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German Genealogy: Province Posen

Summary

General Information Genealogical and Historical Societies Genealogical and Historical Sources Gazetteers and Maps Bibliography and Literature Archives and Libraries Miscellaneous Subjects Other Sources (including Internet)

General Information

Geographic

Map with districts (Kreise) of province Posen (in preparation) Town-list with affiliation to district (in planning)

Local geography of the Province Posen (around 1910) [only in german]

History

A part of Greater Poland was annexed by King Friedrich II of Prussia in 1772 during the first partition of Poland and became the name Netzedistrict. During the second partition of Poland in 1793 the remainder of the province Posen was annexed by King Friedrich William II of Prussia and called South Prussia.

After the Prussian defeat by Napoleon Bonaparte, the area of Posen was united with the Grand Duchy of Warsaw (1807-1815). By loosing the power of Napoleon also the Grand Duchy of Warsaw fell and Prussia got the province Posen back (1815-1919). The province Posen is partitioned into the administrative districts (Regierungsbezirke) Posen and Bromberg. The capital of the province is Posen (Poznan).

After First World War Posen became part of the new formed Poland. Germany occupied the province Posen in the Second World War (1939-1945) and called it Warthegau. Into 1945 Posen was returned to Poland and the German population was expelled.

A historical representation in more detail of the province Posen and the Kingdom of Poland can be read here.

Political Division

In 1944 the Reichsgau Wartheland was divided as follows:

o Administrative district (Regierungsbezirk) Posen containing 18 districts (Kreise): Birnbaum, Gostingen, Graetz, Jarotschin, Kolmar, Kosten, Krotoschin, Lissa, Obernick, Posen-Land, Posen-Stadt, Rawitsch, Samter, Scharnikau, Schrimm, Schroda, Wollstein, Wreschen o Administrative district (Regierungsbezirk) Hohensalza containing 15 districts (Kreise): Altburgund, Dietfurt, Eichenbrueck, Gnesen-Land, Gnesen-Stadt, Hermannsbad, Hohensalza-Land, Hohensalza-Stadt, Konin, Kutno, Leslau- Land, Leslau-Stadt, Mogilno, Waldrode, Warthbruecken o Administrative district (Regierungsbezirk) Kalisch/Litzmannstadt containing 11 districts (Kreise): Kalisch-Land, Kalisch-Stadt, Kempen, Lask, Lentschuetz, Litzmannstadt- Land, Litzmannstadt-Stadt, Ostrowo, Schieratz, Turek, Welungen

The sections separated from the original Prussian province Posen were assigned in 1944 at the following districts in the mentioned provinces and administrative districts:

o Province Brandenburg, administrative district Frankfurt: Meseritz, Schwerin (Warthe), Zuellichau-Schwiebus [parts of the former districts Bomst and Fraustadt] o Province Danzig-Westpreussen, administrative district Bromberg: Bromberg-Land, Bromberg-Stadt, Wirsitz o Province Niederschlesien, administrative district Liegnitz: Fraustadt o Province Pommern, administrative district Grenzmark Posen-Westpreussen: Flatow [part of the former district Kolmar], Netzekreis [parts of the districts Filehne, Czarnikau and Kolmar], Schneidemuehl

In 1900 the province Posen was divided into the following districts (Kreise):

o Administrative district Posen containing 28 districts (Kreise): Adelnau, Birnbaum, Bomst, Fraustadt, Gostyn, Graetz, Jarotschin, Kempen, Koschmin, Kosten, Krotoschin, Lissa, Meseritz, Neutomischel, Obornik, Ostrowo, Pleschen, Posen-Stadt, Posen-Ost, Posen-West, Rawitsch, Samter, Schildberg, Schmiegel, Schrimm, Schroda, Schwerin, Wreschen. o Administrative district Bromberg containing 14 districts (Kreise): Bromberg-Stadt, Bromberg-Land, Czarnikau, Filehne, Gnesen, Inowrazlaw, Kolmar, Mogilno, Schubin, Strelno, Wirsitz, Witkowo, Wongrowitz, Znin.

