Stębark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stębark
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Village
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Holy Trinity Church
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 Stębark
Location in Poland
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| Country |  Poland |
| Voivodeship |  Warmian-Masurian |
| County | Ostróda |
| Gmina | Grunwald |
| Population
(2011)
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| • Total | 443 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Area code(s) | +48 89 |
| Vehicle registration | NOS |
| Voivodeship roads |  |
| Website | http://olsztynek.com.pl/ |
Stębark is a small village in northern Poland. It is located in a region called Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. This village is famous for two very important battles that happened nearby. These battles are the Battle of Grunwald in 1410 and the Battle of Tannenberg during World War I.
Contents
Where is Stębark?
Stębark is located in the western part of a historical area called Masuria. It lies southeast of the Dylewska Góra mountains. The village is about 25 kilometers (15 miles) southeast of Ostróda. It is also about 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of Olsztyn, which is the main city of the region.
A Look Back in Time: Stębark's History
The village of Stębark was first mentioned around the year 1335. At that time, the area was part of the lands controlled by the Teutonic Order. The old Polish name for the village, Sztambark, was recorded in 1426.
The Famous Battle of Grunwald (1410)
On July 15, 1410, a huge battle took place near Stębark. This battle is known as the Battle of Grunwald. It was one of the biggest cavalry battles of the Middle Ages.
The armies of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania fought together. They were led by King Władysław II Jagiełło of Poland and Grand Duke Vytautas of Lithuania. They also had soldiers from Bohemia. They fought against the Teutonic Knights, who were led by Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen.
The battle actually happened on the open land between Stębark (then called Tannenberg) and a nearby village called Grünfelde (now Grunwald). King Władysław himself mentioned this place as "loco conflictus nostri ... dicto Grunenvelt".
Polish historians, like Jan Długosz, called it the Bitwa pod Grunwaldem. German historians, however, called it the Schlacht bei Tannenberg. They named it after the area where the Teutonic Knights had set up their troops.
After the Battle
After the battle, in 1411, the Teutonic Knights built a small chapel. It was placed where Ulrich von Jungingen, their leader, was killed.
In 1454, King Casimir IV Jagiellon of Poland took control of this region. He did this after the Prussian Confederation asked him to. This group was against the Teutonic Knights. After a war that lasted 13 years, the area became part of Poland. It was held by the Teutonic Knights until 1525. Then, it became part of Ducal Prussia.
By 1599, almost everyone living in Stębark was Polish. In 1656, during a war called the Second Northern War, the village was attacked by Tatar forces. In 1772, Stębark and the Masuria region became part of the Kingdom of Prussia.
The Battle of Tannenberg (1914)
In 1914, during World War I, another important battle happened near Stębark. This was the Battle of Tannenberg. The German Army, led by General Paul von Hindenburg, won a big victory. They defeated the Russian forces that were invading East Prussia.
The fighting lasted from August 26 to August 30. It actually covered a large area around a town called Olsztynek. However, the Germans named it the Battle of Tannenberg. They did this at Hindenburg's request. It was for propaganda reasons, to make it seem like revenge for the medieval defeat.
In 1934, General von Hindenburg was buried there. Later, during World War II, the name "Tannenberg" was used for a German plan to harm Polish people. This was called Operation Tannenberg. Also, the Battle of Tannenberg Line was a battle in Estonia during the war.
Stębark Returns to Poland
After Germany lost World War II in 1945, Stębark and the Masuria region became part of Poland again. This happened because of the Potsdam Agreement. The German people who lived there were moved out, also as part of this agreement.
From 1975 to 1998, Stębark was part of the Olsztyn Voivodeship.
Things to See in Stębark
The main attractions in Stębark are the Museum of the Battle of Grunwald and the old Holy Trinity Church. The famous Grunwald Battlefield is also located very close by.
See also
In Spanish: Stębark para niños
