During the Nazi Germany era ( 1933 – 1945 ) , three subcamps of the Stutthof concentration camp were located near the town : '' Elbing '' , '' Elbing ( Org . Todt ) '' , and '' Elbing ( Schinau ) '' . These were closed and many of the German inhabitants of Elbing forced to flee as the Soviet Red Army approached the city toward the end of World War II ( see Evacuation of East Prussia ) . Laid under siege since January 23 , 1945 , about 65 % of the city infrastructure was destroyed , including most of the historical city center . The town was captured by the Soviet Red Army during the night of February 9/10 , 1945 . During the first days of the siege most of the population of approximately 100,000 persons fled . After the end of war , in spring 1945 , the region together with the town of Elbing became part of Poland as a result of the Potsdam Conference and the area was settled by Poles after remaining Germans were either transferred or fled to Germany
Potsdam Conference
Potsdam Conference
Elbląg