Krajna is a forested historical region in the north of
Greater Poland
Greater Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska (; ), is a Polish Polish historical regions, historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief and largest city is Poznań followed by Kalisz, the oldest city in Poland.
The bound ...
in Poland, situated in the border area between the
Greater Poland
Greater Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska (; ), is a Polish Polish historical regions, historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief and largest city is Poznań followed by Kalisz, the oldest city in Poland.
The bound ...
,
Kuyavian-Pomeranian and
Pomeranian Voivodeships. The region consists of parts of
Złotów
Złotów is a town in northwestern Poland, with a population of 18,303 inhabitants (2011), seat of the Złotów County in the Greater Poland Voivodeship.
The town is located on the river Głomia and is surrounded by five lakes. It is part of the ...
,
Piła,
Sępólno,
Nakło,
Bydgoszcz
Bydgoszcz is a city in northern Poland and the largest city in the historical region of Kuyavia. Straddling the confluence of the Vistula River and its bank (geography), left-bank tributary, the Brda (river), Brda, the strategic location of Byd ...
and
Człuchów
Człuchów (, ''Człochòwo'', or ''Człëchòwò''; ) is a town in the region of Gdańsk Pomerania, northern Poland, with 13,350 inhabitants as of December 2021. It is the capital of Człuchów County in the Pomeranian Voivodeship.
Location
...
counties, namely the urban
gmina
The gmina (Polish: , plural ''gminy'' ) is the basic unit of the administrative division of Poland, similar to a municipality. , there were 2,479 gminy throughout the country, encompassing over 43,000 villages. 940 gminy include cities and tow ...
of
Złotów
Złotów is a town in northwestern Poland, with a population of 18,303 inhabitants (2011), seat of the Złotów County in the Greater Poland Voivodeship.
The town is located on the river Głomia and is surrounded by five lakes. It is part of the ...
, the rural gmina of
Złotów
Złotów is a town in northwestern Poland, with a population of 18,303 inhabitants (2011), seat of the Złotów County in the Greater Poland Voivodeship.
The town is located on the river Głomia and is surrounded by five lakes. It is part of the ...
and the urban-rural gminas of
Krajenka,
Wysoka,
Wyrzysk,
Łobżenica
Łobżenica (, ) is a town in Piła County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 3,172 inhabitants (2010).
History
Łobżenica dates back to the 11th century. It prospered due to its location between Gdańsk Pomerania and central Poland. It ...
,
Kamień Krajeński,
Sępólno Krajeńskie
Sępólno Krajeńskie () is a town in northern Poland, in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. It is the capital of Sępólno County (Powiat Sępoleński'') and Gmina Sępólno Krajeńskie.
Zempelburg was part of Greater Poland until 1772. From ...
,
Więcbork
Więcbork (; ) is a town in northern Poland, located in the Sępólno County in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. In 2019 it had a population of 5,965. It is located on the shores of Więcborskie Lake within the ethnocultural region of Krajna.
...
,
Nakło nad Notecią
Nakło nad Notecią (Polish pronunciation: ) is a town in north-central Poland on the river Noteć with 23,687 inhabitants (2007). It is the seat of Nakło County, and also of Gmina Nakło nad Notecią, situated in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivod ...
,
Koronowo
Koronowo (Polish pronunciation: ; , archaic ''Polnisch Krone'') is a town on the Brda River in Poland, located in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, 25 km from Bydgoszcz, with 11,029 inhabitants (2010). It is located in the historic region ...
and
Debzno. The name of Krajna is derived from the
Slavic word for borderland (between
Greater Poland
Greater Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska (; ), is a Polish Polish historical regions, historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief and largest city is Poznań followed by Kalisz, the oldest city in Poland.
The bound ...
and
Pomerania
Pomerania ( ; ; ; ) is a historical region on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea in Central Europe, split between Poland and Germany. The central and eastern part belongs to the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, West Pomeranian, Pomeranian Voivod ...
), cf.
Krajina
Krajina () is a Slavic languages, Slavic toponym, meaning 'country' or 'march (territory), march'. The term is related to ''kraj'' or ''krai'', originally meanings ''land'', ''country'' or ''edge''Rick Derksen (2008), ''Etymological Dictionary of t ...
