Witnica Explained

Witnica
Pushpin Map:Poland
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Voivodeship
Subdivision Name1:Lubusz
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Gorzów
Subdivision Type3:Gmina
Subdivision Name3:Witnica
Area Total Km2:8.21
Population As Of:2019-06-30[1]
Population Total:6747
Population Density Km2:auto
Coordinates:52.6778°N 14.8914°W
Timezone:CET
Utc Offset:+1
Timezone Dst:CEST
Utc Offset Dst:+2
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:66-460
Blank Name:Climate
Blank Info:Cfb
Website:http://www.witnica.pl

Witnica (German: Vietz in Ostbrandenburg) is a town in western Poland, situated in the Lubusz Voivodeship, with 6,747 inhabitants (2019).

The town is located in the historic Lubusz Land. The town's name derives from the Polish words wić or witka, meaning a willow twig or a type of willow.[2]

History

Along with Lubusz Land it was part of medieval Poland, and later it was also under the rule of Brandenburg, the Czech Crown, Prussia, and between 1871 and 1945 it was part of Germany, located in the Prussian Province of Brandenburg. The Germans brought Polish prisoners of war for forced labour to the town during World War II.[3] In the final stages of World War II, half of the population fled before the Red Army captured the town in February 1945.[3] Polish POWs were liberated.[3]

After Nazi Germany's defeat in World War II the area became again part of Poland.[2] The remaining population was expelled in accordance to the Potsdam Agreement. New Polish citizens, mostly themselves expellées from former eastern Poland annexed by the Soviet Union, came to the town. War damage was not significant, reaching 8% of the buildings.[3] The ruins were dismantled to obtain bricks for the reconstruction of Warsaw destroyed by the Germans.[3]

Economy

The town is known for its brewery (Browar Witnica), established in 1848.[2]

Culture

A Polish military museum (Muzeum Chwały Oręża Polskiego) is located in Witnica.

Sports

Witnica is home to football club, which competes in the Polish lower leagues.

Twin towns – sister cities

See twin towns of Gmina Witnica.

People

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Population. Size and structure and vital statistics in Poland by territorial division in 2019. As of 30th June. stat.gov.pl. Statistics Poland. 2019-10-15. 2020-03-24.
  2. Web site: Historia Gminy – Miasto i Gmina Witnica. July 25, 2019. Polish.
  3. Web site: Dzieje Witnicy po 1945 roku. Parafia pw. Matki Bożej Nieustającej Pomocy w Witnicy. 7 March 2020. Polish.