Racibórz

Racibórz (rätsē'būsh), Ger. Ratibor, town (1994 est. pop. 65,300), Śląskie prov., S Poland, on the Oder River. A river port and rail junction, it also has industries producing electrical equipment, chemicals, wood products, and foodstuffs. Chartered in 1217, it became (1288) the capital of a free imperial principality. It passed with Silesia to the house of Hapsburg in 1526 and to Prussia in 1745. It was (1822-1918) the capital of the principality, after 1840 the duchy, of Ratibor. It was heavily damaged in World War II and was incorporated into Poland in 1945.