Germanic Genealogy Society
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POSEN

POSEN / POZNAN / POZNANIA

History
Posen oat of Arms
The history of Posen, comprehending some part of the old kingdom of Poland, including its most ancient capital, Gnesen, falls within the scope of the article Poland. Its political connection with Prussia began in 1772, when the districts to the north of the Netze fell to the share of that power in the first partition of Poland. The rest followed in 1793, and was united with the Netze district to form the province of South Prussia. In 1807, after the peace of Tilsit, Posen was incorporated with the grand Duchy of Warsaw, but in 1815 it reverted to Prussia under the style of the grand duchy of Posen. In 1848 the Polish inhabitants of the province revolted and had to be put down by force, and, in spite of the efforts of the Prussian government, they remain in language and culture separated from their German compatriots.
The northen end of Posen was annexed by Germany in the first partitioning of Poland in 1772 and the southern end of Posen was acquired in the second partitioning in 1793. Napoleon briefly gave Posen back to Poland in 1807, but the Congress of Vienna returned it to Prussia. After WWI most of Posen was given back to Poland and became part of the Polish Corridor. A few counties in the north and west were added to Grenzmark Posen-Westpreussen. Posen was part of Germany briefly during WWII 1939 – 45. After the war the Germans were expelled if they had not already fled as refugees.
http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Posen,_Prussia_(Province)
http://www.google.com/#q=History+of+Posen&hl=en&sa=G&tbs=tl:1&tbo=u&ei=6py4S_3qNI7OM-iIueEL&oi=timeline_result&ct=title&resnum=11&ved=0CCgQ5wIwCg&fp=bcdf8cbbf06dc4f