Hitlerowskie plany przebudowy Sieradza

• Authors: Krzysztof Lesiakowski

Title variants

EN

Nazi Plans of Redesigning Sieradz

Abstracts

EN

As a consequence of the defeat of Poland in September 1939 part of the territory of the Polish state became incorporated into the Third Reich. It was then subjected to intensive Germanisation, which entailed, i.a. the deportation of the Polish and Jewish population and the influx of German settlers. Other steps included rendering the appearance of the local towns similar to those situated within the Reich. Attempts at a realisation of those undertakings were made first and foremost in large urban centres, albeit certain smaller towns were also included. The occupation administration disclosed great impetus while embarking upon redesigning Sieradz, which in 1939–1945 was a county centre and part of the so–called Wartheland. The town was to receive new features due to an imposing town hall with a soaring tower, foreseen as the seat of the local authorities, as well as a German folk house embellished with Teutonic Order symbols and intended for, i.a. meetings held by Nazi party members. Additional projects involved the local courthouse and post office, both of a size exceeding the needs of a town as small as Sieradz. The two edifices were, however, to constitute material proof of the might of the Nazi state and hence were planned as highly impressive. Other intended undertakings were to contribute to improving the living conditions of the German residents. This is why they included plans for expanding the local hospital, reconstructing certain streets and the power network, as well as raising a new housing estate. Further projects envisaged buildings linked with the economy. Owing to the fact that the county of Sieradz was agricultural the Nazi authorities wished to build a very large abattoir to, i.a. supply meat to Wehrmacht training grounds located near the town, as well as a potato starch factory. The above–listed projects, chiefly by architects Hans Hänisch and Carl Friedrich Buschka from Dresden, were conceived during the first years of the occupation. Persisting war hostilities forced civilian building projects to make way for those serving military purposes. Hence the German administration in Sieradz did not enjoy significant successes in redesigning the town and managed to erect only a small housing state; the town hall or the German folk house were never completed. This failure protected historical town houses in the local Market Square from being demolished and the might of the Third Reich did not affect the material substance of this ancient Polish town.

• Publisher: Polska Akademia Nauk. Instytut Historii im. Tadeusza Manteuffla PAN w Warszawie
• Journal: Dzieje Najnowsze
• Year: 2015
• Volume: 47
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 45-59

Dates

published

2015

Contributors

author

Krzysztof Lesiakowski

Identifiers

DOI

10.12775/DN.2015.1.03

Biblioteka Nauki

608326