In 1806 the province South-Prussia had 1.503.508 inhabitants with 3 sections (Departements):

o Departement of "Kriegs- und Domainen-Kammer" in Posen containing the districts (Kreise): Posen, Oborniki, Meseritz, Bomst, Fraustadt, Krebe, Schrim, Kosten, Krotoschin, Peifern, Schroda, Gnesen, Wangrowitz, Powitz, Brzesk, Radziejow, Kowal. o Departement of "Kriegs- und Domainen-Kammer" in Kalisch containing the districts (Kreise): Kalisch, Adelnau, Konin, Ostreschow, Wielun, Lumtomiersk, Warta, Schadek, Sieradz, Petrikau, Radomsk, Czenstochau. o Departement of "Kriegs- und Domainen-Kammer" in Warsaw containing the districts (Kreise): Warsaw, Blonin, Tschersk, Rawa, Sochaczew, Gostin, Orlow, Lenczyca, Zgierz, Brzezin.

Court districts

The highest court of the province Posen was the Supreme Court (Oberlandesgericht) in Posen (Poznan).

The lower courts were:

o Superior Court (Landgericht) Bromberg with 7 Inferior Courts (Amtsgerichte): Bromberg, Exin, Inowrazlaw, Krone, Labischin, Schubin, Strelno. o Superior Court (Landgericht) Gnesen with 5 Inferior Courts (Amtsgerichte): Gnesen, Mogilno, Tremessen, Wongrowitz, Wreschen. o Superior Court (Landgericht) Lissa with 8 Inferior Courts (Amtsgerichte): Bojanowo, Fraustadt, Gostyn, Jutroschin, Kosten, Lissa, Rawitsch, Schmiegel. o Superior Court (Landgericht) Meseritz with 9 Inferior Courts (Amtsgerichte): Bentschen, Birnbaum, Graetz, Meseritz, Neutomischel, Schwerin, Tirschtiegel, Unruhstadt, Wollstein. o Superior Court (Landgericht) Ostrowo with 8 Inferior Courts (Amtsgerichte): Adelnau, Jarotschin, Kempen, Koschmin, Krotoschin, Ostrowo, Pleschen, Schildberg. o Superior Court (Landgericht) Posen with 9 Inferior Courts (Amtsgerichte): Obornik, Pinne, Posen, Pudewitz, Rogasen, Samter, Schrimm, Schroda, Wronke. o Superior Court (Landgericht) Schneidemuehl with 13 Inferior Courts (Amtsgerichte): Czarnikau, Deutsch-Krone, Filehne, Jastrow, Kolmar, Lobsens, Margonin, Maerkisch-Friedland, Nakel, Schloppe, Schneidemuehl, Schoenlanke, Wirsitz.

For the administration of justice at the Superior Courts (Landgerichte) were courts of assizes (3 judge and 12 jurors) formed and at the Inferior Courts (Amtsgerichte) were courts of lay assessors (1 judge of the Inferior Court and 2 lay assessors) formed.

Traffic Routes

Beside of water ways and a quantity of high roads there is a large number of railways for traffic within the province and outward. Around 1910 there were the following railways:

o The East-Railway (Ostbahn) from Kreuz via Bromberg to Thorn with the branch lines Landsberg-Schwerin-Meseritz, Bromberg-Fordon- Culmsee, Bromberg-Znin, Nakel-Gnesen, Nakel-Konitz and the light railways Weissenhoehe-Lobsens-Witoslaw and Bromberg-Crone an der Brahe. o The Thorn-Posener Railway with the branch lines Hohensalza- Bromberg, Hohensalza-Kruschwitz, Hohensalza-Rogasen, Mogilno- Strelno and the light railway Gnesen-Witkowo-Powidz. o The Oels-Gnesener Railway with the branch line Posen-Stalkowo and the light railway Militsch-Sulmirschuetz. o The Posen-Belgarder Railway via Schneidemuehl. o The Posen-Stargarder Railway with the branch lines Rokietnica- Birnbaum and Kreuz-Rogasen. o The Maerkisch-Posener Railway with the branch lines to Reppen- Meseritz-Birnbaum, Bentschen-Meseritz, Bentschen-Wollstein-Lissa, Bentschen-Rotenburg and the light railways to Graetz, Neustadt and Neutomischel. o The Upper-Silesian Railway (oberschlesische Bahn) with the branch lines Czempin-Schrimm, Lissa-Glogau and Bajanowo-Guhrau. o The Posen-Kreuzburger Railway via Jarotschin and Kempen to Silesia with the branch lines Jarotschin-Lissa, Ostrowo-Lissa, and Ostrowo-Stalmierzyce. o The Railway from Oels via Kempen to the Polish boundary (Wilhelmsbrueck).

Religious Division

The superintendance of the entire church policy was by the state. The highest evangelical church function in the province Posen was the Generalsuperintendent. The catholic church was led by the archbishops in Gnesen and Posen.

