Zbąszynek

Infobox Settlement
name = Zbąszynek


image_shield = POL Zbąszynek COA 1.svg
pushpin_

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = POL
subdivision_type1 = Voivodeship
subdivision_name1 = Lubusz
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Świebodzin
subdivision_type3 = Gmina
subdivision_name3 = Zbąszynek
area_total_km2 = 2.76
population_as_of = 2006
population_total = 5087
population_density_km2 = auto
latd = 52 | latm = 15 | lats = | latNS = N | longd = 15 | longm = 49 | longs = | longEW = E
elevation_m =
postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 66-210
website = http://www.zbaszynek.pl

Zbąszynek [IPA-pl|z|b|ą|'|sz|y|n|e|k] ( _de. Neu Bentschen) is a town in western Poland, in Lubusz Voivodeship, in Świebodzin County. It has 5,185 inhabitants (2004).

The town was founded in the 1920s, when, as a result of the Greater Poland Uprising (1918–1919) as well as the Treaty of Versailles, the railroad hub of Zbaszyn ("Bentschen") became part of freshly created Poland. In 1922, the government of Germany decided to create from scratch a new border station, a new rail hub (which replaced Zbaszyn) as well as a settlement for railroad workers. Within a few years, a large station was constructed, together with a modern garden-settlement, based on a project by architect Friedrich Veil. The town, named "Neu Bentschen", was inhabited by ethnic Germans, railroad workers, who came there from different parts of the Weimar Republic. There were two churches, a printing shop, a house of culture ("Deutsches Haus"), a school, a mail office and a bank. The settlement belonged to the Meseritz county.

During World War Two the Germans opened there a work camp for POWs, in which different soldiers were kept - from Soviet Union, France, Italy, as well as Jews from the Lodz Ghetto. Hundreds died of diseases and exhaustion, those who survived, worked on the rail infrastructure, which was necessary for transports to the eastern front.

In January 1945 German inhabitants of "Neu Bentschen", fearing the advancing Red Army escaped behind the Oder, and the town was captured without fighting. It was briefly called "Nowy Zbaszyn", some time in late 1940s, the name was changed.

External links

* [http://www.zbaszynek.pl/ Official town website]