Oświęcim

Oświęcim ( German Auschwitz in , Oshpitizin in Yiddish) is a city in the south of the Poland of approximately 43 000 inhabitants (figures 2001) located at approximately 60 km in the south-west of Cracow, in the area Voïvodie of Small-Poland since 1999, Voïvodie of Cracow before (1975 - 1998).

The German name Auschwitz is always used when one refers to the death camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau builds by the Nazis during the Second world war.

History

The first mention of the city goes back to 1117. In 1179, under the reign of Casimir II the Juste, Oświęcim leaves the duchy of Cracow to join the duchy of Opole. Towards 1270, the locality receives the urban right German. A long time, German and Polish cohabited there peacefully.

In 1315, the city becomes the capital of an independent duchy. In 1327, the Duc Jean d' Oświęcim recognizes Vassal kingdom of Bohemia. With the XIV^e century, the interest of the Germans for this area declines and the duchy is emptied of most of its population. It is only in 1457 that the duchy of Oświęcim is repurchased by the king Casimir IV Jagellon (in Polish Kazimierz IV Jagiellończyk ) with Jean IV, last duke of Oświęcim, and attached to the Poland.

The Juifs are invited by the successive Polish kings to settle in this area which had been depopulated. With the XV^e century, they constitute already the majority of the population. Oświęcim becomes also one of the principal centers Protesting of Poland. The poet Łukasz Górnicki sees there the day in 1527. The city is destroyed by the Swedish in 1655. Following the divisions of Poland to the XVIII^e century, Oświęcim is found in Austria, not far from the borders with the Prussia and the Russia. The city reinstates Poland ressuscitée after the First World War. The day before the Second world war, Oświęcim counts 8.000 Jews.

In 1940, Oświęcim belongs to the Polish territories conquered by the Germans. Those decide to transform old hutments of the Polish army into Concentration camp. Later, not far from there, they will also build the camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Of 1940 with 1945, more than one million people (mainly of the Jews) there are exterminated.

After the war, control it Polish takes possession of the chemical plant Buna-Werke pertaining to IG Farben which had used Auschwitz prisoners like slaves of work . Chemical industry becomes the principal employer of Oświęcim. The concentration camps become museums.

See too

Auschwitz-Birkenau

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