Educational System

For the education there were numerous elementary and middle schools, higher girl's schools and higher teaching institutes in the province. For the teacher training there were teacher's training colleges and "Praeparanden" institutes. Deaf-mutes and blind ones were teached in special institutes.

Around 1910 there were the following institutes:

1 university (Hochschule) in Posen 17 secondary schools (Gymnasien) in: Bromberg, Nakel, Schneidemuehl, Hohensalza, Wongrowitz, Gnesen, Posen (3, of those one had also middle school classes), Rogasen, Meseritz, Fraustadt, Rawitsch, Lissa, Schrimm, Krotoschin and Ostrowo. 1 secondary school with scientific bias (Realgymnasium) in Bromberg 2 Progymnasien in Tremessen and Kempen 3 institutes for the deaf and dumb (Taubstummenanstalten) in: Posen, Bromberg and Schneidemuehl 1 home for the blind (Blindenanstalt) in Bromberg 9 "Praeparanden" institutes (Praeparandenanstalten) in: Czarnikau, Lobsens, Rogasen, Lissa, Meseritz, Bromberg, Wollstein, Schneidemuehl and Schoenlanke 7 teacher training colleges for men (Lehrerseminare) in: Bromberg, Exin, Schneidemuehl, Paradies, Koschmin and Rawitsch (2) 3 teacher training colleges for women (Lehrerinnenseminare) in: Posen and Bromberg (2)

Military

In larger cities an important number of soldiers of different branches of service were situated. The ranks of the administrative district Bromberg belonged to 2nd Army corps with command headquarters in Stettin, those of the administrative district Posen belonged to 5th Army corps with command headquarters in Posen. Posen and Bromberg were the most important garrisons. The other garrison towns were: Gnesen, Hohensalza, Schneidemuehl, Fraustadt, Lissa, Rawitsch, Krotoschin, Ostrowo, Wreschen and Schrimm.

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Genealogical and Historical Societies

Note: The specified societies are voluntary organizations, which operate with honorary persons. Inquiries should be attached by return postage; if it concerns inquiries, which require larger research, also a small donation.

Arbeitsgemeinschaft ostdeutscher Familienforscher e.V. (AGoFF) [english translation: Working Group of East German Family Researchers] Fuhrweg 29 D-53229 Bonn Germany

Leader of Research Area Posen: Mrs. Hilde Moeller Oppenheimer Str.50 D-60594 Frankfurt am Main Germany fax. +49-69-613212. Research commissions are not done, but advice is given (free of charge for AGoFF members, non-members depending upon expenditure). see also: List of genealogical societies in Germany or Homepages of Genealogical Societies

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Genealogical and Historical Sources

Church Records Civil Registration Records Other Records o Census o Citizenship o Education/University o Immigration and Emigration o Land

The whereabouts of the records for the Superior Courts (Landgerichte) and Inferior Courts (Amtsgerichte) are unknown. Of special interest are the land deed records (Grund- und Hypotheken-Akten) with no published survey known to date. State records remained in Poland as well as in the Berlin archives.

In addition to the deed and mortgage records deposited at the Inferior Courts (Amtsgerichte) there is a prime and practically unknown source: Generalkommission fuer Westpreussen und Posen zu Bromberg with records deposited at the state archives in Bromberg (Archiwum Panstwowe w Bydgoszcz) which are comprising 116.118 volumes for the years 1812-1920.

o Military o Tax

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Gazetteers and Maps

Gazetteers o Gemeindelexikon fuer die Provinz Posen, Berlin 1908 [translation: Municipality dictionary of the province Posen] o Verzeichnis saemtlicher Ortschaften des Regierungs-Bezirks Posen mit einer kurzen geographisch-statistischen Uebersicht, Posen 1845 [translation: List of all localities of the administrative district Posen with a short geographical-statistical summary] o Verzeichnis saemtlicher Ortschaften des Bromberger Regierungs-Bezirks mit einer geographisch-statistischen Uebersicht, Bromberg 1833 [translation: List of all localities of the administrative district Bromberg with a short geographical-statistical summary] o Historisches Ortschaftsverzeichnis fuer ehemals zu Deutschland gehoerige Gebiete (Zeitraum 1914 bis 1945), Band 8 Wartheland, bearbeitet und herausgegeben vom Institut fuer Angewandte Geodaesie, Frankfurt/Main 1994/95. [translation: Historical locality list of formerly areas belonging to Germany (period 1914 to 1945), volume 8 Wartheland]

Atlases and Maps o Summary-Page of sources of supply for maps o Map of province Posen from Blackie & Sons Atlas (Edinburgh, 1882), scale 1:1.800.000 o At the LDS (Mormonen) is a microfilm (# 068814) with the Map Karte des Deutschen Reiches, scale 1:100.000 (1 km = 1 cm) which may be lent from the Family History Centers. It covers Germany in the years 1914-1917. o Topographic Maps (plane table maps (Messtischblaetter) 1:25.000 and Grossblaetter 1:100.000) may be ordered at the following address. There is also a free Map-Summary (Blattuebersicht) with map-numbers available.

