List of Polish cities damaged in World War II

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Ruined Warsaw in January 1945

As the German army retreated during the later stages of the Second World War, many of the urban areas of what is now Poland were severely damaged as a result of military action between the retreating forces of the German Wehrmacht and advancing ones of the Soviet Red Army. Other cities were deliberately destroyed by the German forces. One of the most famous of these planned destructions was the razing of Warsaw, the capital of Poland.[1] While extensively damaged by the failed Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and Warsaw Uprising, the city later underwent a planned demolition by German forces under order from Adolf Hitler and high officials within the Nazi government. On 17 October 1944, SS chief Heinrich Himmler famously stated, "The city must completely disappear from the surface of the earth and serve only as a transport station for the Wehrmacht."[2] Before they were stopped by the advancing Red Army, 85% of the city had been taken out.[3] Warsaw was far from the worst off after the Nazi retreat; 97% of Jasło[4] and 100% of Polanów were reduced to rubble.[5] Other towns such as Wałcz fared better, with only a quarter of the city being destroyed.[5] Ancient historical buildings in Polish cities were not spared; for example, Trzemeszno's Romanesque basilica of 1130-45 was burnt down in 1945.[5]

Polish name
German name
Pre-war location
coordinates
Damage
Details
Bartoszyce
 Bartenstein Germany 54°15′N 20°49′E / 54.250°N 20.817°E / 54.250; 20.817
50%[5]
Bielsk Podlaski
 Bielsk Podlaski Poland —
65%[5]
Bobolice
 Bublitz Germany 53°57′N 16°35′E / 53.950°N 16.583°E / 53.950; 16.583
75%[5]
Bolesławiec
 Bunzlau Germany 51°16′N 15°34′E / 51.267°N 15.567°E / 51.267; 15.567
60%[5]
Braniewo
 Braunsberg Germany 54°23′N 19°49′E / 54.383°N 19.817°E / 54.383; 19.817
85%[5]
Brzeg
 Brieg Germany 50°52′N 17°29′E / 50.867°N 17.483°E / 50.867; 17.483
80%[5]
Dębica
 Dębica Poland 50°03′N 21°25′E / 50.050°N 21.417°E / 50.050; 21.417
40%[5]
Dobiegniew
 Woldenberg Germany 52°58′N 15°45′E / 52.967°N 15.750°E / 52.967; 15.750
85%[5]
Dobre Miasto
 Guttstadt Germany 53°59′N 20°24′E / 53.983°N 20.400°E / 53.983; 20.400
65%[5]
Dobrzany
 Jakobshagen Germany 53°21′N 15°26′E / 53.350°N 15.433°E / 53.350; 15.433
60%[5]
Dukla
 Dukla Poland 49°34′N 21°41′E / 49.567°N 21.683°E / 49.567; 21.683
85%[5]
Elbląg
 Elbing Germany 54°10′N 19°24′E / 54.167°N 19.400°E / 54.167; 19.400
60%[5]
Ełk
 Lyck Germany 53°50′N 22°21′E / 53.833°N 22.350°E / 53.833; 22.350
50%[6]
Frombork
 Frauenburg Germany 54°21′25″N 19°40′52″E / 54.357°N 19.681°E / 54.357; 19.681
80%[5]
Garwolin
 Garwolin Poland 51°54′N 21°37′E / 51.900°N 21.617°E / 51.900; 21.617
70%[5]
Gdańsk
 Danzig Danzig 54°21′N 18°40′E / 54.350°N 18.667°E / 54.350; 18.667
50%
old town 80%[5]
Gdynia
 Gdingen Poland 54°30′N 18°33′E / 54.500°N 18.550°E / 54.500; 18.550
66% (Estimate)[7][8][9]
Głogów
 Glogau Germany 51°40′N 16°05′E / 51.667°N 16.083°E / 51.667; 16.083
95%[5]
old town completely[5]
Goleniów
 Gollnow Germany 53°34′N 14°49′E / 53.567°N 14.817°E / 53.567; 14.817
60%[5]
Gołdap
 Goldap Germany 54°18′58″N 22°18′34″E / 54.31611°N 22.30944°E / 54.31611; 22.30944
90%
Goniądz
 Gonionds Poland 53°29′N 22°44′E / 53.483°N 22.733°E / 53.483; 22.733
80%[5]
Gryfice
 Greifenberg Germany 53°54′53″N 15°11′55″E / 53.91472°N 15.19861°E / 53.91472; 15.19861
40%[5]
Gryfino
 Greifenhagen Germany 53°15′N 14°29′E / 53.250°N 14.483°E / 53.250; 14.483
70%[5]
Gubin
 Guben Germany 51°57′N 14°43′E / 51.950°N 14.717°E / 51.950; 14.717
90%[5]
Iłża
 Iłża Poland 51°10′0″N 21°15′0″E / 51.16667°N 21.25000°E / 51.16667; 21.25000 —
Inowrocław
 Hohensalza Poland 52°48′N 18°16′E / 52.800°N 18.267°E / 52.800; 18.267
50%[5]
Jasło
 Jassel Poland 49°45′N 21°28′E / 49.750°N 21.467°E / 49.750; 21.467
97%[4]
Kałuszyn
 Kałuszyn Poland 52°12′30″N 21°48′42″E / 52.20833°N 21.81167°E / 52.20833; 21.81167
85%[5]
Kamień Pomorski
 Cammin Germany 53°58′N 14°46′E / 53.967°N 14.767°E / 53.967; 14.767
65%[5]
Kańczuga
 Kańczuga Poland 49°59′02″N 22°24′31″E / 49.98389°N 22.40861°E / 49.98389; 22.40861
50%[5]
Kazimierz Dolny
 Kazimierz Dolny Poland 51°19′N 21°57′E / 51.317°N 21.950°E / 51.317; 21.950 —