.
The main towns in the region are
Złotów
Złotów is a town in northwestern Poland, with a population of 18,303 inhabitants (2011), seat of the Złotów County in the Greater Poland Voivodeship.
The town is located on the river Głomia and is surrounded by five lakes. It is part of the ...
and
Nakło nad Notecią
Nakło nad Notecią (Polish pronunciation: ) is a town in north-central Poland on the river Noteć with 23,687 inhabitants (2007). It is the seat of Nakło County, and also of Gmina Nakło nad Notecią, situated in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivod ...
. Since 1932, Krajna has own
regional anthem
An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Originally, and in music theory and religious contexts, it also refers more particularly to short s ...
, composed by
Paweł "Krajnomir" Jasiek
Part of the region forms a
protected area
Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural or cultural values. Protected areas are those areas in which human presence or the exploitation of natural resources (e.g. firewood ...
called
Krajna Landscape Park.
History
Krajna formed part of the
Greater Poland Province of the Kingdom of Poland. In 1655, it was
invaded by Sweden, and the
Battle of Ujście was fought there.
During the
German occupation of Poland
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany, the country of the Germans and German things
**Germania (Roman era)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...
(
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
), the population was subjected to
various crimes, including deportations to
forced labour
Forced labour, or unfree labour, is any work relation, especially in modern or early modern history, in which people are employed against their will with the threat of destitution, detention, or violence, including death or other forms of ...
and
concentration camps
A concentration camp is a prison or other facility used for the internment of political prisoners or politically targeted demographics, such as members of national or ethnic minority groups, on the grounds of national security, or for exploit ...
,
expulsions and executions. Concentration camps for Poles from the region were operated in
Radzim and
Karolewo, and many were either deported to other concentration camps or massacres at nearby
Rudzki Most. Other major sites of massacres of local Poles committed by the
SS and ''
Selbstschutz'' included
Paterek,
Łobżenica
Łobżenica (, ) is a town in Piła County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 3,172 inhabitants (2010).
History
Łobżenica dates back to the 11th century. It prospered due to its location between Gdańsk Pomerania and central Poland. It ...
,
Górka Klasztorna and
Sadki. The
Polish resistance movement was active in the region.
The Germans also operated numerous forced labour camps in the region, including several subcamps of the
Stalag II-B and
Stalag XX-A prisoner-of-war camps for
Allied POWs.
One of the prisoners was future British actor
Sam Kydd, who, as he wrote in his memoir, even learned various Polish phrases through contact with the local Polish population.
[
]
Towns
* Kaczory
* Kamień Krajeński
* Krajenka
* Łobżenica
Łobżenica (, ) is a town in Piła County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 3,172 inhabitants (2010).
History
Łobżenica dates back to the 11th century. It prospered due to its location between Gdańsk Pomerania and central Poland. It ...
* Miasteczko Krajeńskie
* Mrocza
* Nakło nad Notecią
Nakło nad Notecią (Polish pronunciation: ) is a town in north-central Poland on the river Noteć with 23,687 inhabitants (2007). It is the seat of Nakło County, and also of Gmina Nakło nad Notecią, situated in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivod ...
* Piła
* Sępólno Krajeńskie
Sępólno Krajeńskie () is a town in northern Poland, in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. It is the capital of Sępólno County (Powiat Sępoleński'') and Gmina Sępólno Krajeńskie.
Zempelburg was part of Greater Poland until 1772. From ...
* Ujście
* Więcbork
Więcbork (; ) is a town in northern Poland, located in the Sępólno County in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. In 2019 it had a population of 5,965. It is located on the shores of Więcborskie Lake within the ethnocultural region of Krajna.
...
* Wyrzysk
* Wysoka
* Złotów
Złotów is a town in northwestern Poland, with a population of 18,303 inhabitants (2011), seat of the Złotów County in the Greater Poland Voivodeship.
The town is located on the river Głomia and is surrounded by five lakes. It is part of the ...
Sites
https://krajna.com.pl/
References
{{coord, 53, 10, N, 17, 35, E, display=title, region:PL_type:landmark_source:dewiki
Forests of Poland
Regions of Poland
Geography of Greater Poland Voivodeship