Bundesamt fuer Kartographie und Geodaesie -Aussenstelle Berlin- Stauffenbergstr.13 D-10785 Berlin GERMANY

[formerly: Institut fuer angewandte Geodaesie]

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Bibliography and Literature

Bibliographies o Rister, Herbert: Schrifttum ueber das Posener Land. 1961-1970. 3 Baende, Marburg 1976-79 Bd. 1: Allgemeines, Landeskunde, Bevoelkerungs-, Siedlungs- und Volkskunde, Geschichte. 1976 Bd. 2: Wirtschaft, Sozialgeschichte, Gesundheitswesen, Sport, Recht, geistiges und kulturelles Leben, kirchliches Leben, Sprache und Literatur. 1977 Bd. 3: Register. Bearbeitet von Albrecht Kannegiesser. 1979 [translation: Bibliography of the Posen country; Vol. 1: general, regional studies, population -, settlement and folklore, history; Vol. 2: economics, social history, health service, sport, right, mental and cultural life, church life, language and literature; Vol. 3: register] o Rister, Herbert: Verzeichnis des deutschsprachigen Schrifttums ueber das Bromberger Land. Wilhelmshaven 1977 [translation: List of the German-language bibliography of the Bromberg country]

Literature of Province Posen o Bussenius/Hubatsch: Urkunden und Akten zur Geschichte der preussischen Verwaltung in Suedpreussen und Neuostpreussen. 1793-1806. Frankfurt a.M./Bonn 1961 [translation: Deeds and documents of the history of the Prussian administration in South Prussia and New East Prussia. 1793-1806.] o Bliss, Winfried: Die Plankammer der Regierung Bromberg. Spezialinventar 1772 bis 1912. Koeln, Wien 1978 [translation: The "Maproom" of the government of Bromberg. Special inventory 1772 to 1912] o Niekammer's Gueter-Adressbuecher: Gueter-Adressbuch fuer die Provinz Posen. Stettin 1907 [translation: Goods address book of the province Posen.] o Deutsches Geschlechterbuch: Posener Baende = 62, 78, 116 und 140. Verlag C.A. Starke, Limburg/Lahn. [translation: German descent book: Posen Volumes = 62, 78, 116 and 140]

General Literature o Wegweiser fuer Forschung nach Vorfahren aus den Ostdeutschen und Sudetendeutschen Gebieten sowie aus den deutschen Siedlungsraeumen in Mittel-, Ost- und Suedosteuropa (AGoFF-Wegweiser): Verlag Degener, 91413 Neustadt, Germany (1991 und spaeter) (The out-of-print English edition is being presently revised.) [translation: research guide for ancestors from the East German and Sudeten- German areas as well as from the German residential areas in Middle-, East- and South-east Europe (AGoFF research guide)] o Standesamtsregister und Personenstandsbuecher der Ostgebiete im Standesamt I in Berlin, Gesamtverzeichnis fuer die ehemaligen deutschen Ostgebiete, die besetzten Gebiete und das Generalgouvernement. Frankfurt/Main 1992. Verlag fuer Standesamtswesen. [translation: Registry office registers and register of birth, deaths and marriages of the east areas in the Registry Office I in Berlin, total list of the former German east areas, the occupied areas and the Generalgouvernement.] o Verzeichnis der Kirchenbuecher im Evangelischen Zentralarchiv in Berlin. Teil I: Die oestlichen Kirchenprovinzen der altpreussischen Union, 3. Auflage. Berlin 1992. Verlag: Evangelisches Zentralarchiv in Berlin [translation: List of the church books at the Evangelical Central Archive in Berlin. Part I: The eastern church provinces of the old-prussian union] o Bestandsverzeichnis der Deutschen Zentralstelle fuer Genealogie Leipzig, Teil I: Die Kirchenbuchunterlagen der oestlichen Provinzen Posen, Ost- und Westpreussen, Pommern und Schlesien. Neustadt/Aisch 1991, Verlag Degener & Co. [translation: Inventory list of the German Central Office for Genealogy in Leipzig, part I: The church book documents of the eastern provinces Posen, East- and West-Prussia, Pomerania and Silesia] o Bestandsverzeichnis der Deutschen Zentralstelle fuer Genealogie Leipzig, Teil IV: Ortsfamilienbuecher mit Standort Leipzig in Deutscher Buecherei und Deutscher Zentralstelle fuer Genealogie. Neustadt/Aisch 1996, Verlag Degener & Co. [translation: Inventory list of the German Central Office for Genealogy in Leipzig, part IV: Ortsfamilienbuecher at the location Leipzig in German library and German Central Office for Genealogy.] o Ortsfamilienbuecher: These books duplicate all the parish birth, marriage and death records for a particular community see: List of Ortssippenbuecher/Ortsfamilienbuecher

