Destruction of Kalisz

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Główny Rynek 20, 62-800 Kalisz, Poland

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N51° 45' 45" E18° 5' 25.08"   (51.7625, 18.0903) Start navigation »

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The destruction and sacking of the city of Kalisz (Polish: zburzenie Kalisza) by German Empire troops took place from 2 August until 22 August 1914 at the beginning of World War I. The event is also known as the Pogrom of Kalisz or Poland’s Louvain (see Schrecklichkeit atrocities).

On 13 February 1793, Kalisz and the Kalisz region became part of Prussia during the partition of Poland. After Napoleon's defeat on the Eastern front in 1812, it was taken over by Imperial Russia, which subsequently controlled the city for more than 100 years. The German army invaded Kalisz on 2 August 1914. The town was burnt down; only churches and public offices survived. A significant number of citizens were shot. Prior to the war, Kalisz had 65,000 inhabitants. Afterwards, it was left with 5,000 inhabitants..

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