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| website = http://www.wizna.pl/ }} |
| website = http://www.wizna.pl/ }} |
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[[Image:Poland Wizna Church.jpg|thumb| |
[[Image:Poland Wizna Church.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Wizna church - 2007]] |
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'''Wizna''' {{IPAr|pl|'|w|i|z|n|a}} is a village in [[Łomża County]] of [[Podlaskie Voivodeship]], north- |
'''Wizna''' {{IPAr|pl|'|w|i|z|n|a}} is a village in [[Łomża County]] of [[Podlaskie Voivodeship]], in north-eastern Poland. The [[Biebrza River]] flows through town. Wizna is also known for the [[battle of Wizna]] which took place in its vicinity during the 1939 [[Invasion of Poland (1939)|Invasion of Poland]].<ref>{{pl icon}} [http://www.wizna.pl/ Wizna, Gminne Centrum Informacji (official website)]</ref> At present, farming and food production are the primary sources of income for the residents. The food production by private farms provides favorable conditions for the development of processing industry. |
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Wizna has a remarkably rich history. Already in the 11th century there was a castle there watching over the eastern border of [[Masovia]] and the important river crossing over [[Narew]]. From the mid 12th century the town was a registered office of the [[castellany]], and from 1379 the capital of the Ziemia wiska (Wizna land) bordering both [[Prussia]] and [[Lithuania]]. The [[Catholic]] [[Parish]] in Wizna was established in 1390.<ref>{{pl icon}} [http://region.e-podlasie.pl/gminy/wizna.html Gmina Wizna - Informacje o regionie]</ref> |
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== History == |
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⚫ | It is not clear when [[Jews]] started to settle in Wizna. Most of the Jewish population lived around the Rynek (Town Square) and |
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Wizna was built on an important trade route from Lithuania to [[Kraków]]. Co-ruler of Poland [[Anna the Jagiellonian]] used to travel through town and so did Queen [[Bona Sforza]]. In the years 1435 - 1870, for over four centuries, Wizna was one of the most important cities of northern Masovia. Its significance began to drop only with the development of the town of [[Łomża]]. In 1860 Wizna had 2,573 residents. In the interwar period the population numbers rose to over 3,300 partly due to influx of new Jewish immigrants from the neighboring states. |
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⚫ | It is not clear when [[Jews]] started to settle in Wizna. Most of the Jewish population lived around the Rynek (Town Square) and the nearby streets. In 1765, 16 Jewish families (about 75 individuals) lived in Wizna. In 1857, there were 492 Jews out of a total population of 1861; in 1921, they numbered 714 out of 2670. Jews were mostly small merchants, craftsman and service providers. In the small village of Witkowo, on the Narew River adjacent to the north side of Wizna, a few Jewish families were farmers and fishermen. These included the Gostkowski family, which operated a ferry on the Narew River for over 100 years prior to the construction of the bridge on the road between Lomza and Bialystok. The gangster-turned-author [[Urke Nachalnik]] was born in Wizna to the wealthy and respected Farberowicz family, who were grain merchants and operated a flour mill. Urke Nachalnik’s books and stories were published in several languages by the Yiddish press in Poland and in the United States during the 1930s, with some of them being turned into stage plays. |
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=== Zionist Activity in Wizna === |
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[[Zionist]] parties were active in Wizna during the 1920’s and 1930’s. A Hebrew school called Tarbut was opened, and the Zionist youth movements [[Hashomer Hatzair]] and [[Hachalutz]] were active among the young Jewish generation. Jews from Wizna emigrated to the USA and other countries such as Cuba, Argentina and Australia during the 19th century and up until the onset of WWII. Groups of members of the Zionist youth movements emigrated to what was to become [[Israel]] during the 1920’s and 1930’s and joined groups that founded the Kibutzim: Ramat-Hakovesh, Einat, Yagur, Giveat-Hashlosha, Kfar-Menachem, Ifat, Evron and Gvat. In addition former Wizners settled in Rishon-leZion, Tel-Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem, Kfar-Saba, Kfar-Sirkin, Kiryat-Chaim, Petach-Tikva, Ramat-Gan, Holon, Ganei-Hadar, Ramat-Zvi, Nahariya, Tel-Mond and elsewhere. |
[[Zionist]] parties were active in Wizna during the 1920’s and 1930’s. A Hebrew school called Tarbut was opened, and the Zionist youth movements [[Hashomer Hatzair]] and [[Hachalutz]] were active among the young Jewish generation. Jews from Wizna emigrated to the USA and other countries such as Cuba, Argentina and Australia during the 19th century and up until the onset of WWII. Groups of members of the Zionist youth movements emigrated to what was to become [[Israel]] during the 1920’s and 1930’s and joined groups that founded the Kibutzim: Ramat-Hakovesh, Einat, Yagur, Giveat-Hashlosha, Kfar-Menachem, Ifat, Evron and Gvat. In addition former Wizners settled in Rishon-leZion, Tel-Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem, Kfar-Saba, Kfar-Sirkin, Kiryat-Chaim, Petach-Tikva, Ramat-Gan, Holon, Ganei-Hadar, Ramat-Zvi, Nahariya, Tel-Mond and elsewhere. |
