1952 to 1990. Although the Soviet Union took control of the country immediately after the liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944, the name of the state was not changed until eight years later...
. The remaining German population was replaced
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...
by Polish colonists and refugees transferred from the Kresy
Kresy
The Polish term Kresy refers to a land considered by Poles as historical eastern provinces of their country. Today, it makes western Ukraine, western Belarus, as well as eastern Lithuania, with such major cities, as Lviv, Vilnius, and Hrodna. This territory belonged to the Polish-Lithuanian...
in the former Polish east. The city became seat of a county, or Powiat
Powiat
A powiat is the second-level unit of local government and administration in Poland, equivalent to a county, district or prefecture in other countries. The term powiat is most often translated into English as "county", although other terms are also sometimes used...
. Głubczyce lost that distinction in 1975, but regained it in 1999.
Population
| Year (December 31) | Town | Gmina | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 13,933 | 25,565 | 54,137 |
| 2000 | 13,633 | 24,656 | 52,081 |
| 2002 | 13,633 | 24,593 | 51,675 |
| 2004 | 13,572 | 24,428 | 50,868 |
| 2006 | 13,410 | 24,102 | 50,146 |
| 2008 | 14,969 | 23,892 | 49,580 |
Climate
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperature °C (°F) | -3 (26) | -1 (30) | 1 (33) | 7 (44) | 13 (55) | 16 (60) | 17 (62) | 17 (62) | 13 (55) | 8 (46) | 3 (37) | -1 (30) | 7 (44) |
| Precipitation Precipitation (meteorology) In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation... cm (inches) |
3.4 (1.3) | 3 (1.2) | 3.2 (1.3) | 4.1 (1.6) | 6.6 (2.6) | 7.6 (3) | 8.5 (3.4) | 7.8 (3.1) | 5.1 (2) | 4 (1.6) | 4.2 (1.6) | 3.9 (1.6) | 61.4 (24.1) |
Notable people
- Max Filke, composer
- Joachim Gnilka, theologist and biblical criticBiblical criticismBiblical criticism is the scholarly "study and investigation of Biblical writings that seeks to make discerning judgments about these writings." It asks when and where a particular text originated; how, why, by whom, for whom, and in what circumstances it was produced; what influences were at work...
- Felix Hollaender, writer and dramatist
- Otfried HöffeOtfried HöffeOtfried Höffe is a German philosopher and professor.From 1964 to 1970, he studied philosophy, history, sociology and theology at the universities of Münster, Tübingen, Saarbrücken and Munich. His 1971 dissertation was on the practical philosophy of Aristotle. In 1970 and 1971, he was visiting...
, philosopher - Erwin Félix Lewy-Bertaut, crystallographerCrystallographyCrystallography is the experimental science of the arrangement of atoms in solids. The word "crystallography" derives from the Greek words crystallon = cold drop / frozen drop, with its meaning extending to all solids with some degree of transparency, and grapho = write.Before the development of...
- Paul OndruschPaul OndruschPaul Ondrusch was a German sculptor who created religious works of art. Ondrusch was an active artist in Silesian towns and villages at the time when they belonged to the German Empire and later when they were part of Weimar Republic and the Third Reich since 1919 and 1933 respectively...
, sculptor - Gerhard SkrobekGerhard SkrobekGerhard Skrobek is best known as the premier artisan of Hummel figurines since the Second World War. Skrobek was born in Leobschütz, in Upper Silesia and studied art in Berlin. Skrobek worked for the Goebel company in Rödental, Germany between 1951 and 2002 and designed many of the figurines...
, sculptor - Karl BullaKarl BullaCarl Oswald Bulla or Karl Karlovich Bulla was a prominent Russian photographer, often referred as the "father of photo-reporting in Russia".-Biography:...
, photographer - Przemysław Wacha, badmintonBadmintonBadminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
player - Elżbieta Zapendowska, music critic, appeared as one of three judges for the reality television music competition show Polish IdolPop IdolPop Idol is a British television series which debuted on ITV on 6 October 2001. The show was a talent contest to decide the best new young pop singer in the United Kingdom, based on viewer voting and participation. Two series were broadcast - one in 2001-02 and a second in 2003...
. - Stefanie ZweigStefanie ZweigStefanie Zweig Stefanie Zweig Stefanie Zweig (born 19 September 1932, Leobschütz (now Głubczyce, Upper Silesia) is a German Jewish writer.- Background :Zweig is best known for her autobiographical novel, Nirgendwo in Afrika (Nowhere in Africa, 1998), based on her early life in Kenya, which was...
, writer
Twin towns — Sister cities
Głubczyce 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:
| Town | Country | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Město Albrechtice Mesto Albrechtice Město Albrechtice is a town in the Czech Republic.According to the Austrian census of 1910 the town had 2,438 inhabitants, 2,345 of whom had permanent residence there. Census asked people for their native language, 2,345 were German-speaking. Jews were not allowed to declare Yiddish, most of them... |
 Czech RepublicCzech Republic The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest.... |
2001 |
| Krnov Krnov Krnov is an Upper Silesian city in the northeastern Czech Republic, in the Moravian-Silesian Region, the District of Bruntál, on the Opava River, near the Polish border.... |
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2001 |
| Rusín Rusín Rusín is a village and municipality in Bruntál District in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. -References:... |
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2000 |
| Rockenhausen Rockenhausen Rockenhausen is a municipality in the Donnersbergkreis, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is situated on the river Alsenz, approx. 30 km north of Kaiserslautern.... |
 GermanyGermany 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... |
2003 |
| Saint-Rémy-sur-Avre Saint-Rémy-sur-Avre Saint-Rémy-sur-Avre is a commune in the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France.-Population:-References:*... |
 FranceFrance 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... |
2002 |
| Zbarazh Zbarazh Zbarazh is a city in the Ternopil Oblast of western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Zbarazh Raion , and is located in the historic region of Galicia.... (Збараж) |
 UkraineUkraine 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... |
2005 |