In 1871, the unification of the German Empire took place. The German Empire would be ruled by a German Emperor, in 1871 by Wilhelm I. The unification of Germany occurred after the following wars were won by the United Prussian States: the Second War of Schleswig in 1864, the Austrian-Prussian War in 1866, and the Franco-Prussian War in 1870-1871. The Prussian army would defeat Denmark, then Austria, and then France and were left as the dominant force throughout the German states. The Prussians utilized this power to create an united Germany (Wikipedia, German Empire, 2010).
1871-1877
Provinz Preußen (Province of Prussia)
-Regierungsbezirk Danzig (Stadtkreise Danzig, Stadtkreise Elbing, Kreis Berent, Landkreise Danzig, Landkreise Elbing, Kreis Karthaus, Kreis Marienburg, Kreis Neustadt, and Kreis Prueßisch Stargard).
-Regierungsbezirk Marienwerder (Kreis Deutsch Krone, Kreis Flatow, Kreis Graudenz, Kreis Konitz, Kreis Kulm, Kreis Löbau, Kreis Marienwerder, Kreis Rosenberg, Kreis Schlochau, Kreis Schwetz, Kreis Strasburg, Kreis Stuhm, Kreis Thorn, and Kreis Tuchel (1875-1877)).
-Regierungsbezirk Königsberg (Kreis Allenstein, Kreis Braunsberg, Kreis Prueßisch Eylau, Kreis Fischhausen, Kreis Friedland, Kreis Gerdauen, Kreis Heiligenbeil, Kreis Heilsberg, Kreis Prueßisch Holland, Kreis Königsberg, Stadtkreis Königsberg, Landkreise Labiau, Kreis Memel, Kreis Mohrungen, Kreis Neidenburg, Kreis Ortelsburg, Kreis Osterode, Kreis Rastenburg, Kreis Roessel, and Kreis Wehlau).
-Regierungsbezirk Gumbinnen (Kreis Angerburg, Kreis Darkehmen, Kreis Goldap, Kreis Gumbinnen, Kreis Heyderkrug, Kreis Insterburg, Kreis Johannisburg, Kreis Lötzen, Kreis Lyck, Kreis Neiederung, Kreis Oletzko, Kreis Pillkallen, Kreis Ragnit, Kreis Sensburg, Kreis Stallupönen, and Kreis Tilsit).
Provinz of Posen (Province of Posen) (1871-1877)
-Regierungsbezirk Posen (Stadtkreis Posen, Kreis Adelnau, Kreis Birnbaum, Kreis Bomst, Kreis Fraustadt, Kreis Gostyn, Kreis Grätz, Kreis Jarotschin, Kreis Kempen, Kreis Kosten, Kreis Koschmin, Kreis Krotoschin, Kreis Lissa, Kreis Meseritz, Kreis Neutomischel, Kreis Obornik, Kreis Ostrowo, Kreis Pleschen, Kreis Posen, Ost Kreis Posen, West Kreis Posen, Kreis Rawitsch, Kreis Samter, Kreis Schildberg, Kreis Schmiegel, Kreis Schrimm, Kreis Schroda, Kreis Schwerin, and Kreis Wreschen).
-Regierungsbezirk Bromberg (Stadtkreis Bromberg, Kreis Bromberg, Kreis Czarnikau, Kreis Filehne, Kreis Gnesen, Kreis Inowroclaw, Kreis Kolmar, Kreis Mogilno, Kreis Schubin, Kreis Strelno, Kreis Wirsitz, Kreis Witkowo, Kreis Wongrowitz, and Kreis Znin).
When describing place names in Prussian Poland, during the years of 1871-1877, I recommend using the format listed below:
Village, Kreis, Regierungsbezirk, Provinz, German Empire
Sumin, Kreis Prueßisch Stargard, Regierungsbezirk Danzig, Provinz Preußen, Kaiserlich Deutsches Reich
or
ex. Sumin, Prussian Stargard County, Department of Danzig, Province of Prussia, German Empire
or
Village, Kreis, Provinz, German Empire
ex. Sumin, Kreis Stargard, Provinz Preußen, Kaiserlich Deutsches Reich
or
ex. Sumin, Stargard County, Province of Prussia, German Empire
These administrative districts would last from 1871-1878, until the German Empire performed redistricting throughout their newly founded empire. Information regarding the administrative districts of a village, town, or city can be obtained through parish records,
Meyers Orts- und Verkehrs-Lexikon des Deutschen Reichs (Meyers Gazetteer of the German Empire), written histories,
East and West Prussia Gazetteer,
GOV – the genealogical gazeteer,
JewishGen ShtetlSeeker – Town Search,
Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich, or by various other means.
References:
Brandt, E. R. & Goertz, A. (2002). Genealogical guide to East and West Prussia. Minneapolis: E. R. Brandt
Clark, C. (2006). Iron kingdom: the rise and downfall of Prussia, 1600-1947. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.
Davies, N. (2005). God’s playground: a history of Poland in two volumes volume II 1795 to the present. New York: Columbia University Press.
Goertz, A. (2005). FAQ: Prussia. Mennonite genealogy. Retrieved May 10, 2010, from http://www.mennonitegenealogy.com/faq/faqpruss.htm
Magocsi, P. R. (2002). Historical atlas of Central Europe. Seattle: University of Washington Press.
Wikipedia. (2010). German Empire. Retrieved June 25, 2010, fromhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Empire
If there are any errors in my findings, please contact me.
Best Regards,
Al
