# Świdwin

Świdwin (German: Schivelbein; Kashubian: Skwilbëno) is a town in West Pomeranian Voivodeship of northwestern Poland. It is the capital of Świdwin County, and the administrative seat - though not part - of the Gmina Świdwin. Świdwin is situated in the historic Pomerania region on the left banks of the Rega river, about 100 km (62 mi) east of the regional capital Szczecin and 44 km (27 mi) south of the Baltic coast at Kołobrzeg. In 2018 the town had a population of 15,725.

## History

The area became part of the emerging Polish state under its first historic ruler Mieszko I around 967. In the 12th century there was a gród on the trade route from the coastal city of Kołobrzeg to Greater Poland. Following the fragmentation of Poland, it formed part of the Duchy of Pomerania. Duke Barnim I granted the settlement to the Premonstratensians from Trzebiatów. In 1248 the duke ceded the area to the Bishop of Kamień, who shortly afterwards sold it to the Ascanian margraves of Brandenburg. Schivelbein was incorporated as the northeastern outpost of the Neumark region. It was granted town rights by 1296. From 1373 it was part of the Lands of the Bohemian (Czech) Crown as one of its northernmost towns, in 1384 it was passed to the State of the Teutonic Order, and in 1455 to Brandenburg, which possession it remained until the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806. In the 15th century there were disputes with the nearby town of Białogard, and in 1469 even a battle was fought between the towns. Nowadays, an annual medieval-style competition is organized between the inhabitants of both towns. In 1477 a Carthusian monastery was established, which was secularized in 1539. Brewing developed at that time. In 1550, around 30% of the population died in an epidemic. In the 17th century the town suffered as a result of two fires and the Thirty Years' War. In 1816 it became part of the Prussian province of Pomerania.
The town had a Jewish population of 150 in the early 1930s, before Hitler's rise to power. By Kristallnacht, most Jews had left the town, but those left were the victims of violence, and only 34 remained by May 1939. The unknown number remaining in July 1942 were sent to concentration camps.
The Battle of Świdwin took place south of the town during 6–7 March 1945, in which a German SS corps was encircled and destroyed by two Soviet and one Polish armies. After the town was captured, a Soviet general was killed by a member of the Hitler Youth. The reprisals that followed saw the men shot, and the women and girls raped by Soviet troops.
After World War II Farther Pomerania with Schivelbein became part of Poland under h a Soviet-installed communist regime, which stayed in power until the Fall of Communism in the 1980s. The town's name was name changed to Świbowina, which was officially renamed to Świdwin in 1946.
The town's populace that had stayed or had fled and returned was expelled in accordance with the Potsdam Agreement. Until at least 1947, the Polish operated an internment camp in the town. which became overcrowded. In February 1947, the British administration in occupied Germany refused to accept refugees so that the camp became completely overcrowded. Many Germans died at the dire conditions.
The town's first post-war mayor was Jan Górski, and Polish schools, institutions and factories were established, however war damage was not removed until the 1950s. From 1950 to 1998, it was administratively located in the Koszalin Voivodeship.

## Population

    1960: 10,000 inhabitants
    1970: 12,600 inhabitants
    1975: 13,500 inhabitants
    1980: 14,000 inhabitants
    2004: 17,000 inhabitants
    2005: 16,240 inhabitants
    2008: 15,486 inhabitants
    2009: 15,621 inhabitants
    2010: 15,503 inhabitants
    2018: 15,725 inhabitants

## Sights

The main historic landmarks of Świdwin are the Gothic-Baroque castle, the Gothic Stone Gate (Brama Kamienna) and the Gothic church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help from the 14th century.

## Świdwin's airport

The military airport operated by the Polish Air Force is located about 5 km (3.11 mi) from the city centre. Civilians are not permitted to enter, but this airport is often used for government's aircraft. The runway is 2.5 km (1.55 mi) length and 60 m (196.85 ft) width.

## Notable residents

* Rudolf Virchow (1821–1902), German physician, anthropologist, pathologist, prehistorian, biologist, writer, editor, and politician
* Otto Georg Bogislaf von Glasenapp (1853–1928), Vice president of the Reichsbank
* Johannes Poeppel (1921–2007), general in the German Bundeswehr
* Władysław Blin (born 1954), Roman Catholic bishop
* Grzegorz Halama (born 1970), Polish parodist and cabaret actor.

## International relations
### Twin towns — sister cities

Świdwin is twinned with:
* Sanitz, Germany