Zabrze

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Zabrze (pronounced: [['zabʒε]]; German: , from 1915-1945 Hindenburg) is a city in southern Poland with 194,041 inhabitants (2004). It is situated in the Silesian Voivodship (since 1999), previously in Katowice Voivodship (1975-1998).

History

Zabrze was originally a village first mentioned in the 13th century. Beginning in the Late Middle Ages the village became increasingly Germanized after the local Silesian Piast dukes invited German settlers to the territory. Zabrze was inherited by the Habsburg Monarchy of Austria in 1526 and was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia during the 18th century Silesian Wars. Zabrze became an important site for mining in the German Empire upon its foundation in 1871. The settlement received its city charter only in 1922.

Zabrze was officially renamed Hindenburg in 1915 to honor Generalfeldmarschall Paul von Hindenburg; the new name was used until 1945-05-19. After the city became part of Poland in that year following World War II, the original name Zabrze was restored and most of the remaining German inhabitants were expelled according to the Potsdam Conference.

Because of the heavy levels of pollution caused by the mining industry, the triangle of land between Zabrze, Chorzów, and Bytom has locally become known as 'death triangle'. The term is recognised outside Upper Silesia although not used as often. Some treat Ruda Śląska as the southern tip of the triangle instead of Zabrze.

Politics

Members of Parliament (Sejm) elected from Bytom/Gliwice/Zabrze constituency

• Chojnacki Jan, SLD-UP
• Dulias Stanisław, Samoobrona
• Gałażewski Andrzej, PO
• Janik Ewa, SLD-UP
• Kubica Józef, SLD-UP
• Martyniuk Wacław, SLD-UP
• Okoński Wiesław, SLD-UP
• Szarama Wojciech, PiS
• Szumilas Krystyna, PO
• Widuch Marek, SLD-UP

Sports

• Górnik Zabrze - men football team (Polish Champion 1957, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1985, 1986]], 1987, 1988; Polish Cup winner 1965, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972; Polish Supercup winner 1988; 1st league in season 2005/2006)

Economy

Like other towns in this populous region, it is an important manufacturing centre, having coal-mines, iron, wire, glass, chemical and oil works, breweries, etc.

Sister cities

Zabrze is twinned with the following cities:

• Sangerhausen, Germany
• Seclin, France
• Lund, Sweden
• Sønderborg, Denmark
• Hazleton, United States
• Trnava, Slovakia
• Opava, Czech Republic
• Kaliningrad, Russia
• Rivne, Ukraine

External links