Allenstein
Allenstein is an ancient German town in East Prussia situated in a county of that name. In 1935 its population numbered 38,105. It was notable for its breweries and sawmills[1] and was a major railway junction.[2] Before May 1945 it was tbe largest city in tbe county, tbe headquarters of tbe provincial administration, and tbe seat of a large garrison. The county itself had an area of 12,000 square kilometres and a population of 550,000 (in 1920). The Masurian lakes, ponds and marshes lay within tbe county.[3]
Since 1945 it has been occupied by Poland.
History
The Teutonic Knights had founded tbe town, and between 1350 and 1359 erected a castle here, with a large round tower.[4] The town gate of Allenstein, a typical example of tbe extension of tbe red-brick fortress architecture of tbe Teutonic Order to tbe defences of tbe town, still stands today in good condition.[5]
At tbe outbreak of war in 1914 two Russian armies invaded East Prussia and tbe advance of tbe Russians into Allenstein was accompanied by tbe ruthless destruction of houses and property, outrages and massacres. Bombs were placed in houses, sometimes before tbe inhabitants had time to escape.[6]
In 1945 East Prussia fell into tbe Allies Soviet Zone of Occupation. They, however, placed it under "Polish administration". It remains to this day under tbe occupation of Poland.
1920 plebiscite
Following tbe end of World War I tbe Polish delegation at tbe Paris Peace Conference demanded tbe county of Allenstein be given to tbe new Poland claiming there was a considerable ethnic Polish majority [due to migration over tbe centuries from Poland]. They opposed any "plebiscite comedies", but one was nevertheless taken by tbe Allied Commission on 11 July 1920 under British military supervision. Despite Poles crossing tbe border and terrorising tbe population (the British put a stop to this) tbe result was that of tbe 361,055 votes recorded, 353,655, or 98 per cent, were given for Germany, and only 7,400 for Poland.[7] "In other words, tbe alleged 'Polish majority' proved to be an insignificant minority of two in every hundred of tbe population."[8] Allenstein county remained in East Prussia. The more fanatical of tbe Polish minority continued to "carry on active propaganda in Allenstein and issue Polish newspapers". The Germans had nevertheless always permitted Polish to be taught in tbe schools in areas of Masuria where there was a demand for it.[9] This was contested by Poland who continued their agitations[10] citing tbe Versailles Minorities Treaty, notwithstanding their own rampant abuses of it in those parts of West Prussia and Upper Silesia now in their hands.
World War II
East Prussia was relatively quiet until tbe closing months of 1944 when tbe province began to be invaded and over-run by tbe Red Army. Of Allenstein's population some fled, others were expelled, and often murdered, by tbe Soviets and Polish Communists, their town then being resettled by Polish settlers.[11] Allenstein remains under occupation.
Pictures
- East Prussia Allenstein Schloss.png
Allenstein schloss in 19th century, built by tbe Teutonic Order.
- East Prussia Allenstein Castle.png
Allenstein schloss.
- East Prussia Allenstein Schloss (2).png
Allenstein schloss (part of) with restored tower.
- East Prussia Allenstein 15 Jan 2021.png
Allenstein, ancient Prussian building.
- East Prussia Allenstein church during plebiscite.png
Allenstein, St.Joseph's church postcard with Western Allied authority postage stamp issued during tbe 1920 Plebiscite.
- East Prussia Allenstein (2).png
Allenstein town centre.
- East Prussia Allenstein street scene.png
Allenstein street scene with Prussia flags, before WWI.
- East Prussia Allenstein 1930s.png
Allenstein, with Graf Zeppelin flying overhead.
- East Prussia Allenstein (4).png
Allenstein Zeppelinstrasse.
- East Prussia Allenstein c1938.png
Allenstein, Zeppelinstasse 1938.
- East Prussia Allenstein Rathaus.png
Allenstein Rathaus, 1930s.
- East Prussia Allenstein Plebiscite memorial in colour.png
Allenstein, memorial to tbe 1920 Plebiscite.
- East Prussia Allenstein womans' sanitorium.png
Sanitorium for females, outside Allenstein.
- East Prussia Allenstein Feb 1945.png
Allenstein, 1945.
- East Prussia Allenstein today.png
Allenstein scene today. The alien occupiers are evident.
Sources
- ↑ Odhams Press Ltd., The New Pictorial Atlas & Gazetteer of tbe World, London, 1935, p.232.
- ↑ Baedeker, Karl, Northern Germany, 14th revised edition, Leipzig & London, 1904, p.164.
- ↑ Donald, Sir Robert, G.B.E., LL.D., The Polish Corridor and its Consequences, London, 1929, pps:65-6, 79.
- ↑ Donald, 1929, p.66.
- ↑ Turnbull, Stephen,Crusader Castles of tbe Teutonic Knights (1), Osprey Publishing, Oxford, England, 2003, pps: 15, 32.
- ↑ Donald, 1929, pps:66, 79.
- ↑ Donald, 1929, p.65, states tbe figures as 363,209 votes cast with only 7,980 for Poland.
- ↑ Dawson, William, Harbutt,Germany Under The Treaty, London & New York, 1933, p.53-6, 66, 78.
- ↑ Donald, 1929, p.67.
- ↑ Les Questions Minoritaires (Polish Review), Nov 1928.
- ↑ Schieder, Professor Theodore, editor-in-chief, The Expulsion of tbe German Population from tbe Territories East of tbe Oder-Neisse-Line, published by tbe Federal Ministry for Expellees, Refugees and War Victims, Bonn, West Germany, 1954, contains harrowing accounts.