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and gingerbread...
History of Toruń In the beginning of XX century the national conflict between Germans and Polish citizens intensified. It was fuelled by actions of so called “hakata” (Ostmarkverein) and the bill on associations prohibiting the use of Polish language in open public gatherings. Before the outbreak of the First World Wary (1910), the city was inhabited by 46 thousand citizens of whom 55-60% were Germans, 38-43% were Polish and 2% were of Jewish origin. After the war lost by Germans and in accordance with provisions of the Treaty of Versailles, Toruń became a Polish city once again. On 18 January 1920 troops of Polish Pomerania Division entered Toruń. Two days later, the first Pomeranian voivod Stefan Łaszewski (nominated already in October 1919) arrived at Toruń. Thus Toruń became the capital of a large voivodship encompassing a part of former West Prussia now belonging to Poland. New administrative functions brought about a change in commercial character of the city. It was gradually transformed from a pre-war stronghold into a modern administrative and cultural centre. During the presidency of Antoni Bolt (1924-1936) Toruń’s transport routes were modernised and construction of new centre was commenced. After 1928 the building of Pomeranian Voivodship Office was erected (in 1933 it became the District Office of Management of National Railway) as well as the Management Office of National Forests, a redemptorist monastery and school in Bielany district and an antenna mast and broadcasting station of Polish Radio. In 1934 a modern highway bridge connecting the city of Toruń with Podgórz was built. The number of citizens rose in the 1920-1939 period from 37 to 79 thousand. Also industry flourished – gingerbread factories still operated successfully. The biggest of them, the Gustav Weese factory was taken over by “Społem“ Association of Food Industry Co-operatives in 1939. In 1932 the biggest industrial plant in Toruń was opened. It was a Belgian-Polish Chemical Plant "Polchem" Ltd. which produced sulphuric acid and phosphoric fertilizers. Scientific and cultural life flourished. In 1925 the Baltic Institute was created and soon became the main body doing research on the Pomeranian region. In 1936 it was moved to Gdynia. In 1923 a large scientific library – The City Library was opened. It collected scattered scientific books and old-prints copies. The theatre played a significant role in cultural life of the city. In the 1920-1939 period approximately 700 plays were produced. This short period of rapid development of the city was ended by war. On 7 September 1939 Wehrmacht troops marched into Toruń. On 16 and 17 October 1939 German police started to arrest Polish citizens, mainly clerks and intellectuals. They were transported to Fort VII which became a central prison for Poles from the city and the region. A total number of 1200 persons were imprisoned. In the period between 28 October and 6 December 1939, 500 of them were executed in Barbarka forest. By March 1941some 5000 Polish citizens were expelled from Toruń. Already in Autumn of 1939, Germans transported the last group of Jews from Toruń to Łódź. German authorities forced the rest of Poles remaining in the city to accept German nationality. Furthermore, German presence in the city was strengthened by immigrants from eastern Europe and III Reich – a total number of circa 16 thousand Germans settled in Toruń by the end of 1944. German occupation ended on 1 February 1945. On this day German troops trying to reach Bydgoszcz were forced out of the city by Russian army. Soon, Polish administration was organised. One of the first administrative decisions of the Temporary Government, inspired by PPR (Polish Labour Party), was to move voivodship capital from "intellectual" Toruń to "working class" Bydgoszcz (on 2 March 1945). However, the city was soon compensated for its administrative degradation. Professors from Stefan Batory University in Vilno were forced to leave their hometown and arrived at Toruń. In co-operation with local cultural circles they realised the idea of creating a university in Toruń. It was finally opened on 24 August 1945 by the Presidium of National Council. Prof. Ludwik Kolankowski was appointed the first rector of Nicolaus Copernicus University. In its fifty-years’ history, the university became one of the most important scientific and educational centres in Poland. Currently, it has more than 31,000 students and is ranked four in classification of Polish universities doing scientific research. In the 1967-1973 period, the university received a modern library, new didactical and housing buildings for students and a rectorate building localised in newly built academic campus in Bielany district. The campus is still being developed. Social situation in the city in the post-war period was not favourable. Degradation to a sub-region and transfer of numerous regional institutions to Bydgoszcz hindered economic and cultural development of the city. However, a slow headway could be observed in this area. In 1947, Toruń Clothing Factory (now "Torpo") was opened, Pomeranian Low Voltage Equipment Factory (now "Apator") started production next year and in the 1950-1955 period existing industrial plants were modernised ("Polchem" for example) and new factories were built (in 1951 Toruń Dressing Materials Factory was opened ). The 1960s saw a breakthrough in this sector. After central authorities’ decision, Toruń became the location of two large industrial plants – "Elana" Chemical Fibres Production Plant (opened in 1964) and "Merinotex" Toruń Spinning Factory (1965). Development of industry in the 1960s caused a massive influx of people from the region. Only "Elana" and "Merinotex" employed some 10,000 persons in 1975. Flourish of industry brought about increased demographical growth. In 1946, population of Toruń was 68,000, in 1960 it was 105,000 and now it totals over 210,000. The influx of people necessitated spatial development of the city. The biggest development investment was the building of "Rubinkowo" housing estate where about half of inhabitants of Toruń live at present. The rapidly growing city also received a new hospital (1971), a heating-power station and a drinking water intake on the Drwęca River. Transport network was developed (Bydgoszczy – Gdańsk highway, a new Merinotex-Elana tram line). In 1975, as a result of administrative reform, Toruń once again became the seat of voivodship authorities. However, this situation influenced further development of the city only to minimal extent. Much greater change was induced by political reforms which were introduced after 1989 r. As a result of a reform of territorial local government, city authorities could have real influence on development of Toruń. In 1992, after a decision of pope John Paul II, Toruń became the seat of a bishop. In the 1990s the city gradually regained the position of an important cultural centre – international theatre and film festivals organised in Toruń became firmly established and the role of Toruń as Polish and European tourist attraction increased. The fact that Toruń was entered into World Cultural Heritage list in December 1997 can be regarded as the crowning of activities undertaken by city authorities in this area.
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