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Archives and Libraries

Archives o Standesamt I in Berlin Rueckertstrasse 9, D-10119 Berlin; phone (0 30) 21 74-0, fax (0 30) 21 47-57 45 Gives information (only to direct descendants!) from saved Civil Office Records of the former German east areas. Inventory register: see general Literature o Evangelisches Zentralarchiv Jebensstrasse 3, D-10623 Berlin; phone (0 30) 31-001-107, fax (0 30) 31-001- 400 Resources: church-historical material of the evangelical church of old-Prussian union in the former German east areas Inventory register: see general Literature o Bischoefliches Zentralarchiv Regensburg St. Petersweg 11-13, D-93047 Regensburg; phone (09 41) 5 88 13 or 56 01 60, fax (09 41) 5 29 93 Resources: catholic church books o Deutsche Zentralstelle fuer Genealogie Leipzig im Saechsischen Staatsarchiv Leipzig Schongauerstrasse 1, D-04329 Leipzig; phone (03 41) 2 55 55 00, fax (03 41) 2 55 55 55 Resources: Microfilms of East German church books, collection of Ortsfamilienbuecher, ancestor list collection, ancestor master card index (Ahnenstammkartei) of the German people Inventory register: see general Literature o Geheimes Staatsarchiv preussischer Kulturbesitz Archivstrasse 12-14, D-14195 Berlin; phone (0 30) 8 39 01-00, fax (0 30) 8 39 01-180 o Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) [formerly: Wehrmachtsauskunftsstelle fuer Kriegsverluste und Kriegsgefangene] Eichborndamm 179, D-13403 Berlin; phone (0 30) 4 19 04-179, fax (0 30) 4 19 04-155 Information of combatants/dead soldiers of the Second World War (also some documents of the First World War available) Homepage of the WASt o Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints [also Mormons or Latter Day Saints (LDS) called] The "Genealogical Society of Utah" films world-wide church books, partly also Civil Office Registers and other genealogical relevant sources/literature. These microfilms can be seen against fee in the research centers (Family History Centers (FHC). . List of Family History Centers in Germany / world-wide . Local search in the online catalogue of microfilms (Family History Library Catalogue) . Name search o Information about polish archives

Libraries o Stiftung Gerhart-Hauptmann-Haus (formerly: Haus des Deutschen Ostens) - Bibliothek -, Bismarckstr. 90, D-40210 Duesseldorf o Martin-Opitz-Bibliothek (formerly: Buecherei des Deutschen Ostens) Berliner Platz 11, D-44623 Herne o Nordost-Bibliothek Conventstr. 1, D-21335 Lueneburg o Herder-Institut e. V. - Bibliothek -, Gisonenweg 5-7, D-35037 Marburg

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Miscellaneous Subjects

Publishing houses and bookshops with genealogical, historical and native literature: List of publishing houses and bookshops Professional Researchers Traditions Emigration waves Occupations Language and dialects today's settlement areas Events Travel guide

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Other Resources (including Internet)

Posen Research List (POS) There you can deposit your names in connection with the places. Mailing List There is a genealogy list for anyone with an interest in province Posen. To subscribe send an e-mail to [email protected] with the word SUBSCRIBE in text field. Resources for Jewish Genealogical Research Databases Heimatortskartei (place of residence card index) Landsmannschaft (homeland association) Church organizations Sponsorship (private) Internet pages

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Created by Rick Heli with contribution of Adalbert Goertz and Jim Eggert. Enlarged and revised by Thomas Wildeboer (03-Oct-1999). Last update: 12-Jun-2000 (TW) Please forward any comments and additions to this WWW-Page to: Th. Wildeboer or to: WebMaster