Kolberg

Kolberg is the German name for the Polish city of Kołobrzeg, located on the Baltic coast in the Pomeranian Voivodeship. It is a historic port city and spa situated at the mouth of the Parsęta River, with a long maritime tradition.

The town's history stretches back to the early Middle Ages. It received urban privileges in the medieval era and became an important member of the Hanseatic trade network at various times. In the 18th and 19th centuries the city was part of Prussia and then Germany, retaining the name Kolberg. After World War II, in 1945, borders shifted westward and the city became part of Poland; the Polish name Kołobrzeg is now standard in Polish usage, while Kolberg remains common in German sources and historical references.

A notable episode in its history is the Siege of Kolberg in 1807 during the Napoleonic Wars, when a Prussian garrison and civilians defended the town against French forces for an extended period before relief arrived.

In 1945, the city became part of Poland, and the German population largely left or was expelled, with Polish settlement established in the ensuing years.

Kolberg also lends its name to a 1945 Nazi propaganda film, Kolberg, directed by Veit Harlan, which portrayed the 1807 siege. The film is widely studied as an example of wartime propaganda.

Today Kołobrzeg is a modern Baltic port and tourist destination known for its beaches, spa facilities, and historic architecture. It remains an administrative center in the region and features historic monuments, a lighthouse, and a maritime heritage museum.