History of Katowice

The today's city of Katowice in Poland started as a conglomerate of a number of small farming and industrial village communities from 13th century. Katowice itself was first mentioned under its present name as a village in 16th century. [http://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/Katowice/kat001.html] . Following the annexation of Silesia by Prussia in the middle of 18th century, a slow migration of German merchants began to the area, which, until then was inhabited primarily by a Polish population. [http://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/Katowice/kat001.html] With the development of industry, in the half of 19th century the village started to change its nature into an industrial settlement. Katowice was renamed to German "Kattowitz" and around 1865 was granted municipal rights. The Prussian authorities hoped that the town with then 50% Polish population (by 1867), would gradually become a centre of Germanization of Silesia. The town flourished due to large mineral (especially coal) deposits in the nearby mountains. Extensive city growth and prosperity depended on the coal mining and steel industries, which took off during the Industrial Revolution. In 1873 the city became the capital of the new Prussian Kattowitz district. On 1 April 1899, it was separated from the district and become an independent city.

Following the Silesian Uprisings (1918-21) Katowice became part of the Second Polish Republic with a certain level of autonomy (Silesian Parliament as a constituency and Silesian Voivodeship Council as the executive body). A wave of Jewish settlers from other areas of Poland, particularly Galicia arrived to the city. The Jewish community played an important role in the development of Katowice and in 1937 a new Jewish communal building was erected.

During Second World War the town was occupied by German forces. Already in September 1939 the Germans burned the Great Synagogue. Many of the city's historical monuments were destroyed, the street names were renamed to German and the use of the Polish and Silesian languages was banned. During the occupation, the German administration organized numerous public executions of civilians and about 700 Poles were beheaded with a purpose-built guillotine. By the middle of 1941, most of the Polish and Jewish population of the city was expelled. Katowice was liberated by the Red Army in January 1945. Significant parts of the city centre were destroyed during the liberation.

In 1953 Katowice was renamed "Stalinogród" ("Stalin City") by Polish communist government. However, the new name was never accepted by the city's population and in 1956 the former Katowice name was restored.

Severe ecological damage to the environment occurred during the post-Second World War time of communist governance in the People's Republic of Poland, but recent changes in regulations, procedures and policies of Polish government since the fall of Communism have reversed much of the harm that was done.

Due to economic reforms, there has been a shift away from heavy industry, and towards small businesses.

External links

* [http://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/Katowice/Katowice.html the English translation of "Katowice: the Rise and Decline of the Jewish community; Memorial Book"]