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=== Wizna |
=== Wizna during the Holocaust === |
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{{details|The Holocaust in Poland}} |
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During the war between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany in 1941, Wizna was shelled and most of the homes in the Rynek and vicinity were demolished. Near the end of June 1941, 15 Jews were murdered by the Germans in Wizna, and during the beginning of July 1941, a second group of 15 Jews were similarly killed. In July 1941, most Wizna Jews were expelled from Wizna to nearby Jedwabne, with the rest being sent to the Lomza Ghetto. According to |
During the war between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany in 1941, Wizna was shelled and most of the homes in the Rynek and vicinity were demolished. Near the end of June 1941, 15 Jews were murdered by the Germans in Wizna, and during the beginning of July 1941, a second group of 15 Jews were similarly killed. In July 1941, most Wizna Jews were expelled from Wizna to nearby Jedwabne, with the rest being sent to the Lomza Ghetto. According to 2002-2004 investigation conducted by the Polish [[Instytut_Pamieci_Narodowej|Institute of National Remembrance]] (a governmental body charged with investigation of war crimes), on July 10 1941, about 350 Jews including those from Wizna were burned alive in Jedwabne inside a barn that was set on fire by Polish civilians in the presence of German gendarmerie. The version of events presented by the Jewish-American historian [[Jan T. Gross]] alleging that about 1600 people including 200 Wizna Jews and about 1400 Jedwabne Jews were placed inside the barn by any imagination seems impossible. The participation of a specific number of 40 Polish gentiles has not been confirmed either. However, the presence of the German [[Einsatzkommando]] under [[SS-Obersturmführer Hermann Schaper]] in the area and their role in the crime, although lacking direct evidence, remains most likely. According to depositions from wittnesses collected by the courts, the entire event in Jedwabne has been inspired and partially conducted by the Germans.<ref name="Urban">{{pl icon}} Thomas Urban, [http://web.archive.org/web/20071124014038/http://www.rzeczpospolita.pl/gazeta/wydanie_010901/publicystyka/publicystyka_a_1.html "Poszukiwany Hermann Schaper",] [[Rzeczpospolita]], 01.09.01 Nr 204</ref> |
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==Gallery== |
==Gallery== |
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{| |
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<gallery> |
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|[[File:WiznaJewishStreet.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|The street in Wizna where the synagogue, the Cheder and the Tarbut Hebrew school were located]] |
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</gallery> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[Battle of Wizna]] |
*[[Battle of Wizna]] |
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== |
== Notes and references == |
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{{ |
{{reflist|2}} |
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* [http://www.wizna.com Wizna Web Page] |
* [http://www.wizna.com Wizna Web Page] |
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* [http://www.wizna.com/urke1.htm Urke Nachalnik] Famous Polish gangster, turned noted author |
* [http://www.wizna.com/urke1.htm Urke Nachalnik] Famous Polish gangster, turned noted author was born in Wizna |
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* [http://www.britannica.com/facts/5/886109/Polish-Thermopylae-as-discussed-in-Podlaskie-province-Poland Facts about Polish Thermopylae] at www.britannica.com |
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{{commonscat-inline|Wizna}} |
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<br> |
<br> |
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{{Gmina Wizna}} |
{{Gmina Wizna}} |
Revision as of 17:05, 11 November 2009
Wizna | |
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Village | |
Country | Poland |
Voivodeship | Podlaskie |
County | Łomża County |
Gmina | Wizna |
Population | 1,300 |
Website | http://www.wizna.pl/ |
Wizna Template:IPAr is a village in Łomża County of Podlaskie Voivodeship, in north-eastern Poland. The Biebrza River flows through town. Wizna is also known for the battle of Wizna which took place in its vicinity during the 1939 Invasion of Poland.[1] At present, farming and food production are the primary sources of income for the residents. The food production by private farms provides favorable conditions for the development of processing industry.
