Russia
Which country did Sosnowiec belong to from Jun 1902 to Nov 1916?
Sosnowiec Sosnowiec ( , , ) is an industrial city county in the Dąbrowa Basin of southern Poland , in the Silesian Voivodeship , which is also part of the Silesian Metropolis municipal association . Located in the eastern part of the Upper Silesian Industrial Region , Sosnowiec is one of the cities of the Katowice urban area , which is a conurbation with the overall population of 2.7 million people ; as well as the greater Upper Silesian metropolitan area populated by about 5.3 million people . The population of the city is 199,974 as of December 2019 . Geography . It is believed that the name Sosnowiec originates from the Polish word sosna , referring to the pine forests growing in the area prior to 1830 . The village was originally known as Sosnowice . Other variations of the name include Sosnowietz , Sosnowitz , Sosnovitz ( Yiddish ) , Sosnovyts , Sosnowyts , Sosnovytz , Sosnowytz , and Sosnovetz . There are five other smaller settlements in Poland also called Sosnowiec , located in the Kielce Voivodship , Łódź Voivodship , and Opole Voivodship . Sosnowiec serves as one of the administrative centres of the geographical and historical area of southern Poland known as the Zagłębie Dąbrowskie ( the Dąbrowa Basin ) . It lies within the historic Lesser Poland region near the border with Silesia . It is located about north-east to the centre of Katowice and north-west of Kraków , situated in the Silesian Upland on the rivers Brynica and Przemsza , a tributary of the Vistula . The full list of rivers includes Biała Przemsza as well as Czarna Przemsza , Brynica , Bobrek , and Potok Zagórski creek . The city is part of the Silesian Voivodeship since its formation in 1999 . Previously ( since 1945 ) , it was part of Katowice Voivodeship , and before World War II , Sosnowiec belonged to Kielce Voivodeship . History . The history of the city in its proper sense begins in 1902 when it was granted city rights by merging a number of settlements often several centuries old . However , the history of the village of Sosnowiec dates back to the year 1227 , when it was mentioned for the first time . It then was a small settlement in the Polish Duchy of Kraków , located in close vicinity of much larger and better-developed villages of Sielce and Zagórze ( both are now districts of the city ) . Other districts are even older . Milowice was first mentioned in 1123 as Miley . Documents from 1228 already mention Milowice , Klimontów , and Zagórze . Furthermore , Milowice was placed on a 1561 map . As part of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth , Sosnowiec belonged to Kraków Voivodeship in the larger Lesser Poland Province of the Polish Crown . It became a border town after the neighbouring Duchies of Silesia passed to the Bohemian Crown in 1335 . In the result of the Third partition of Poland in 1795 , however , it was seized by the Kingdom of Prussia and was included into the newly established province of New Silesia . During the Napoleonic Wars , it became part of the Duchy of Warsaw in 1807 and later , of Congress Poland ruled by the namiestniks of the Russian Empire . Located at the borders with the German Empire and Austria-Hungary , Sosnowiec became famous for the Three Emperors Corner tripoint , which was located within current limits of the city . During the January Uprising , in February 1863 , the Battle of Sosnowiec was fought , in which Polish insurgents led by defeated the Russians . The victory allowed the Poles to take control of the surrounding towns as well . City rights . With effect from 10 June 1902 , by the order of Emperor Nicholas II of Russia , Sosnowiec was legally named a city with the area of and with 60,000 inhabitants . Obtaining the city rights helped the dynamic economic and cultural development of the town . Apart from steelworks and coal-mines and many enterprises of heavy and light industry , new cultural and social establishments were opened as well . The newly established town consisted of the districts of Sosnowiec , Pogoń , Ostra Górka , Sielec , Kuźnica and Radocha , all of which had been separate villages before . The very fact that Russian authorities waited for so long to grant Sosnowiec town rights is seen as a consequence of the Polish January Uprising 1863/64 , after which numerous towns had seen their status reduced to a village . Sosnowiec was first post-1860s location in Congress Poland to have received town charter , the second was Puławy in 1906 . Natural resources and a good geographical location had an important influence on the development of Sosnowiec . The opening of a branch line of the Warsaw-Vienna Railway in 1859 was vitally important for the growth of the town . Development of industry with the new factory of rope and wire , rolling mill , steelworks , iron foundry , steam boilers factory , and later spinning mill , dye-house and paper mill sealed the new image of the town as entirely urban . The Summer Theatre and , in 1887 , the Winter Theatre were founded , the second of which was called City Theatre from 1924 in independent Poland , and later the Theatre of Zagłębie . In 1914 , the village of Środula was incorporated into Sosnowiec . Poland finally regained independence in 1918 , after World War I . In the Second Polish Republic , Sosnowiec became part of the Kielce Voivodeship , and in 1934 the City County of Sosnowiec was established . Sosnowiec suffered war damages during both major military conflicts in the 20th century : World War I , which caused mainly destruction to industry , and World War II , which brought about the terror of executions . World War II . After the 1939 Invasion of Poland , which started World War II , the city was occupied by Nazi Germany and renamed Sosnowitz . Already on September 4 , 1939 , German troops murdered 10 Poles , including 15-year-old boy Henryk Słomka , in Sosnowiec in revenge for Polish defense . Around the same time , the Germans murdered nine Poles in nearby Klimontów ( present-day district of Sosnowiec ) . The Einsatzgruppe zbV entered the city on September 12 , 1939 . The German police carried out mass searches of Polish houses . Initially under military administration set up as part of the General Government , Sosnowiec was annexed by Germany and incorporated into the Province of Silesia on 20 November 1939 . In March 1940 , the Germans established a transit camp ( Gefangenensammellager ) for arrested Poles in Sosnowiec . Inhabitants of Sosnowiec were also among Poles murdered in Celiny in June 1940 . The Germans operated three labour subcamps of the Stalag VIII-B/344 prisoner-of-war camp in the city , and two more in the present-day district of Klimontów . The Polish underground resistance movement was active in the city . In June 1943 thousands of Jews were deported from Sosnowiec Ghetto to the Auschwitz concentration camp . The ghetto was liquidated two months later and almost all remaining Jews ( around 15,000 ) were also deported to Auschwitz . Previously there had been considerable underground activity among them . The Germans established and operated two subcamps of the Auschwitz concentration camp in the city . In the first subcamp they held about 100 Poles as forced labour , and in the second they held hundreds of forced laborers , initially mostly Jews . In 1944 , the Germans sent kidnapped Polish children from Sosnowiec to the Potulice concentration camp . The Vistula–Oder Offensive of the Red Army in January 1945 brought about the liberation of the city , which gave it a chance for gradual rebuilding and further development . Post-war . After World War II , Sosnowiec further developed . On June 1 , 1975 , the metropolitan area was expanded when the neighbouring locations of Zagórze , Kazimierz Górniczy , Porąbka , Klimontów , and Maczki , became its districts . By 1977 the population of the city reached 200,000 . Further growth was accelerated by the construction of Katowice Steelworks , and in 1981 , the population of Sosnowiec was 250,000 , reaching its peak in 1987 , when it was 259,000 . Since then , the population has been declining . In 1992 , the city became the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sosnowiec . Economy . Sosnowiec is characterised by its urban dynamics , economic activity , cultural heritage , and natural environment . In recent years , Sosnowiec was further developed from an industrial centre ( with mainly mining and heavy industries ) into a hub of trade and services . Nevertheless , it still operates several important coal mines , steel factories and other industrial plants . Its Special Economic Zone , established in Sosnowiec thanks to the efforts of local authorities , plays a major role in attracting new businesses into the area . As a result , several companies with Polish and foreign capital opened their businesses in the city . Sosnowiec City Office was awarded the ISO 9001 2001 quality certificate for its management system for providing services for the local community . From 2006 , a new trade centre Expo Silesia began hosting numerous trade shows . Activities of Artistic and Literary Society of Zagłębie Dąbrowskie prove also that Sosnowiec as an industrial centre is not only a working-class environment . Districts . For Sosnowiecs 100th birthday , the downtown area was thoroughly rebuilt , to harmonise its architectural layout and give the city a more modern image . In 2004 Sosnowiec authorities and designers were awarded the Grand Prix for the rebuilding of the downtown area in a competition for the best public space in the Śląskie Provinces . This investment had been accompanied by a program designed to improve the esthetic qualities of the city , under which a comprehensive program for unifying the colors of the elevations , and advertisements entitled “rainbow city” were introduced . Among the city districts there are : - Dańdówka - Dębowa Góra - Jęzor - Juliusz - Kazimierz Górniczy - Klimontów - Maczki - Milowice - Modrzejów - Niwka - Ostra Górka - Ostrowy Górnicze - Pogoń district in Sosnowiec - Porąbka - Radocha - Rudna district of Sosnowiec - Sielec - Stary Sosnowiec - Środula - Sosnowiec Śródmieście - Zagórze Points of interest . There are many relics of the industrial era , especially residences of industrialists . Most of them are located outside the strict city center , on the Czarna Przemsza river bank . One of the oldest is a 17th-century castle known as the