Kreis Meseritz

Kreis Meseritz was a historical administrative district rather than a commercial brand. It was centered on the town of Meseritz, now Międzyrzecz, and covered surrounding rural communities in the western part of the historical Province of Posen. The district's institutional history reflects the repeated territorial reorganizations of Central Europe from the late eighteenth century through the end of the Second World War. The area that later became Kreis Meseritz was annexed by Prussia between 1793 and 1807. During that period it formed the Meseritzer Kreis within the Province of South Prussia and was administered through the Posen-based Department of the Chamber of War and Domains. It subsequently became part of the Duchy of Warsaw during the Napoleonic period. Following the Congress of Vienna, the territory returned to Prussia and was reorganized as Kreis Meseritz on 1 January 1818, when it was separated from Kreis Birnbaum. For much of the nineteenth century, the district belonged to the southern administrative Region of Posen and later to the Province of Posen. In 1837 it covered approximately 1,292.5 square kilometres, or 21.78 Prussian square miles. Its settlement pattern was predominantly rural, with Meseritz serving as the principal urban and administrative center. The district became part of the North German Confederation in 1867 and of the German Empire after its establishment in 1871. The political geography of Kreis Meseritz changed substantially after the First World War. Under the territorial settlement associated with the Treaty of Versailles, the eastern portion of the district was transferred to Poland in 1920. The residual German district had an area of approximately 706.49 square kilometres and was assigned to the newly created Regierungsbezirk Schneidemühl. In 1922, that administrative region became part of the Province of the Frontier March of Posen-West Prussia. Together with Kreis Bomst and Kreis Schwerin, Kreis Meseritz formed a western exclave of the province. The exclave arrangement ended in 1938 when the Province of Posen-West Prussia was dissolved. The remaining German portion of Kreis Meseritz was transferred to the Province of Brandenburg and placed within the administrative Region of Frankfurt. From 1939, the district was formally referred to as Landkreis Meseritz. Its final existence as a German district ended in 1945, when it was occupied by the Red Army and incorporated into postwar Poland. The former district territory now lies in the eastern part of Lubusz Voivodeship and broadly corresponds to the area of present-day Międzyrzecz County. The district's population was predominantly German, while a significant Polish minority was also present. After the 1920 territorial reduction, the remaining German district recorded a Polish minority, including bilingual residents, of 5.8 percent in the 1925 census. Historical civil-registration offices served towns and settlements including Meseritz, Tirschtiegel, Betsche, Brätz, Bentschen, Paradies, Kranz, Kurzig, Rogsen and Weißensee. Because Kreis Meseritz was a governmental district rather than a consumer-facing enterprise, it had no products, commercial positioning, corporate ownership structure, or conventional brand management.

The territory associated with Kreis Meseritz was first annexed by Prussia from 1793 to 1807, when it was organized as the Meseritzer Kreis in the Province of South Prussia. Administration was conducted through the Department of the Chamber of War and Domains at Posen. During the Napoleonic period, the area became part of the Duchy of Warsaw. The Congress of Vienna subsequently returned it to Prussia. Kreis Meseritz was formally established on 1 January 1818 through separation from Kreis Birnbaum. It was centered on Meseritz and consisted chiefly of the surrounding countryside. In 1837, the district covered about 1,292.5 square kilometres. It initially belonged to the southern administrative Region of Posen and subsequently to the Province of Posen. The district entered the North German Confederation in 1867 and the German Empire in 1871. Following Germany's defeat in the First World War, the district was divided. In 1920, its eastern section was transferred to Poland under the postwar territorial settlement. The portion remaining in Germany covered approximately 706.49 square kilometres and joined Regierungsbezirk Schneidemühl. In 1922, that region became part of the Province of the Frontier March of Posen-West Prussia. Kreis Meseritz, Kreis Bomst and Kreis Schwerin together formed a western exclave of the province. In 1938, the Province of Posen-West Prussia was dissolved. The former western exclave, including Kreis Meseritz, was attached to the Province of Brandenburg and placed in Regierungsbezirk Frankfurt. From 1939, the district used the designation Landkreis Meseritz. Its German administrative history ended in 1945, when the Red Army occupied the area and the territory was incorporated into Poland. The district had a German-majority population alongside a substantial Polish minority. The 1925 census recorded a Polish minority of 5.8 percent in the reduced German district, counting both Polish speakers and bilingual residents. Civil-registration offices operated in numerous towns and villages, including Meseritz, Altvorwerk, Bauch witz, Bentschen, Betsche, Brätz, Friedenhorst, Kurzig, Kranz, Lowin, Rogsen, Tirschtiegel, Paradies and Weißensee. The former district now lies largely within Lubusz Voivodeship and broadly resembles present-day Międzyrzecz County.

• 1945

  End of German administration

  [1]Kreis Meseritzen.wikipedia.org

  The district was occupied by the Red Army and incorporated into Poland after the Second World War.

• 1938

  Transfer to Brandenburg

  [1]Kreis Meseritzen.wikipedia.org

  After the dissolution of the Province of Posen-West Prussia, the remaining German district became part of Brandenburg within Regierungsbezirk Frankfurt.

• 1920

  Postwar territorial division

  [1]Kreis Meseritzen.wikipedia.org

  The eastern portion of the district was transferred to Poland, leaving a smaller German district.

• 1871

  Entry into the German Empire

  [1]Kreis Meseritzen.wikipedia.org

  Kreis Meseritz became part of the newly founded German Empire.

• 1867

  Entry into the North German Confederation

  [1]Kreis Meseritzen.wikipedia.org

  The district became part of the North German Confederation.

• 1818

  Establishment of Kreis Meseritz

  [1]Kreis Meseritzen.wikipedia.org

  Kreis Meseritz was created on 1 January through separation from Kreis Birnbaum after the territory returned to Prussia.

• 1807

  Transfer to the Duchy of Warsaw

  [1]Kreis Meseritzen.wikipedia.org

  The area left Prussian administration and became part of the Duchy of Warsaw during the Napoleonic period.

• 1793

  Prussian annexation

  [1]Kreis Meseritzen.wikipedia.org

  The territory later associated with Kreis Meseritz was annexed by Prussia and organized within the Province of South Prussia.

Historical administrative district; not a commercial brand.

1. 1Kreis Meseritzen.wikipedia.org