Wizna has a remarkably rich history. Already in the 11th century there was a castle there watching over the eastern border of Masovia and the important river crossing over Narew. From the mid 12th century the town was a registered office of the castellany, and from 1379 the capital of the Ziemia wiska (Wizna land) bordering both Prussia and Lithuania. The Catholic Parish in Wizna was established in 1390.[2]
History
Wizna was built on an important trade route from Lithuania to Kraków. Co-ruler of Poland Anna the Jagiellonian used to travel through town and so did Queen Bona Sforza. In the years 1435 - 1870, for over four centuries, Wizna was one of the most important cities of northern Masovia. Its significance began to drop only with the development of the town of Łomża. In 1860 Wizna had 2,573 residents. In the interwar period the population numbers rose to over 3,300 partly due to influx of new Jewish immigrants from the neighboring states.
It is not clear when Jews started to settle in Wizna. Most of the Jewish population lived around the Rynek (Town Square) and the nearby streets. In 1765, 16 Jewish families (about 75 individuals) lived in Wizna. In 1857, there were 492 Jews out of a total population of 1861; in 1921, they numbered 714 out of 2670. Jews were mostly small merchants, craftsman and service providers. In the small village of Witkowo, on the Narew River adjacent to the north side of Wizna, a few Jewish families were farmers and fishermen. These included the Gostkowski family, which operated a ferry on the Narew River for over 100 years prior to the construction of the bridge on the road between Lomza and Bialystok. The gangster-turned-author Urke Nachalnik was born in Wizna to the wealthy and respected Farberowicz family, who were grain merchants and operated a flour mill. Urke Nachalnik’s books and stories were published in several languages by the Yiddish press in Poland and in the United States during the 1930s, with some of them being turned into stage plays.
Zionist activity in Wizna
Zionist parties were active in Wizna during the 1920’s and 1930’s. A Hebrew school called Tarbut was opened, and the Zionist youth movements Hashomer Hatzair and Hachalutz were active among the young Jewish generation. Jews from Wizna emigrated to the USA and other countries such as Cuba, Argentina and Australia during the 19th century and up until the onset of WWII. Groups of members of the Zionist youth movements emigrated to what was to become Israel during the 1920’s and 1930’s and joined groups that founded the Kibutzim: Ramat-Hakovesh, Einat, Yagur, Giveat-Hashlosha, Kfar-Menachem, Ifat, Evron and Gvat. In addition former Wizners settled in Rishon-leZion, Tel-Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem, Kfar-Saba, Kfar-Sirkin, Kiryat-Chaim, Petach-Tikva, Ramat-Gan, Holon, Ganei-Hadar, Ramat-Zvi, Nahariya, Tel-Mond and elsewhere.
Wizna during the Holocaust
During the war between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany in 1941, Wizna was shelled and most of the homes in the Rynek and vicinity were demolished. Near the end of June 1941, 15 Jews were murdered by the Germans in Wizna, and during the beginning of July 1941, a second group of 15 Jews were similarly killed. In July 1941, most Wizna Jews were expelled from Wizna to nearby Jedwabne, with the rest being sent to the Lomza Ghetto. According to 2002-2004 investigation conducted by the Polish Institute of National Remembrance (a governmental body charged with investigation of war crimes), on July 10 1941, about 350 Jews including those from Wizna were burned alive in Jedwabne inside a barn that was set on fire by Polish civilians in the presence of German gendarmerie. The version of events presented by the Jewish-American historian Jan T. Gross alleging that about 1600 people including 200 Wizna Jews and about 1400 Jedwabne Jews were placed inside the barn by any imagination seems impossible. The participation of a specific number of 40 Polish gentiles has not been confirmed either. However, the presence of the German Einsatzkommando under SS-Obersturmführer Hermann Schaper in the area and their role in the crime, although lacking direct evidence, remains most likely. According to depositions from wittnesses collected by the courts, the entire event in Jedwabne has been inspired and partially conducted by the Germans.[3]
Gallery
See also
Notes and references
- Wizna Web Page
- Urke Nachalnik Famous Polish gangster, turned noted author was born in Wizna
- Facts about Polish Thermopylae at www.britannica.com
Media related to Wizna at Wikimedia Commons