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Malbork

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Revision as of 21:37, 11 January 2009 by 70.133.78.156 (talk) (→Notable residents: m)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) Place in Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland
Malbork
City of Malbork, as seen from Malbork Castle towerCity of Malbork, as seen from Malbork Castle tower
Flag of MalborkFlagCoat of arms of MalborkCoat of arms
Country Poland
VoivodeshipPomeranian
CountyMalbork County
GminaMalbork (urban gmina)
Town rights1286
Government
 • MayorAndrzej Rychłowski
Area
 • Total17.15 km (6.62 sq mi)
Highest elevation30 m (100 ft)
Lowest elevation6 m (20 ft)
Population
 • Total38,478
 • Density2,200/km (5,800/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code82-200 to 82-210
Area code+48 055
Car platesGMB
Websitehttp://www.malbork.pl

Malbork Template:Audio-IPA-pl (Template:Lang-de ; Template:Lang-la) is a town in northern Poland in the Żuławy region, with 41,000 inhabitants (2001). Situated in the Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999, it was previously assigned to Elbląg Voivodeship (1975-1998). It is the capital of Malbork County.

Founded in the 13th century by the Teutonic Knights, the town is noted for the Gothic Marienburg Castle, one of the most striking in Europe.

History of the castle

Main article: Malbork Castle
View across the river Nogat

The town was built in Prussia around the fortress Ordensburg Marienburg which was founded in 1274 on the east bank of the river Nogat by the Teutonic Knights. Both the castle and the town of Marienburg (rendered in Polish as Malborg or Malbork) were named for their patron saint, the Virgin Mary. This fortified castle became the seat of the Teutonic Order and Europe's largest Gothic fortress. During the Thirteen Years War, the castle of Marienburg was pawned by the Teutonic Order to their imperial soldiers from Bohemia. They sold the castle in 1457 to King Casimir IV of Poland in lieu of their pay. This separated the castle from the city in political terms, as the citizens there did resist Poland.

Under continuous construction for nearly 230 years, the castle complex is actually three castles nested in one another. A classic example of a medieval fortress, it is the world’s largest brick castle and one of the most impressive of its kind in Europe. The castle was in the process of being restored when World War II broke out. During the war, the castle was over 50% destroyed. Restoration has been ongoing since the war. However, the main cathedral in the castle, fully restored just prior to the war and destroyed during the war, remains in its ruined state. The castle and its museum are listed as UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.

History of the town

Marienburg in West Prussia, map of 1896

The town of Marienburg grew in the vicinity of the castle. The river Nogat and flat terrain allowed easy access for barges a hundred kilometers from the sea. During Prussia's government by the Teutonic Knights, they collected tolls on river traffic and imposed a monopoly of the amber trade. The town later became a member of the Hanseatic League, and many Hanseatic meetings were held there.

When the castle was sold to the king of Poland in 1457 and the Teutonic Knights left, the town of Marienburg under Mayor Bartholomäus Blume and others resisted the Poles for three further years. When the Poles finally took control, Blume was hanged and quartered. A monument to him was erected in 1864.

The town became part of the Polish province of Royal Prussia after the Second Peace of Thorn (1466). It was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia in the First Partition of Poland in 1772 and made part of the Province of West Prussia the following year. Marienburg became part of the German Empire in 1871.

According to the Treaty of Versailles after World War I the inhabitants were asked whether they want to remain in Germany or join the new Second Polish Republic by the East Prussian plebiscite on July 11, 1920. 17.805 votes were given to remain in Germany, 191 votes for Poland. Based on that result Marienburg was included in the Regierungsbezirk Marienwerder within East Prussia.

Marienburg castle was declared a Festung in the end of World War II, the town was the scene of fierce battles and almost completely destroyed. Following the post-war boundary changes, Marienburg became Polish. Its German population was expelled. , and the town was populated with Poles, many themselves expellees from Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union. In 2008 a grave of some 1,800 Germans that remained in the city and died was found, all of them were buried naked, as was the norm by Red Army which collected clothes and belongings from the dead for its use and to supply impoverished population of Soviet Union while 1 in 10 were found to have been shot in the head., many of the bodies are intact., Local reports indicate people found were mostly victims of infighting during the city and freezing temperatures, at the same time investigation is ongoing regarding the nature of their exact death

Notable residents

Twin Towns

Malbork is twinned with:

References

  1. Matthias Weber:Preussen in Ostmitteleuropa: Geschehensgeschichte und Verstehensgeschichte, 2003
  2. http://gdansk.naszemiasto.pl/wydarzenia/945349.html
  3. Der Spiegel SPIEGEL ONLINE International: MALBORK MASSACRE - World War II Mass Grave Unearthed in Poland, 01/08/2009
  4. http://gdansk.naszemiasto.pl/wydarzenia/945349.html
  5. http://gdansk.naszemiasto.pl/wydarzenia/945349.html

External links

54°02′N 19°03′E / 54.033°N 19.050°E / 54.033; 19.050

Gminas of Malbork County
Seat
Urban-rural
Rural
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