Poznan

Brief history

Poznan is one of the oldest and largest cities in Poland. It is the historical capital of the Wielkopolska Region, where the Polish State was born. The origins of the city date back to the 9th century, when a castle-town was established in Ostrów Tumski.

In 968 the first bishopric in the country was established here. In the 12th century, Poznan became the capital of the Piast Dynasty, and one hundred years later Duke Przemysł I made it the capital of the Region of Wielkopolska. In 1253, Duke Przemysł I set up the town of Poznan based on the Magdeburg Law.

In the 14th and 15th century, the city became an important European trade centre and in the 16th century, experienced its golden age becoming one of the leading centres of culture, medical knowledge and international trade.

The development of Poznan was interrupted by the Swedish invasions, the North War (1703) and natural disasters. In 1793, Poznan and the whole of Wielkopolska were incorporated into Prussia.

At the end of the 18th century, the medieval fortifications were taken down, the city's size was increased to include a few satellite towns and settlements, and new areas in the west were incorporated into the city boundaries. Between 1797-1806, the metropolitan area was united in terms of administration, and later, the city's administrative system was changed to the Prussian system. Poznan, as the capital of the new Province of South Prussia and the seat of the garrison, attracted German administrative and military staff, and then German settlers. Gradually, the number of German inhabitants grew, from a few dozen to over 40 % until the end of W.W.I.

In the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century, the city saw the construction of its first large municipal infrastructure and newly launched industrial facilities. Dynamic development of the modern municipal infrastructure took place in the 19th century. The period of Prussian dominance ended in December 1918, after the outbreak of the uprising in Poznan that led to the liberation of Poznan and the Wielkopolska Region.

The Germans occupied Poznan on September 10, 1939. Poznan was incorporated into Germany. After 1944, the city was destroyed by successive air raids of the allied forces. Poznan was liberated on February 23, 1945 with war-related damage reaching 55%.

Political changes in post-war Europe affected the city’s development over the next 45 years. The initial years after the war were devoted to the reconstruction of the city's economy and social life. The decree on nationalization led to changes in the ownership structure of the city and the industrial infrastructure. By the 1950s, Poznan was one of the most industrialized cities in the country. In the second half of the 1970s, Poznan witnessed a gradual regression of its industry and other sectors of the economy, which lasted till the end of the 1980s.

The process of political and economic transformations which began in 1989 upset the balance in the structure of Poznan-based enterprises, leading to a considerable decrease in production. This changed with the privatisation and the share of private capital, including foreign capital, considerably increased in the city's economy.