Miasto Gliwice - History of the City

The city emerged in 13th century as a trade and crafts center at the intersection of major east-west and north-south routes through Europe, and this crossroads location has shaped its history.  Gliwice was controlled by Czech kings until the middle of the 16th century, when it came under Habsburg control. In 1740 Gliwice became a part of Prussia.

Historians have no doubt that the Prussian times in Gliwice favoured the birth of capitalism. At that time there was the development of suburbia, steelworks housing estates were located there. The network of mining and steelworks offices was developed, with the Mining Institute at the forefront. At the time, the Kłodnica Canal was also being built. The construction of the canal was commenced in order to provide a river transport of coal from the local mines and to secure the town against troublesome periodical floods and lasted to 1822.

Another element that largely contributed to the city development was the opening of the railway line connecting Wrocław to Gliwice in 1845, which was subsequently extended to Mysłowice. In 1892 the first horse-drawn tram line was opened, which was then extended as far as to Piekary Śląskie. In 1899 the Victoria theatre was opened, where actors from all parts of Europe performed until the World War II.

During the World War I the economy of Gliwice was adjusted to the needs of the production of weaponry. It lead to the closure of some industrial plants. The years of 1919-1921 were a period of the Silesian uprisings and a nationality plebiscite. The inhabitants of Gliwice had to decide if they wanted to belong to the Polish or German state. The residents of Gliwice were in favour of the German nationality, whereas 88 out of 102 communes of Toszek and Gliwice administrative district were in favour of the Polish nationality. In 1922 the disputed territory was divided between the two countries.

 

On 31 August 1939 there was a simulated attack upon the radio station (present Tarnogórska Street). The event was supposed to give the German army a pretext for invading Poland. During the World War II once again the city became a significant centre of military production. In Gliwice were four labour camps, branches  of a Nazi concentration camp in Auschwitz. They provided a source of cheap workforce.

In 1945 the Red Army entered the city. The Soviet soldiers damaged the city considerably and burnt a historic edifice of Victoria Theatre.Gliwice became a part of Polish territory once more in 1945.