Volksdeutscher Selbstschutz
During the Second World War, Nazi Germany occupied Świecie and annexed it on 8 October 1939, making it the seat of the "Kreis" county of Schwetz. It was administered as part of the Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia. Prominent Poles were arrested using secret politically targeted hit list and murdered using the "Volksdeutscher Selbstschutz" paramilitaries. Local Poles were murdered in large massacres in Świecie, Grupa and Mniszek.