Wieruszów County

Infobox Settlement
name = Wieruszów County
native_name = Powiat wieruszowski
settlement_type = County
total_type = Total


image_shield = POL powiat wieruszowski COA.svg

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map_caption = Location within the voivodeship
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = POL
subdivision_type1 = Voivodeship
subdivision_name1 = Łódź
area_total_km2 = 576.22
population_total = 42336
population_as_of = 2006
population_density_km2 = auto
population_urban = 8759
population_blank1_title = Rural
population_blank1 = 33577
coor_type = Wieruszów
latd = 51
latm = 18
lats =
latNS = N
longd = 18
longm = 9
longs =
longEW = E
seat = Wieruszów
parts_type = Gminas
parts = Total 7
p1 = Gmina Bolesławiec
p2 = Gmina Czastary
p3 = Gmina Galewice
p4 = Gmina Łubnice
p5 = Gmina Lututów
p6 = Gmina Sokolniki
p7 = Gmina Wieruszów
blank_name = Car plates
blank_info = EWE
website = http://www.powiat-wieruszowski.pl/index.htm __NOTOC__Wieruszów County ( _pl. powiat wieruszowski) is a unit of territorial administration and local government (powiat) in Łódź Voivodeship, central Poland. It was created on January 1, 1999 as a result of the Local Government Reorganization Act of 1998. Its administrative seat and only town is Wieruszów, which lies convert|106|km|mi|0 south-west of the regional capital Łódź.

The county covers an area of convert|576.22|km2|sqmi|1. As of 2006 its total population is 42,336, out of which the population of Wieruszów is 8,759 and the rural population is 33,577.

Massacres during Second World War

Wieszanów Massacre

During the German Invasion of Poland in 1939, German soldiers conducted a number of massacres in the area. In the village of Wieszanów on 1st September 1939, 17 women and children (as young as 2 years old) were murdered en masse after two men were murdered by German soldiers. Women and children tried to hide themselves in cellars but were discovered by soldiers. Despite pleading to be allowed to get out, they were forced to stay as Germans threw down several grenades, murdering 14 women and children on the spot and wounding 3 of them. [Szymon Datner "55 dni Wehrmachtu w Polsce" page 171] . Several local men were later kidnapped and sent to German concentration camps. At least two were executed already on their way to the camps.A day later the same Germans who committed the murder came back and burned down 20 homes along with the livestock. [Szymon Datner "55 dni Wehrmachtu w Polsce" page 172]

Torzeniec Massacre

Several massacres were made by Germans in the village of Torzeniec. On 1st September 1939 Germans arrived during the night to the town, and started to set fire to barns and houses using bottles with gasoline and gun fire with incendiary bullets. Villagers who tried to escape their burning homes were gunned down by the Germans who behaved as they were making a hunt for animals [Szymon Datner "55 dni Wehrmachtu w Polsce" page 173] . Eight people were murdered in this way alongside Barbara Pietrzak who tried to save her 2 year old child. Another eight were burned alive in the cellar as their only escape route was blocked by a burning barn. The only member of the family left outside, 70 year-old Antoni Kubera was shot dead on his backyard by the Germans just as his family was burning alive in the cellar [Szymon Datner "55 dni Wehrmachtu w Polsce" page 173] .On the same night all men from the village were gathered by the Germans, and every second one was led to a group that was executed in front of all the villagers. 18 men were murdered this way. A Polish woman(Maria Stambuła) who according to Germans refused to watch the murder was shot severely by the Germans as well. During the massacre a 40 year old Józef Sadowski and a husband and father of several children pleaded to be exchanged for his 70 year old father Stanisław Sadowski who was chosen by the Germans to be murdered. The Germans agreed and the son saved his father's life by sacrificing himself.Later during the night another massacre was made by the German soldiers. Four unidentified Polish PoWs were taken to the village and murdered [Szymon Datner "55 dni Wehrmachtu w Polsce" page 173] . All together the cemetery in Wyszanów is the place of burial of 57 victims of German massacres.

Neighbouring counties

Wieruszów County is bordered by Sieradz County to the north-east, Wieluń County to the east, Olesno County and Kluczbork County to the south, Kępno County to the west, and Ostrzeszów County to the north-west.

Administrative division

The county is subdivided into seven gminas (one urban-rural and six rural). These are listed in the following table, in descending order of population.

References

* [http://www.stat.gov.pl/gus/45_655_PLK_HTML.htm Polish official population figures 2006]