Kattowitz

Kattowitz is a historical German name for the city now known as Katowice, located in Silesia, Poland. The city's name has its origins in the Polish word "kat", meaning executioner, likely referencing an early judicial function in the area. Under Prussian and later German rule, the name Kattowitz was commonly used. The region was part of the German Empire and then Germany until after World War I. Following the Upper Silesia plebiscite in 1921 and subsequent partition, the city became part of the newly re-established Poland and was officially renamed Katowice. During the Nazi occupation of Poland in World War II, the German authorities briefly reinstated the name Kattowitz. Today, the name Kattowitz is primarily of historical interest and is associated with the city's past under German administration. Katowice is a major industrial and administrative center in modern-day Poland, with a rich history influenced by various cultural and political shifts. The use of Kattowitz signifies a specific period in the city's long and complex heritage.