Kętrzyn
 Rastenburg Germany 54°05′N 21°23′E / 54.083°N 21.383°E / 54.083; 21.383
50%[5]
Knyszyn
 Knyszyn Poland 53°19′N 22°55′E / 53.317°N 22.917°E / 53.317; 22.917
80%[5]
Kolbuszowa
 Kolbuszowa Poland 50°15′N 21°46′E / 50.250°N 21.767°E / 50.250; 21.767 —
Kołobrzeg
 Kolberg Germany 54°11′N 15°35′E / 54.183°N 15.583°E / 54.183; 15.583
90%[5]
Kostrzyn nad Odrą
 Küstrin Germany 52°35′18″N 14°39′00″E / 52.58833°N 14.65000°E / 52.58833; 14.65000
90%[5]
Koszalin
 Köslin Germany 54°12′N 16°11′E / 54.200°N 16.183°E / 54.200; 16.183
40%[5]
Kożuchów
 Freystadt in Schlesien Germany 51°45′N 15°36′E / 51.750°N 15.600°E / 51.750; 15.600
70%[5]
Krosno Odrzańskie
 Crossen an der Oder Germany 52°03′N 15°05′E / 52.050°N 15.083°E / 52.050; 15.083
65%[5]
Krzepice
 Kschepitz Poland —
50%[5]
Kuźnia Raciborska
 Ratiborhammer Germany 50°13′N 18°18′E / 50.217°N 18.300°E / 50.217; 18.300
50%[5]
Kwidzyń
 Marienwerder Germany 53°44′N 18°55′E / 53.733°N 18.917°E / 53.733; 18.917
50%[5]
Legnica
 Liegnitz Germany 51°13′N 16°10′E / 51.217°N 16.167°E / 51.217; 16.167
60%[5]
Leśna
 Marklissa Germany 51°01′25″N 15°16′00″E / 51.02361°N 15.26667°E / 51.02361; 15.26667 —
Lubań
 Lauban Germany 51°07′N 15°18′E / 51.117°N 15.300°E / 51.117; 15.300
60%[5]
Lubin
 Lüben Germany 51°24′N 16°12′E / 51.400°N 16.200°E / 51.400; 16.200
70%[5]
Lublin
 Lublin Poland 51°24′N 22°57′E / 51.400°N 22.950°E / 51.400; 22.950
—
Łomża
 Lomscha Poland 53°11′N 22°05′E / 53.183°N 22.083°E / 53.183; 22.083
70%[5]
Malbork
 Marienburg in Westpreußen Germany 54°02′N 19°03′E / 54.033°N 19.050°E / 54.033; 19.050
45%
Nidzica
 Neidenburg Germany 53°22′N 20°26′E / 53.367°N 20.433°E / 53.367; 20.433
40%[5]
Opole
 Oppeln Germany 50°40′N 17°56′E / 50.667°N 17.933°E / 50.667; 17.933
60%[5]
Ostrołęka
 Ostrołęka Poland 53°05′N 21°35′E / 53.083°N 21.583°E / 53.083; 21.583 —
Ostróda
 Osterode in Ostpreußen Germany 53°42′N 19°59′E / 53.700°N 19.983°E / 53.700; 19.983
60% (Estimate)[5]
Piła
 Schneidemühl Germany 53°09′N 16°44′E / 53.150°N 16.733°E / 53.150; 16.733
75%[5]
Polanów
 Pollnow Germany 54°06′N 16°42′E / 54.100°N 16.700°E / 54.100; 16.700
100%[5]
Poznań
 Posen Poland 49°47′10″N 22°46′26″E / 49.78611°N 22.77389°E / 49.78611; 22.77389
55% (Estimate)[5]
Przemyśl
 Premissel Poland 54°15′N 20°49′E / 54.250°N 20.817°E / 54.250; 20.817 —
Rzepin
 Reppen Germany 52°21′N 14°50′E / 52.350°N 14.833°E / 52.350; 14.833
85%[5]
Stargard Szczeciński
 Stargard in Pommern Germany 53°20′N 15°03′E / 53.333°N 15.050°E / 53.333; 15.050
70%[5]
Szczecin
 Stettin Germany 53°25′N 14°35′E / 53.417°N 14.583°E / 53.417; 14.583
65%[5]
port and industry 95%[5]
Trzemeszno
 Tremessen Poland 52°33′31″N 17°49′09″E / 52.55861°N 17.81917°E / 52.55861; 17.81917 —
Romanesque basilica of 1130-45 burnt down in 1945[5]
Świnoujście
 Swinemünde Germany 53°55′N 14°15′E / 53.917°N 14.250°E / 53.917; 14.250
55%[5]
Wałcz
 Deutsch Krone Germany 53°16′N 16°28′E / 53.267°N 16.467°E / 53.267; 16.467
25%[5]
Warszawa
 Warschau Poland 52°13′48″N 21°00′39″E / 52.23000°N 21.01083°E / 52.23000; 21.01083
85%[3]
Węgorzewo
 Angerburg Germany 54°13′N 21°45′E / 54.217°N 21.750°E / 54.217; 21.750
80%[5]
Wodzisław Śląski
 Loslau Poland 50°00′N 18°27′E / 50.000°N 18.450°E / 50.000; 18.450
80%
Wolin
 Wollin Germany 53°55′N 14°30′E / 53.917°N 14.500°E / 53.917; 14.500
70%[5]
Wolsztyn
 Wollstein Poland 52°07′N 16°07′E / 52.117°N 16.117°E / 52.117; 16.117 —
Classicist castle of 1845 burnt down in 1945[5]
Wrocław
 Breslau Germany 51°07′N 17°02′E / 51.117°N 17.033°E / 51.117; 17.033
70%[5]
Zabłudów
 Zabłudów Poland 53°01′N 23°21′E / 53.017°N 23.350°E / 53.017; 23.350
85% (Estimate)[5]
Żagań
 Sagan Germany 51°37′N 15°19′E / 51.617°N 15.317°E / 51.617; 15.317
60%[5]
Zakroczym
 Zakroczym Poland 52°26′16″N 20°36′43″E / 52.43778°N 20.61194°E / 52.43778; 20.61194
80%[5]
Złoczew
 Złoczew Poland 51°25′N 18°36′E / 51.417°N 18.600°E / 51.417; 18.600
80%[5]
Żary
 Sorau Germany 51°38′N 15°08′E / 51.633°N 15.133°E / 51.633; 15.133
60%[5]
Żelechów
 Żelechów Poland 51°48′N 21°54′E / 51.800°N 21.900°E / 51.800; 21.900 —
Żory
 Sohrau Poland 50°03′N 18°42′E / 50.050°N 18.700°E / 50.050; 18.700
80%[5]
Żychlin
 Żychlin Poland 52°14′43″N 19°37′25″E / 52.24528°N 19.62361°E / 52.24528; 19.62361
40% (Estimate)[5]

