{{other places|Witnica (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Witnica | image_skyline = Browar w Witnicy - panoramio (1).jpg | image_caption = Town center | image_flag = POL Witnica flag.svg | image_shield = POL Witnica COA.svg | pushpin_map = Poland | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{POL}} | subdivision_type1 = Voivodeship | subdivision_name1 = Lubusz | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Gorzów | subdivision_type3 = Gmina | subdivision_name3 = Witnica | area_total_km2 = 8.21 | population_as_of = 2019-06-30<ref>{{cite web |title=Population. Size and structure and vital statistics in Poland by territorial division in 2019. As of 30th June|url=https://stat.gov.pl/en/topics/population/population/population-size-and-structure-and-vital-statistics-in-poland-by-territorial-division-in-2019-as-of-30th-june,3,26.html|website=stat.gov.pl|publisher=Statistics Poland|date=2019-10-15|access-date=2020-03-24}}</ref> | population_total = 6747 | population_density_km2 = auto | coordinates = {{coord|52|40|40|N|14|53|29|E|region:PL|display=title,inline}} | elevation_m = | timezone = CET | utc_offset = +1 | timezone_DST = CEST | utc_offset_DST = +2 | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 66-460 | blank_name = Climate | blank_info = Cfb | website = http://www.witnica.pl }} '''Witnica''' {{IPAc-pl|w|i|t|'|n|i|c|a}} ({{langx|de|Vietz in Ostbrandenburg}}){{Citation needed|date=November 2023}} is a town in western Poland, situated in the Lubusz Voivodeship,{{TERYT}} with 6,747 inhabitants (2019).
The town is located in the historic Lubusz Land. The town's name derives from the Polish words ''wić'' or ''witka'', meaning a willow twig or a type of willow.<ref name=WIT>{{cite web|url=http://witnica.pl/gmina/historia-gminy/|title=Historia Gminy – Miasto i Gmina Witnica|access-date=July 25, 2019|language=Polish}}</ref>
==History== Along with Lubusz Land it was part of medieval Poland, and later it was also under the rule of Brandenburg, the Czech Crown, Prussia, and between 1871 and 1945 it was part of Germany, located in the Prussian Province of Brandenburg. The Germans brought Polish prisoners of war for forced labour to the town during World War II.<ref name=pw>{{cite web|url=https://parafia-witnica.pl/dzieje-witnicy-po-1945-roku/|title=Dzieje Witnicy po 1945 roku|website=Parafia pw. Matki Bożej Nieustającej Pomocy w Witnicy|access-date=7 March 2020|language=Polish}}</ref> In the final stages of World War II, half of the population fled before the Red Army captured the town in February 1945.<ref name=pw/> Polish POWs were liberated.<ref name=pw/>
After Nazi Germany's defeat in World War II, the area was reintegrated into Poland.<ref name=WIT/> The remaining German population was expelled in accordance with the Potsdam Agreement. New Polish settlers, mostly expellees from the former eastern territories annexed by the Soviet Union, moved to the town. War damage was not significant, reaching 8% of the buildings.<ref name=pw/> The ruins were dismantled to obtain bricks for the reconstruction of Warsaw destroyed by the Germans.<ref name=pw/>
==Economy== The town is known for its brewery (''Browar Witnica''), established in 1848.<ref name=WIT/>
==Culture== A Polish military museum (''Muzeum Chwały Oręża Polskiego'') is located in Witnica.
==Sports== Witnica is home to football club {{interlanguage link|Czarni Witnica|pl|display=1}}, which competes in the Polish lower leagues.
==Twin towns – sister cities== See twin towns of Gmina Witnica.
== People == * Johannes Schüler (1894–1966), German conductor
==Gallery== <gallery mode=packed heights=220> Witnica 98F-05.jpg|Our Lady of Perpetual Help church Urzad Miasta i Gminy Witnica seat with flags 2008-05.jpg|Town hall Witnica, Żółty Pałacyk.jpg|Yellow Palace (''Żółty Pałacyk'') Witnica brewery (2).JPG|An old townhouse and the Witnica Brewery (''Browar Witnica'') </gallery>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.witnica.pl/ Official town webpage] *[http://www.sztetl.org.pl/en/city/witnica/ Jewish Community in Witnica] on Virtual Shtetl
{{Gmina Witnica}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Cities and towns in Lubusz Voivodeship Category:Gorzów County
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