Zawkrze
Zawkrze | |
|---|---|
    | |
 Map of Zawkrze | |
| Country |  Poland |
| Historical region | Mazovia |
| Historical capital | Szreńsk |
| Largest town | Mława |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,779 km2(687 sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1(CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2(CEST) |
| Highways |  |
Zawkrze,alsoZawkrze Land(Polish:ziemia zawkrzańska), is a small historic region of Poland (ziemia), located in northernMazovia,along the border withMasuria.Its approximate area is 1,784 km2(689 sq mi), and the population is about 114,000. Currently, Zawkrze has three towns, and more than 200 villages. Its name comes from theWkrariver – Zawkrze meansthe land behind the Wkra,from the perspective ofPłock,the historic capital of Mazovia. The largest town of the region isMława,while the historic capital of Zawkrze isSzreńsk.
Zawkrze lies between the Wkra (in the south), Działdówka (in the west), Orzyca andŁydynia(in the east) rivers, and the former border withPrussiain the north. From east to west, Zawkrze is some 55 km (34 mi), while from north to south – some 70 km (43 mi). Currently, Zawkrze is divided between five counties and twovoivodeships-Mława,Żuromin,Ciechanów,NidzicaandDziałdowo.It has four towns, Mława,Żuromin,Glinojeck,Lubowidz,as well as three former towns –Kuczbork-Osada,Niedzbórzand Szreńsk. There is a sports club "Zawkrze" Mława, as well as a Museum of the Zawkrze Region, also in Mława.
History
[edit]Following the medieval fragmentation of Poland, Zawkrze was part of the duchies ofMasoviaandPłock.The northern border was established by theTreaty of Kaliszin 1343. From 1384 to 1399 and from 1407 to 1411, Zawkrze waspawnedto theTeutonic Knightsby Duke of Mazovia,Siemowit IV.In 1494, during the reign of KingJohn I Albert,Zawkrze was reincorporated directly into theKingdom of Poland,in which it was part ofPłock Voivodeshipwithin theGreater Poland Province.It was divided into three counties (Szreńsk, Mława and Niedzbórz), and its boundaries remained unchanged until thePartitions of Poland.Following theSecond Partition of Poland(1793), the northern part of Zawkrze was annexed by theKingdom of Prussia,and in 1795, the whole Zawkrze became part of Prussia. In 1807, Zawkrze became part of the short-lived PolishDuchy of Warsaw,and after its dissolution, from 1815 to 1918, it belonged toRussian-controlledCongress Poland.
Following the joint German-Sovietinvasion of Poland,which startedWorld War IIin September 1939, the region wasoccupied by Germanyuntil 1945, and the local population was subjected to persecution. The village ofOścisłowowas the site of large massacres, in which several hundreds of Poles were murdered as part of theIntelligenzaktion,and several dozen disabled from the region were murdered as part ofAktion T4.[1]