See also[]

References[]

Notes
  1. ^ Anthony M. Tung. Preserving the world's great cities:The Destruction and Renewal of the Historic Metropolis (2001 ed.). Three Rivers Press. ISBN 0-517-70148-0.
  2. ^ Wituska, Tomaszewski 2006, p. xxii.
  3. ^ a b Free Europe Committee 1970, p. 10.
  4. ^ a b Lisa Chapman (July 7, 2009). "Polish town at odds over Hitler's oak". Austrian Times. Retrieved October 8, 2009.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo "На карте Польши", библиотечка "Польши" (2)
  6. ^ Terence Neiland (July 23, 1995). "Q and A". The New York Times. Retrieved October 8, 2009.
  7. ^ Nowak 1989, p. 214.
  8. ^ "Zabytki i historia Pomorza - Gdańsk 1945 - "wyzwolenie" i zniszczenia". zdsk.pl. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  9. ^ gdansk.pl, -. "Historia Gdańska". Gdańsk - oficjalny portal miasta (in Polish). Retrieved 2021-02-19.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
Bibliography
  • Free Europe Committee. East Europe, Volumes 19-20 (1970 ed.). East Europe Pub.
  • Nowak, Margaret Collingwood. Two who were there: a biography of Stanley Nowak (1989 ed.). Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-1883-5. - Total pages: 276
  • Krystyna Wituska, Irene Tomaszewski. Inside a Gestapo prison: the letters of Krystyna Wituska, 1942-1944 (2006 ed.). Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-3294-3. - Total pages: 127
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