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about Zabrze (Article from Wikipedia)
History
Early history
Biskupice (Biskupitz), which is now a subdivision of Zabrze, was first mentioned in 1243 as Biscupici dicitur cirka Bitom. Alt-Zabrze was mentioned in 1295-1305 as Sadbre sive Cunczindorf (sive = or). In the Late Middle Ages, the local Silesian Piast dukes invited German settlers into the territory resulting in increasing German settlement. Zabrze became part of the Habsburg Monarchy of Austria in 1526, and was later annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia during the Silesian Wars. In 1774, the Dorotheendorf settlement was founded. When the first mine in Zabrze became operational in 1790, the town became an important mining center.
Early Twentieth Century
In 1905, the Zabrze commune was formed by the former communes Alt-Zabrze, Klein-Zabrze and Dorotheendorf. The Zabrze commune was renamed Hindenburg in 1915 in honor of Generalfeldmarschall Paul von Hindenburg. The name change was approved by Emperor Wilhelm II on 21 February 1915.[3] During the plebiscite held after World War I, 21,333 inhabitants (59%) of the Hindenburg commune voted to remain in Germany, while 14,873 (41%) voted for incorporation to Poland.[3] In May 1921 the Third Silesian Uprising broke out and Hindenburg was captured by Polish insurgents, who held it until the end of the uprising.[3] When Upper Silesia was divided between Poland and Germany in 1921, the Hindenburg commune remained in Germany. It received its city charter in 1922. Just five years after founding Hindenburg became the biggest city in German Upper Silesia and the second biggest City in German Silesia after Breslau. In the March 1933 elections, most of the citizens voted for Nazi Party, followed by Zentrum and the Communist Party. Nazi politician Max Fillusch became the city's mayor and remained in the position until 1945.[4]
World War Two and aftermath
The town's synagogue, that had stood since 1872, was destroyed in the Kristallnacht pogroms of November 1938.[5] Following World War II, the city was assigned to Poland in 1945 and was renamed back to Zabrze on May 19, 1945. Most of the German inhabitants were expelled.
Politics
Members of Parliament (Sejm) elected from Bytom/Gliwice/Zabrze constituency
Chojnacki Jan, SLD-UP Dulias Stanisław, Samoobrona Gałażewski Andrzej, PO Janik Ewa, SLD-UP Kubica Józef, SLD-UP Martyniuk Wacław, SLD-UP Okoński Wiesław, SLD-UP Szarama Wojciech, PiS Szumilas Krystyna, PO Widuch Marek, SLD-UPSport Górnik Zabrze - men football team (Polish Champion 1957, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988; Polish Cup winner 1965, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972; Polish Supercup winner 1988) Wojtek Wolski - Pro hockey player for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League
Economy
Like other towns in this populous region, it is an important manufacturing centre, having coal-mines, iron, wire, glass, chemical and oil works, breweries, etc.
Notable people Karl Godulla (1781–1848), Prussian industrialist Janosch (born 1931), author Fritz Laband (1925–1982), footballer Wojtek Wolski, Canadian/Polish hockey player playing for the Florida Panthers of the NHL, was born here in 1986. Krystian Zimerman, internationally-renowned classical pianist, was born here in 1956. Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz, Polish Pakistani military scientist
