During World War II , 60 % of Brieg was destroyed and many of the town 's inhabitants died during the severe winter of 1944 – 5 as they fled from the advancing Red Army . The war had brought the most severe destruction to the town in its entire history . Some of the town 's population was evacuated by the German Army who moved its population further west inside Germany for safety and declared Brieg " Festung Brieg " ( Fortification Brieg ) . After the fall of the town to the Soviets the remaining German population were later subject to harassment and expulsion ( see Expulsion of Germans after World War II ) . After the war , the Potsdam Conference placed Silesia , and thus the town , under Polish administration . Subsequently , Brzeg and Lower Silesia were repopulated by Polish whom Soviets expelled from the eastern part of prewar Poland
Potsdam Conference
Potsdam Conference
Brzeg