ger-posen@rmgate.pop.indiana.edu From: Adalbert Goertz, Waynesboro PA Re: FAQ.Posen Please, send any correction and suggestions to be404@yfn.ysu.edu ------------------------------ Contents: Q1: Where is Posen ? Q2: What was Posen's German history? Q3: What were the administrative areas of Posen (Poznan)? Q4: What were the old administrative areas of South Prussia? Q5: What were the court districts in Posen before 1900? Q6: Is there a listserv for Posen family researchers? Q7: Are there maps available for the Posen area before 1945? Q8: What book discusses hints and sources for East German searchers? Q9: What type of land records are available? Q10: How can I get information on Polish archives? ================================= Q1: Where is Posen (Poznan)? A1: Posen was a Prussian province,1815-1919. Its capital was Posen (Poznan). Germany reoccupied Posen province 1939-1945 and renamed in Warthegau. Posen was cleansed of its ethnic German population and returned to Poland in 1945. The Western powers were silent on the ethnic cleansing. Q2: What was Posen's German history? A2: Part of Greater Poland was annexed by King Friedrich II of Prussia in 1772 and renamend Netze-District during the first partition of Poland. King Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia annexed the remainder in the second partition of Poland in 1793 and renamed it South Prussia. After the Prussian defeat by Napoleon Bonaparte, the area was united with the Grand Duchy of Warsaw, 1807-1815, and reverted to Prussia 1815-1919 comprising the two districts of Posen and Bromberg. Q3: What were the administrative areas of Posen (Poznan)? A3: In 1900 the province of Posen had the following districts and Kreise (counties): Regierungsbezirk (district) of Posen with 28 Kreise (counties): Adelnau,Birnbaum,Bomst,Fraustadt,Gostyn,Graetz,Jarotschin,Kempen, Koschmin,Kosten,Krotoschin,Lissa,Meseritz,Neutomischel,Obornik, Ostrowo,Pleschen,Posen-Stadt,Posen-Ost,Posen-West,Rawitsch,Samter, Schildberg,Schmiegel,Schrimm,Schroda,Schwerin,Wreschen. Regierungsbezirk (district) of Bromberg with 14 Kreise (counties): Bromberg-Stadt,Bromberg-Land,Czarnikau,Filehne,Gnesen,Inowrazlaw, Kolmar,Mogilno,Schubin,Strelno,Wirsitz,Witkowo,Wongrowitz,Znin. Q4: What were the old administrative areas of South Prussia? A4: In 1806 The province of South Prussia (Suedpreussen) had 1,503,508 Einwohner with 3 districts (departements): The Departement der Kriegs- und Domainen-Kammer zu Posen included the Kreise of Posen,Oborniki,Meseritz,Bomst,Fraustadt,Krebe,Schrim,Kosten, Krotoschin,Peifern,Schroda,Gnesen,Wangrowitz,Powitz,Brzesk,Radziejow, Kowal. The Departement der Kriegs- und Domainen-Kammer zu Kalisch included the Kreise of Kalisch,Adelnau,Konin,Ostreschow,Wielun,Lumtomiersk, Warta,Schadek,Sieradz,Petrikau,Radomsk,Czenstochau. The Departement der Kriegs- und Domainen-Kammer zu Warschau included the Kreise of Warschau,Blonin,Tschersk,Rawa,Sochaczew,Gostin,Orlow, Lenczyca,Zgierz,Brzezin. Q5: What were the court districts in Posen province before 1900? A5: The highest provincial court and for Deutsch-Krone Kreis was the Oberlandesgericht in Posen. The lower courts were Landgericht Bromberg with (7) Amtsgerichte: Bromberg,Exin,Inowrazlaw,Krone,Labischin,Schubin,Strelno. Landgericht Gnesen with (5) Amtsgerichte: Gnesen,Mogilno,Tremessen,Wongrowitz,Wreschen. Landgericht Lissa with (8) Amtsgerichte: Bojanowo,Fraustadt,Gostyn,Jutroschin,Kosten,Lissa,Rawitsch,Schmiegel. Landgericht Meseritz with (9) Amtsgerichte: Bentschen,Birnbaum,Graetz,Meseritz,Neutomischel,Schwerin,Tirschtiegel, Unruhstadt,Wollstein. Landgericht Ostrowo, with (8) Amtsgerichte: Adelnau,Jarotschin,Kempen,Koschmin,Krotoschin,Ostrowo,Pleschen,Schildberg. Landgericht Posen with (9) Amtsgerichte: Obornik,Pinne,Posen,Pudewitz,Rogasen,Samter,Schrimm,Schroda,Wronke. Landgericht Schneidemuehl with (13) Amtsgerichte: Czarnikau,Deeeeeutsch-Krone,Filehne,Jastrow,Kolmar,Lobsens,Margonin, Maerkisch-Friedland,Nakel,Schloppe,Schneidemuehl,Schoenlanke,Wirsitz. The whereabouts of the records for the Landgerichte and Amtsgerichte is unknown. Of special interest are the land deed records (Grund- und Hypotheken-Acta) with no published survey known todate. State records remained in PolanA To subscribe, send the following to maiser@rmgate.pop.indiana.edu: A sie Stauffenbergstr.13 10785 Berlin, Germany (Ask for their map catalog for Posen) see also http://w3g.med.uni-giessen.de/gene/gifs/maps/ Q8: What book discusses hints and sources for East German searchers? A8: Wegweiser fuer Forschung nach Vorfahren aus den Ostdeutschen und Sudetendeutschen Gebieten sowie aus den deutschen Siedlungsraeumen in Mittel-,Ost- und Suedosteuropa (AGoFF-Wegweiser): Verlag Degener &Co, 91413 Neustadt, Germany (1991 and later) (The out-of-print English edition is being revised presently) Q9: What type of land records are available? A9: In addition to the deed and mortgage records deposited at the courts (Amtsgerichte) a prime and practically unknown source is the Generalkommission fuer Westpreussen und Posen zu Bromberg with records deposited at the state archives in Bydgoszcz and comprising 116118 volumes for the years 1812-1920. Q10: How can I get information on Polish archives? A10:For information on Polish archives consult the web site: http://www.man.poznan.pl/~bielecki/geninfo6.htm Q11: When were civil registers introduced? A11: Civil registers of births,mariages,deaths were introduced in October 1874. The Civil registry office was called Standesamt. Before this time, the Lutheran church records (1815-1874) or special Dissidenten-Register (1847-1874) served as official registers, and a duplicate copy was deposited the the local court (Amtsgericht). In a some areas the Code Napoleon introduced civil registry in 1808-1814. -- *************** Adalbert Goertz ****** ph 717-762-7378 ******** retired in Waynesboro PA (65 miles from Baltimore/Washington DC Mennonite genealogy of East and West Prussia prior to 1945. Wanted: house in Colorado/New Mexico/Arizona for us retirees