Katowice, capital of the Silesian region of Poland, is an industrial town that
owes its importance to the nearby coalmines. While the region has been settled
for centuries, it was not until the Industrial Revolution that Katowice began
to grow into the busy centre we see today.
The city underwent its main growth in the 19th century, when coalminers and
steelworkers began developing the area’s natural resources and infrastructure
such as a train line connecting Katowice and Myslowice allowed easier access
for industry. Industrial development was stimulated by the events of World War
I, especially because of the Katowice steelworks. Between 1919 and 1921 the
Silesian population took part in three uprisings against German control. On
20th June 1922 Katowice officially became part of the Polish state, and soon
afterwards the city was named capital of the Silesian Province.
Between the wars, many housing estates and monumental buildings were constructed.
On 8th September 1939, the whole region of the Upper Silesia came under control
of the Third Reich, but the only major buildings destroyed in Katowice in World
War II were the synagogue on Mickiewicz Street and the Silesian Museum.
Katowice was liberated in 1945, and almost immediately regained its status
as a centre of industry and administration. More recently, however, the city’s
technical and social infrastructure fell into disrepair, and pollution and bad
health became major problems due to the outdated equipment and techniques used
in the many mines. Clean-up initiatives are, thankfully, under way, and the
region is expected to continue its economic growth as Poland’s industrial
base.
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