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Bydgoszcz ) is a city in northern Poland, on Brda and Vistula rivers, with a population of 369,151 (2004). Together with Toruń it has been the capital of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodship since 1999, and was previously the capital of the Bydgoszcz Voivodship (1947-1998) and before that, of the Pomeranian Voivodship (1945-1947).

Bydgoszcz is a part of the metroplex Bydgoszcz-Toruń with Toruń, only 45 km away, and over 600,000 inhabitants. In September 2004 Medical Academy in Bydgoszcz joined Toruń University as Collegium Medicum UMK in Bydgoszcz.

(spelled "Bydgostia" in Latin), the city became a stronghold for the Vistula trade routes. In the 13th century it was the site of a castellany, first mentioned in 1238. Bydgoszcz was occupied by the Teutonic Knights from 1331-1337, and was recovered by the king Casimir the Great, who granted the city municipal rights in 13461349.

In the 15th-16th centuries Bydgoszcz was a significant site of corn trade. In 1657 the Treaty of Bydgoszcz was signed there.

Bydgoszcz followed the history of Greater Poland until 1772, when it was annexed by Prussia. During this time, the canal was built from Bydgoszcz to Nakło which connected the north-flowing Vistula river via the Brda to the west-flowing Noteć, which in turn flowed to the Oder via the Warta.

In 1807 Bydgoszcz became part of the Duchy of Warsaw (French i). In 1815 it returned to Prussian rule as part of the autonomous Grand Duchy of Poznan and capital of one of its districts, Bromberg district. After 1871 the city was part of the German Empire's Province of Posen.

After World War I and the Great Poland Uprising, Bydgoszcz returned to Poland in 1919, shifting in 1938 to Pomerania Voivodship. 1939-1945 saw occupation by Germany and annexation to the Reichsgau Wartheland. There had been an early reprisal against Germans in Bydgoszcz - killing 358 to 5437 Germans - known as Bromberg Bloody Sunday, after which 3.000 Poles were murdered by Germans. Bydgoszcz (Fordon) was the site of the German concentration camp i, subcamp of Stutthof.

In 1941 a number of Boy Scouts in Bydgoszcz, who ranged from twelve to sixteen years of age, were lined up against a wall in the marketplace and shot by the Germans; no reason was given. Wehrmacht troops began rounding up schoolboys in the street, who were executed in a similar fashion. A devoted priest who rushed to administer the Last Sacrament was shot too. He received five wounds. A Pole said afterwards that the sight of those children lying dead was the most piteous of all the horrors he saw (from the NYT). Altogether, at least 1000 Poles were murdered in the incident.

Following World War II, Bydgoszcz was returned to Poland, as a Soviet bloc nation, under the Potsdam Conference border resolutions.

Toruń University Collegium Medicum im. Ludwika Rydygiera (Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu, Akademia Medyczna)GCB Adriana Gazeta Pomorska Bydgoszcz- women's volleyball team playing in Polish Seria A Women's Volleyball League: 5th place in 2003Budlex Polonia Bydgoszcz - motorcycle speedway team from the Polish Ekstraliga. 2nd place in the 2005 season.

Members of Parliament (Sejm) elected from Bydgoszcz constituency

): a unit of administrative division and local government in Polish Duchy of Warsaw in years 1806-1815.