Travel Guide "Remembrance Connects Region Oder-Warta"

29 A h i stor i ca l ly common cultura l area A h i stor i ca l ly common cultura l area The Thirty Years‘ War ( 1618 – 1648 ) The Thirty Years‘ War began in 1618 as a purely religious war and ended 30 years later with the Peace of Westphalia after numerous territorial disputes. This not only ended the age of religious wars, but also the universal power of the pope and emperor. In the course of the war, millions of people suffered from hunger and epidemics. About five million people lost their lives. The Oder-Warthe region was in the area of influence and deployment. In addition to the imperial troops, Swedish Over the centuries, the Oder-Warthe region has repeatedly been the scene of military conflicts between alternating warring parties who wanted to assert or expand their claims. Even today, there are monuments commemorating these fateful chapters in the region‘s history. Battle of Zehden ( 972 ) The location of this battle and its significance are still controversial subjects among Polish historians. Polish historian Gerard Labuda sees the beginnings of the Polish state in the victorious battle of „Cidini“ in Zehden. In 972 , the troops of the Piast Duke Mieszko I of Poland fought here troops also roamed the land, plunde- ring and pillaging. In the form of com- pulsory levies, the population of the Neumark had to pay for stationing costs during the Swedish occupation. In addition to the decisive battle at Wittstock in autumn of 1636 , the Battle of Frankfurt (Oder) in April of 1631 also went down in the history books. The troops of the Holy Roman Empire fought the Swedes for the strategically im- portant fortified Oder River crossing in Frankfurt. The Swedish troops were victorious after a two-day siege and from there were able to advance further towards central and southern Germany. The Seven Years‘ War ( 1756 – 1763 ) In the course of the Seven Years‘ War, Prussian troops fought against the troops of the imperial Habsburg monarchy. After the Peace Treaties of Paris, Prussia rose to become the fifth major European power. The war brought with it another down- turn of economic life in the region. High compulsory levies slowed down the economic upswing that began with the draining of Oderbruch. Today, numerous monuments comme- morate these past military conflicts. The Battle of Zorndorf After the Russian army occupied East Prussia in January of 1758 , the force moved further and further towards Berlin. On 25 August 1758 , the troops of the Prussian army under King Frederick II and the main Russian army under Wilhelm von Fermor clashed near Zorndorf in Neumark. The battle ended in victory for the Prussians, who thus successfully against the forces of the Margrave of Ostmark Hodo I, thereby securing the western border of the Polish Empire. Since 1972 , these historic events have been commemorated by an 18 -metre- high and 300 -tonne soaring eagle on Czcibor Hill. prevented the further advance of Russian troops into Mark Branden- burg. Since 1826 , a memorial stone at the so-called „Friedrichshügel“ near Zorndorf (Sarbinowo) has commemo- rated the victims of this battle. The Battle of Kay On 23 July 1759 , Prussia‘s troops fought against the Russian army. The Prussians lost because of an unfavourable position and ended up retreating across the Oder River at nightfall. The Russian troops had an easy time of it. Together with the Austrian army‘s troops, which in the meantime had become freed up, the force now advanced towards Frankfurt (Oder). The Battle of Kunersdorf At the subsequent battle of Kuners- dorf on 12 August 1759 , the Russian- Austrian troops were victorious over the Prussian army. With 19 , 000 dead and wounded, Frederick II lost over 40 percent of his soldiers. Berlin was now within reach of the enemy forces. However, these forces turned toward Saxony and Silesia. As a result, the biggest defeat of the Prussian army at this time had no influence on the war‘s outcome. The Cedynia Memorial Hill (Zehden) E 124 , two kilometres past the border crossing Historical battles in the Oder-Warthe region The Oder-Warthe region has been the setting of famous military conflicts between Habsburgs, Poles, Swedes, Prussians and Russians 28