Mirsk

Mirsk
Mirsk Town Hall
Flag Coat of arms
Mirsk
Coordinates: 50°58′9″N 15°22′58″E
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Lower Silesian
County	Lwówek Śląski
Gmina	Mirsk
Town rights	1329/1337
Area
• Total	14.66 km2 (5.66 sq mi)
Elevation	350 m (1,150 ft)
Population  (2019-06-30)
• Total	3,886
• Density	270/km2 (690/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Area code	+48 75
Climate	Dfb
Website	http://www.mirsk.pl

Mirsk [mʲirsk] (German: Friedeberg am Queis) is a town in Lwówek Śląski County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district (gmina) called Gmina Mirsk, close to the Czech border.

The town is situated on the upper Kwisa river north of the Jizera Mountains, approximately 22 kilometres (14 mi) south-west of Lwówek Śląski, and 118 kilometres (73 mi) west of the regional capital Wrocław, within the historic region of Lower Silesia. As of 2019, the town has a population of 3,886.

History

The settlement arose in the 13th century where the medieval trade route from Jelenia Góra to Zittau crossed the border with Upper Lusatia. As a result of the fragmentation of Poland, in 1319 it became part the small Piast-ruled Duchy of Jawor. In the course of the German Ostsiedlung, it received town privileges by the Duke Henry I of Jawor in 1337 (according to other sources in 1329). Upon the death of his successor Duke Bolko II the Small in 1368, it passed to the Bohemian Crown and was enfeoffed to the noble House of Schaffgotsch in 1425. In 1431 it was successfully defended against the Hussites. An annual fair took place in the town from 1521. During the Thirty Years' War, troops from various countries plundered the town as many as 31 times.

With most of Silesia, it was annexed as Friedeberg by Prussia in 1742 and incorporated into the Silesia Province. In 1938, part of the village of Skarbków was merged with the town. During World War II the Germans created a branch of the Gross-Rosen concentration camp for Jewish women in Skarbków.

After surrender of Nazi Germany, the Soviets passed control over the German town to Poland. On June 24, Polish troops forced deportation of many townspeople, who had to march for two days by Egelsdorf, Volksersdorf and finally to Radmeritz. However, most returned to their homes, and suffered oppression and plundering by Polish militia. Eventually, all population had to leave their home on July 11, 1945. Polish new settlers arrived to settle the former German town.

Eventually, the border changes demanded by the Soviet Union at the Potsdam Conference placed the town in Polish territory. In 1961 the entire village of Skarbków was included within the town limits.

Former names

German names, 1201–1945: Eulendorf, Fridberg, Friedeberg; Friedeberg am Queis to distinguish it from Brandenburgian Friedeberg (Strzelce Krajeńskie), Friedeberg/Isergebirge from 1934; for a short period after World War II literally translated as Polish: Spokojna Góra meaning "peaceful mountain". The present name, adopted in 1947, is derived from the Russian word "mir", translated as "peace", however, this word does not exist in the Polish language. It is possible that the post-war Polish authorities in Mirsk were forced to show gratitude to the Soviet Red Army for supposed liberation from the Nazis and for granting Poland the "Recovered Territories".

Twin towns – sister cities

See twin towns of Gmina Mirsk.

External links

• Official town webpage