Świdwin (; ) is a town in West Pomeranian Voivodeship of northwestern Poland. It is the capital of Świdwin County, and the administrative seat of Gmina Świdwin. Świdwin is situated in the historic Pomerania region on the left bank of the Rega river, about east of the regional capital Szczecin and south of the Baltic coast at Kołobrzeg. In 2018 the town had a population of 15,725.

History

thumb|left|Schivelbein about 1860, with the new railway line to [[Stargard]]

The area became part of the emerging Polish state under its first historic ruler Mieszko I around 967. In the 12th century there was a gród on the trade route from the coastal city of Kołobrzeg to Greater Poland. Following the fragmentation of Poland, it formed part of the Duchy of Pomerania. Duke Barnim I granted the settlement to the Premonstratensians from Trzebiatów.

The Battle of Świdwin took place south of the town during 6–7 March 1945, in which a German SS corps was encircled and destroyed by two Soviet and one Polish armies. After the town was captured, a Soviet general was killed by a member of the Hitler Youth. The reprisals that followed saw the men shot, and the women and girls raped by Soviet troops.

After World War II, the town became again part of Poland, although with a Soviet-installed communist regime, which stayed in power until the Fall of Communism in the 1980s. The town's name was name changed to Świbowina, which was officially renamed to Świdwin in 1946. In the following years, the Polish anti-communist resistance was active in Świdwin, including local organizations Home Army II and Konspiracyjne Wojsko Polskie (Underground Polish Army).

The town's populace that had stayed or had fled and returned was expelled in accordance with the Potsdam Agreement. Until at least 1947, the Polish operated an internment camp in the town. which became overcrowded. In February 1947, the British administration in occupied Germany refused to accept refugees so that the camp became completely overcrowded. Many Germans died at the dire conditions.

The town's first post-war mayor was Jan Górski, and Polish schools, institutions and factories were established, however war damage was not removed until the 1950s.

Sights

The main historic landmarks of Świdwin are the Gothic-Baroque castle, the Gothic Stone Gate (Brama Kamienna) and the Gothic church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help from the 14th century.

Świdwin's airport

The military airport operated by the Polish Air Force is located about from the city centre. Civilians are not permitted to enter, but this airport is often used for government's aircraft. The runway is length and width.

thumb|upright|[[Świdwin County office]]

Notable people

  • Władysław Blin (born 1954), Roman Catholic bishop
  • Otto Georg Bogislaf von Glasenapp (1853–1928), Vice president of the Reichsbank
  • Grzegorz Halama (born 1970), Polish parodist and cabaret actor.
  • Johannes Poeppel (1921–2007), general in the German Bundeswehr
  • Rudolf Virchow (1821–1902), German physician, anthropologist, pathologist, prehistorian, biologist, writer, editor, and politician
  • Teresa Zurowski (born 1956), Polish-Austrian handball player

International relations

Twin towns — sister cities

Świdwin is twinned with:

  • Sanitz, Germany

References

  • Boje Polskie 1939-1945, Krzysztof Komorowski et al., Warszawa: Bellona, 2009. .
  • Municipal website
  • History of town

Notes