German Breslau
City (pop., 2000 est.: 633,857), southwestern Poland.
Located on the Oder River , it originated in the 10th century at the crossroads of the trade route linking the Black Sea to western Europe. In 1138 it became the first capital of Silesia . The Tartars destroyed Wroc 0142; aw in 1241. Rebuilt, it passed to Bohemia with the rest of Silesia in 1335 and to the Habsburg s in 1526. In 1741 it fell to Prussia under the rule of Frederick II (the Great), and it eventually became part of Germany. During World War II Wroc 0142; aw was besieged (1945) by Soviet troops. The city was assigned to Poland by the Potsdam Conference of 1945. Heavily damaged during the war, it was rebuilt and is now a major commercial city.