Ilawa
Encyclopedia
Iława AUD is a town
in northeastern Poland
with 33,912 inhabitants (2006). It is situated in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship
(since 1999); previously it was in Olsztyn Voivodeship
(1975–1998). It is the capital of Iława County.
in 1305 and is documented in a manuscript by Luther von Braunschweig
in 1317. It was built on the Eylenz (Iławka) River between Lakes Geserich (Jeziorak)
and Eylenz (Iławskie). This location makes it a popular vacation area. The town was under the jurisdiction of the komtur
of Christburg (Dzierzgoń)
and since 1340 under Osterode (Ostróda)
. In 1457 it was sold to King Casimir IV Jagiellon
of Poland during the Thirteen Years' War between the cities of Prussia and the Teutonic Order
. With the aid of Ulrich von Kinsberg the city was able to regain its independence from Poland.
As Deutsch Eylau, the town became part of the Duchy of Prussia in 1525 and the Kingdom of Prussia
in 1701. Administered within the new province of West Prussia
in 1773, it became part of the German Empire
in 1871.
In 1862 the Oberland Canal (Elbląg Canal)
was built between Elbing (Elbląg)
and Eylau by engineer Georg Steenke
, which enabled the inland town to transport bulk of lumber, farm products, and other goods north to Elbing and the Baltic Sea
. This was superseded ten years later by rail transport, when the Thorn (Toruń)
-Insterburg (Chernyakhovsk)
railway line was constructed.
Following the Treaty of Versailles
, this part of Prussia remained in Germany, as in the East Prussian plebiscite
on being a part of Poland or Germany an overwhelming majority of votes was cast in favor of the latter option. It became part of Regierungsbezirk West Prussia in the Province of East Prussia
.
As a result of the Potsdam Conference
following World War II
, Eylau was placed under Polish administration in 1945 and since then remains as part of Poland. Its former German population was expelled
and replaced with Poles
, many themselves expellees from Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union
.
with:
Iława is twinned
with: Herborn
(Germany
) Tholen
(Netherlands
) Gargždai
(Lithuania
)
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 northeastern 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 33,912 inhabitants (2006). It is situated in the 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...
(since 1999); previously it was in Olsztyn Voivodeship
Olsztyn Voivodeship
Olsztyn Voivodeship was an administrative division and unit of local government in Poland in the years 1745-75, and a new territorial division between 1975–1998, superseded by Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship...
(1975–1998). It is the capital of Iława County.
History
The town was founded in PrussiaPrussia (region)
Prussia is a historical region in Central Europe extending from the south-eastern coast of the Baltic Sea to the Masurian Lake District. It is now divided between Poland, Russia, and Lithuania...
in 1305 and is documented in a manuscript by Luther von Braunschweig
Luther von Braunschweig
Luther von Braunschweig was the 18th Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, serving from 1331-35....
in 1317. It was built on the Eylenz (Iławka) River between Lakes Geserich (Jeziorak)
Jeziorak
Jeziorak is a lake in the Iława Lakeland in Warmia-Masuria, Poland. Its area is 3,219 ha . It is 27.45 km long and 2.4 km wide. Maximum depth is 13 m. It is the longest lake in Poland, and ranks 6th by area....
and Eylenz (Iławskie). This location makes it a popular vacation area. The town was under the jurisdiction of the komtur
Komtur
Komtur was a rank within military orders, especially the Teutonic Knights. In the State of the Teutonic Order, the Komtur was the commander of a basic administrative division called Kommende . A Komtur was responsible for the alimentation of the Knights by the yield from the local estates, he...
of Christburg (Dzierzgoń)
Dzierzgon
Dzierzgoń is a town in the Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland. It is located in Sztum County east of Malbork and south of Elbląg on the river Dzierzgoń...
and since 1340 under Osterode (Ostróda)
Ostróda
Ostróda is a town in Ostróda County in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship in Poland, with 33,603 inhabitants as of January 1, 2005. It lies in the Masurian Lake District and is a growing tourist site owing to its relaxing natural surroundings.-History:...
. In 1457 it was sold to King Casimir IV Jagiellon
Casimir IV Jagiellon
Casimir IV KG of the House of Jagiellon was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1440, and King of Poland from 1447, until his death.Casimir was the second son of King Władysław II Jagiełło , and the younger brother of Władysław III of Varna....
of Poland during the Thirteen Years' War between the cities of Prussia and the Teutonic Order
Teutonic 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...