Sielecki Castle . Other main tourist attractions include : - The Dietel Palace - Schöen Palace and museum - Oskar Schöens Palace called also New Schöen Palace - Wilhelm Palace - Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Orthodox Church of the Holy Virgin , Hope , Luby and their mother Zofia - St . John Evangelical Church - St Thomas Church - Railway Station Sosnowiec Główny - Railway Station Sosnowiec Maczki - Huta Buczek - Old Jewish cemetery - Three Emperors Corner Parks and gardens . Sosnowiec has more than 2,250 ha of green areas occurring as parks , squares , protection zones , lot gardens and forests . In the area of the city preserved many parks established at the residence of industrialists , and also created a lot of new . Many of them present historical and natural value . Main parks and green areas include the Sielecki Park , which is a historical park at the castle with many natural monuments ; the historical Dietel Park ; the Park-Palace Complex of Schöen with two palaces ; the Millennium Park , the Środula Park with a sports complex ; the nature park Szopienice-Borki ; as well as the peat bog Bory protected area , part of Natura 2000 . Education and science . Sosnowiec is an academic centre with well-developed research and educational infrastructure on top of industry , services and trade . Its own institutions of higher learning include : - The University of Silesia in Katowice ( schools of modern languages , natural science , technology and a language teacher training college ) - Faculty of Earth Science - Faculty of Computer and Materials Science - Faculty of Philology - The Medical University of Silesia in Katowice , - Faculty of Pharmacy - The private School of Marketing and Management - The Silesian University of Technology - Faculty of Automatic Control , Electronics and Computer Science - The private School of Ecology Among general secondary level schools in Sosnowiec there are high-schools such as the II Liceum Ogólnokształcące im . Emilii Plater , III Liceum Ogólnokształcące im . Bolesława Prusa , and IV Liceum Ogólnokształcące im . Stanisława Staszica . Sports . - Zagłębie Sosnowiec – mens football team , four times Polish Cup winner - KH Zagłębie Sosnowiec – ice hockey team , which competes in the Polska Hokej Liga ( top division ) , five times Polish champions - Płomień Sosnowiec – mens volleyball team playing in Polish Volleyball League ( top division ) , phoenix club of Płomień Milowice , in total 3 times Polish champions and winners of the 1977–78 CEV Champions League - Czarni Sosnowiec – most accomplished Polish womens football club , 12 times Polish champions , playing in the Ekstraliga ( top division ) Notable people . - Ignaz von Szyszylowicz ( 1857–1910 ) , Polish botanist - Shlomo Chanoch Rabinowicz ( 1882–1942 ) , fourth and last Rebbe of the Radomsk Hasidic dynasty - Jacek Mierzejewski ( 1883–1925 ) , Polish painter - Shlomo Sztencl ( 1884–1919 ) , Polish Orthodox Jewish rabbi - Władysław Szafer ( 1886–1970 ) , Polish botanist and palaeobotanist - Zbigniew Babiński ( 1896–1940 ) , Polish military and sports aviator - Shlomo Zev Zweigenhaft ( 1915–2005 ) , Orthodox Jewish Rabbi - Jan Kiepura ( 1902–1966 ) , Polish singer and actor - Paul Godwin ( 1902–1982 ) , Polish-German violinist - Jędrzej Giertych ( 1903–1992 ) , Polish politician - Władysław Spiegelman ( 1906–1982 ) , father of Art Spiegelman - Yehiel Feiner ( 1909–2001 ) , the widely translated writer of Holocaust novels known by his pseudonym Ka-Tzetnik - Władysław Szpilman ( 1911–2000 ) , Polish pianist and classical composer , widely known as the central figure in the 2002 Roman Polanski film The Pianist - Edward Gierek ( 1913–2001 ) , Polish communist politician ; first secretary of the ruling Polish United Workers Party ( PZPR ) - Haim Hefer ( 1925–2012 ) , Israeli poet and songwriter - Stanisław Jaros ( 1932–1963 ) , Polish anti-communist activist - Krystyna Czajkowska ( born 1936 ) , Polish volleyball player - James Spigelman ( born 1946 ) , Australian judge who served as Chief Justice of New South Wales from 1998 to 2011 - Jacek Majchrowski ( born 1947 ) , Polish politician and historian , Mayor of Kraków - Magdalena Piekorz ( born 1974 ) , Polish film director and screenwriter - Piotr Łukasiewicz ( born 1974 ) is a Polish diplomat - Łukasz Simlat ( born 1977 ) , Polish actor - Joanna Krupa ( born 1979 ) , Polish-American model , actress and animal rights activist - Marcin Koniusz ( born 1983 ) , Polish sabre fencer - Eugen Polanski ( born 1986 ) , Polish footballer - Paula Kania ( born 1992 ) , Polish tennis player Twin towns – sister cities . Sosnowiec is twinned with : - Derhachi , Ukraine - Dziwnów , Poland - Idar-Oberstein , Germany - Komárom , Hungary - Maârif ( Casablanca ) , Morocco - Les Mureaux , France - Roubaix , France - Suceava , Romania External links . - Official web site of Sosnowiec - Sosnowiec on an old photography ( in Polish ) - Local weather in Sosnowiec , Weather.com - Mapquest link to 6 towns in Poland called Sosnowiec - Encarta map of Sosnowiec , Śląskie , Poland - Pictures of Sosnowiec ( in Polish ) - Jewish Community in Sosnowiec on Virtual Shtetl - Yizkor book of Sosnowiec - Note about Haim Hefer ( 1925–2012 ) ( in Hebrew )