Kattowitz (district)

Landkreis Kattowitz was a rural district of the German-state of Prussia from 1873–1922 and 1939–45. Its capital was the city of Kattowitz (Katowice).

History

The district was created in 1873 as Kreis Kattowitz (District Kattowitz) out of parts of the older Kreis Beuthen within the Kingdom of Prussia. The new district was administered within Regierungsbezirk Oppeln in the Prussian Province of Silesia.

On 1 April 1899, the city of Kattowitz was separated from the district, becoming an independent city. Kreis Kattowitz was thus renamed Landkreis (Rural District Kattowitz).

In 1922 after the Silesian Uprisings, Kattowitz and its surrounding district were ceded to the Second Polish Republic. The former German district was subsequently administered as Katowice County within the Polish Autonomous Silesian Voivodeship.

In September 1939 at the beginning of World War II, Katowice County was annexed to Nazi Germany after the invasion of Poland. In October the territory was rejoined to German Silesia. On 20 November the communities Panewnik and Petrowitz were transferred from Landkreis Pleß to the Kattowitz rural district. On 26 November the city and district were made part of the new Regierungsbezirk Kattowitz within the Province of Silesia. Many placenames of Slavic origin were eradicated in favour of German names as part of Germanisation. One of them was Auschwitz. On 18 January 1941, the Province of Silesia was dissolved, with Landkreis Kattowitz becoming part of the Province of Upper Silesia.

On 1 January 1945, Landkreis Kattowitz consisted of two cities and twenty-six communities. In Spring 1945 the territory was occupied by the Soviet Red Army. The district was dissolved when the land was restored to Polish control.