Across the Oder River lies Slubice. Before 1945 it was part of Frankfurt. This is Pojezierze Lubuskie’s story. A tale of borders and bridges. Of a city once whole now divided.
Pojezierze Lubuskie is a land of lakes and forests. It’s located south of the Oder River. It straddles the German-Polish border. This area was once a West Slavic settlement named Zliwitz. It was part of the Kingdom of Poland. In 1249 it became part of the Margraviate of Brandenburg. Frankfurt itself was chartered in 1253.
The history of Frankfurt is long and complex. It’s been part of Poland Brandenburg Bohemia Prussia and Germany. The city flourished as a trade center. Its location on the Oder River was key. It was a vital link between Wrocław and Szczecin. Frankfurt was also part of the Hanseatic League.
The Thirty Years’ War devastated Frankfurt. The Battle of Frankfurt an der Oder in 1631 was brutal. Swedish forces won a decisive victory. Many buildings were destroyed. The population plummeted. Later the city recovered. It became a major trade hub in Prussia. Its annual trade fair was second only to Leipzig’s. The Berlin-Frankfurt (Oder) railway opened in 1842. This boosted the city’s trade further.
World War II brought further upheaval. The SS Einsatzgruppe VI was formed in Frankfurt. It committed atrocities in Poland. Forced laborers toiled in Frankfurt. Death marches passed through the city in 1945. Ironically there was little fighting in Frankfurt itself. The Red Army burned down the nearly empty city. Post-war the Oder River became the border between East Germany and Poland. Frankfurt’s eastern part became Slubice.
The communist era saw population growth. Frankfurt peaked at over 87000 people. Reunification led to a decline. Unemployment rose. Many industries failed. Today the Viadrina European University thrives. It has a campus in Slubice. It symbolizes the growing cooperation between Germany and Poland. The border has now opened. Frankfurt and Slubice work together. They run shared projects. They have overcome a divided past. This makes Pojezierze Lubuskie a place of hope. A testament to resilience and renewed partnership.