Dzierżoniów

Dzierżoniów (pronounced [dʑerˈʐɔnʲuf]; German: Reichenbach, [ˈʁaɪ̯çn̩bax]; former Polish: Rychbach) is a town in southwestern Poland. Situated in Lower Silesian Voivodeship (since 1999), it was previously in Wałbrzych Voivodeship (1975-1998). It is the seat of Dzierżoniów County, and of Gmina Dzierżoniów (although it is not part of the territory of the latter, since the town forms a separate urban gmina).

Dzierżoniów, whose area is 20.1 km², had a population of 34,678 in 2006. Its geographical coordinates are 50°43′N 16°33′E / 50.717, 16.55Coordinates: 50°43′N 16°33′E / 50.717, 16.55.

1 History
2 Town twinning
3 References
4 External links

[edit] History

In its early history, the town was known as Reichenbach; composed of the German words reich (rich, strong) and Bach (stream), it refers to the current of the Piława River.^[1] The name was rendered in Polish as Rychbach. To differentiate between other places named Reichenbach, the Lower Silesian town became known in German as Reichenbach im Eulengebirge, or "Reichenbach in the Owl Mountains".

Reichenbach was first mentioned in a document dating to 13 February 1258.^[2] The parish Church of St. George was also noted early on.^[3] The coat of arms, depicting Saint George slaying a dragon, was used by 1290 at the latest. The town passed successively from the Bishopric of Wrocław (Breslau), to the Duchy of Ziębice (Münsterberg), and to the Duchy of Świdnica-Jawor (Schweidnitz-Jauer).^[2] Reichenbach became part of the Kingdom of Bohemia in 1325 and the Knights Hospitaller built a school and hospital in the town in 1338. It was plundered by the Hussites during the 15th-century Hussite Wars.^[2]

The Habsburg Monarchy of Austria inherited the Bohemian throne in 1526 and became the town's new lords. Reichenbach developed into a trading center, especially for textiles and linen, during the 16th century.^[4] After the First Silesian War in 1742, most of Silesia, including Reichenbach, became part of the Kingdom of Prussia. In 1762 during the Seven Years' War, the region between Reichenbach and Schweidnitz (Świdnica) was the setting for the Battle of Burkersdorf between Prussia and Austria.

In 1790 representatives from Austria, Prussia, Holland, and Poland met at Reichenbach to discuss the Ottoman wars in Europe. In 1813 Tsar Alexander I of Russia met with King Frederick William III of Prussia. From 1816–1945 Reichenbach contained the district office for Landkreis Reichenbach. Until 1820 the town was the seat of a Prussian district president. Reichenbach was connected to a rail network in 1855. It became part of the Prussian-led German Empire in 1871.

Reichenbach was transferred from Germany to Poland in 1945 after World War II. The majority of its German inhabitants had fled earlier in 1945 before warfare, while a few remaining thousands unable to flee were subsequently expelled and replaced with Poles.

Rather than be known by its traditional Polish name Rychbach, the town was renamed Dzierżoniów in 1946 after the apiarist Jan Dzierżon. It was also the site of a Jewish commune of 50,000 led by Jakub Egit from 1945-1948.^[5]

[edit] Town twinning

[edit] References

This article incorporates text translated from the corresponding German Wikipedia article as of December 5 2006.

^ Adrian Room. Placenames of the World. McFarland & Company, 2005. ISBN 0786422483
^ ^a ^b ^c Um.Dzierzonow.pl. "History". Accessed December 7 2006.
^ Urlaub-Polen.de "Dzierzoniów / Reichenbach". Accessed December 7 2006. (German)
^ Um.Dzierzonow.pl. "Geschichte". Accessed December 7 2006. (German)
^ Bożena Szaynok, "Żydowscy żołnierze z Bolkowa", Odra 1999, 9, p. 22-26, in Polish

[edit] External links

Municipal website

v • d • e Gminas of Dzierżoniów County
Urban gminas: Dzierżoniów (seat) • Bielawa • Pieszyce • Piława Górna Urban-rural gmina: Gmina Niemcza Rural gminas: Gmina Dzierżoniów • Gmina Łagiewniki	Image:POL powiat dzierżoniowski COA.svg