State: Germany, 2nd Empire
Issuer: Bielschowitz (municipality) (Oberschlesien / Polen: Bielszowice) Gemeinde-vorstand und Gemeindekasse
Location of issue: Bielschowitz
Date of issue: 12.8.1914 AD.,
Value: 0,5 Mark
Size: 120 x 86 mm
Material: paper
Watermark:
Serial : -
Serial no. : 2122
Signatures: (2)
Printer: ?
Obv.: No. 2122 / Gutschein / 0,50 Mark / 0,50 Mark zahlt die Gemeindekasse …. , serial, value, issuer and signatures. No dot after "Mark", red stamp "GEMEINDE BIELSCHOWITZ / KR. ZABRZE"
Rev.: (blank) .
References: Diessner 25.9a .
Bielszowice (German: Bielschowitz) today is a district in the west of Ruda Śląska, Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland. The settlement was first mentioned in 1452 as Bilechowitz. It was a seat of a Catholic parish in Diocese of Kraków, established probably around 1440. Beginning with the 19th century it was heavily affected by industrial development. Bielszowice Coal Mine was built in years 1896–1904. In 1891 the German state purchased the village from private hands. After World War I in the Upper Silesia plebiscite 4,546 out of 6,461 voters in Bielszowice voted in favour of joining Poland, against 1,874 opting for staying in Germany. Afterwards it became a part of Silesian Voivodeship, Second Polish Republic. It was then annexed by Nazi Germany at the beginning of World War II. After the war it was restored to Poland.
More on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bielszowice
In 1905, the Zabrze commune was formed by the former communes Alt-Zabrze, Klein-Zabrze and Dorotheendorf. The Zabrze commune was renamed Hindenburg in 1915 in honour of Generalfeldmarschall Paul von Hindenburg. The name change was approved by Emperor Wilhelm II on 21 February 1915. Up till then, it was one of the few cities whose Polish name was retained during German rule. During the plebiscite held after World War I, 21,333 inhabitants (59%) of the Hindenburg commune voted to remain in Germany, while 14,873 (41%) voted for incorporation to Poland, which just regained its independence. In May 1921 the Third Silesian Uprising broke out and Hindenburg was captured by Polish insurgents, who held it until the end of the uprising. When Upper Silesia was divided between Poland and Germany in 1921, the Hindenburg commune remained in Germany. It received its city charter in 1922.
More on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zabrze
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