On the other hand, only around 100 inhabitants did not speak Polish, according to other sources. In the second half of the 19th century, the town slowly developed again and its population grew. The populace remained predominantly Polish by ethnicity and Protestant by confession, and in the late 19th century the local parish was composed of 4,450 Poles and 1,000 Germans. 20th century During World War I, several battles were fought between the German and Russian armies in 1914 and 1915 in the area of Arys. The town was held by Russian troops for 20 days and heavily damaged. On July 11, 1920, the East Prussian plebiscite, mandated by the Versailles Treaty, was held in the District of Allenstein (now Olsztyn), which included Arys. District-wide results were 1,480 votes for Germany and only 1 (one) vote for Poland. In July 1920, a German internment camp for Polish troops was established in the town during the Polish–Soviet War. Some Poles tried to escape and during such attempts three were killed by the Germans, plus three more died in the camp due to epidemics. In August 1920, Poles were deported to Königsberg and then Minden, for Russians to take their place in the camp. Towards the end of World War II Arys was nearly destroyed in the Soviet January offensive. After the flight of the majority of the population, there were only 300 people remaining in the town in January 1945, mostly Masurians (Poles). Orzysz became again part of Poland under the border changes promulgated at the Potsdam Conference in July–August 1945, and the remaining Polish inhabitants were joined by Poles displaced from former eastern Poland annexed by the Soviet Union and from other places. Transport Orzysz is located at the crossroads of Polish National roads 16 and 63. Sports The local football team is . It competes in the lower leagues. Notable residents Kurt Sanderling (1912-2011), German conductor Wolfgang Heyda (1913-1947), German U-boat commander Mariusz Patyra (born 1977) Polish violinist References Cities and towns in Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship Pisz County