. With the aid of Ulrich von Kinsberg the city was able to regain its independence from Poland.
As Deutsch Eylau, the town became part of the Duchy of Prussia in 1525 and the Kingdom of Prussia
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...
in 1701. Administered within the new province of West Prussia
West Prussia
West Prussia was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1773–1824 and 1878–1919/20 which was created out of the earlier Polish province of Royal Prussia...
in 1773, it became part of the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
in 1871.
In 1862 the Oberland Canal (Elbląg Canal)
Elblag Canal
Elbląg Canal is a canal in Poland, in Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, 80.5 km in length, which runs southward from Lake Drużno , to the river Drwęca and lake Jeziorak. It can accommodate small vessels up to 50 tons displacement...
was built between Elbing (Elbląg)
Elblag
Elbląg is a city in northern Poland with 127,892 inhabitants . It is the capital of Elbląg County and has been assigned to the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship since 1999. Before then it was the capital of Elbląg Voivodeship and a county seat in Gdańsk Voivodeship...
and Eylau by engineer Georg Steenke
Georg Steenke
Georg Jakob Steenke was a German architect and a königlicher Baurat of the Kingdom of Prussia...
, which enabled the inland town to transport bulk of lumber, farm products, and other goods north to Elbing and the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
. This was superseded ten years later by rail transport, when the Thorn (Toruń)
Torun
Toruń is an ancient city in northern Poland, on the Vistula River. Its population is more than 205,934 as of June 2009. Toruń is one of the oldest cities in Poland. The medieval old town of Toruń is the birthplace of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus....
-Insterburg (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...
railway line was constructed.
Following 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...
, this part of Prussia remained in Germany, as in the East Prussian plebiscite
East Prussian plebiscite
The East Prussia plebiscite , also known as the Allenstein and Marienwerder plebiscite or Warmia, Masuria and Powiśle plebiscite , was a plebiscite for self-determination of the regions Warmia , Masuria and Powiśle, which had been in parts of East Prussia and West Prussia, in accordance with...
on being a part of Poland or Germany an overwhelming majority of votes was cast in favor of the latter option. It became part of Regierungsbezirk West Prussia in the Province of East Prussia
Province of East Prussia
The Province of East Prussia was a province of Prussia from 1773–1829 and 1878-1945. Composed of the historical region East Prussia, the province's capital was Königsberg ....
.
As a result of 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...
following 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...
, Eylau was placed under Polish administration in 1945 and since then remains as part of Poland. Its former German population was 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...
and replaced with 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...
, many themselves expellees from 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...
.
Notable residents
- Richard AltmannRichard AltmannRichard Altmann was a German pathologist and histologist from Deutsch Eylau in the Province of Prussia. He studied medicine in Greifswald, Königsberg, Marburg, and Giessen, and earned his doctorate at the University of Giessen in 1877...
(1852–1900), pathologist - Friedrich KarstFriedrich KarstFriedrich Karst was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful...
(1893–1975), general - Helmuth StieffHelmuth StieffHelmuth Stieff was a German general and a member of the OKH during World War II. He took part in attempts by the German resistance to assassinate Hitler, on July 7 and on July 20, 1944....
(1901–1944), general and resistance fighter - Joachim MeichssnerJoachim MeichssnerJoachim Meichssner was a German officer and member of the Resistance against the Nazi régime.-Biography:Meichssner was born in Deutsch Eylau, West Prussia, German Empire ,...
(1906–1944), officer and resistance fighter
Twin towns — Sister cities
Iława 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:
Iława is twinned
Town 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: Herborn
Herborn
Herborn is a historic town on the Dill in the Lahn-Dill district of Hesse in Germany. Before World War I, it was granted its own title as Nassauisches Rothenburg. The symbol or mascot of this town is a bear. Scenic attractions include its half-timbered houses; Herborn is located on the German...
(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...
) Tholen
Tholen
Tholen is a municipality in the southwest of the Netherlands. The municipality of Tholen has lent its name from the town of Tholen, which is the largest population center in the municipality....
(Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
) Gargždai
Gargždai
Gargždai is a city in western Lithuania located in Klaipėda County. The Minija River flows through the city. Gargždai Stadium is its main sports venue.Gargždai is the Lithuanian name of the city...
(Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
)