Editing Braniewo (section)

===19th and 20th centuries===
[[File:Braniewo kolegium jezuickie 1841.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.9|[[Collegium Hosianum]] in the 1840s]]
Braunsberg obtained its first railway connection with the rest of the kingdom via the [[Prussian Eastern Railway]] in 1852. In the early 20th century, the town was the leading academic center of East Prussia next to [[Königsberg]]. In 1912 the [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit]] college became the State Academy of Braunsberg (German: ''Staatliche Akademie Braunsberg''). Prior to World War II, the population of Braunsberg had grown to more than 21,000, of whom 59 percent were listed as Catholic and 29 percent Protestant.

The Second World War turned much of the town into ruins. After three and a half years of savage warfare, Soviet forces began their assault on German land by attacking East Prussia on Jan. 13, 1945. Red Army formations reached the Vistula Lagoon north of Braunsberg on Jan. 26. In early February, German civilians began fleeing from Braunsberg across the ice of the frozen lagoon to the [[Vistula Spit]], from which many journeyed to either [[Gdańsk|Danzig]] (Gdańsk) or [[Baltiysk|Pillau]] (Baltiysk), and managed to board German ships that made the [[Operation Hannibal|perilous voyage westward]]. Braunsberg was captured by Soviet troops on March 20, 1945. 
{{multiple image |align=right |caption_align=center |perrow=2 |total_width=350
| header = Historic architecture of Braniewo (examples)
| image1 = Braniewo zespół murów obronnych wieża.JPG
| image2 = 20100704 Braniewo, church 2, 1.jpg
| image3 = Braniewo Sądowa 1.JPG
| image4 = Braniewo Kościuszki 108-007.JPG
| image5 = Braniewo 012.jpg
| image6 = Braniewo - kościół ewangelicki ob. rzym.-kat. św. Antoniego.jpg
| caption1 = Defensive walls and towers
| caption2 = Holy Cross Sanctuary
| caption3 = Courthouse
| caption4 = Old granary
| caption5 = Monastery of Saint Catherine
| caption6 = Saint Anthony church
}}

Heavy fighting and wanton destruction afterwards had left the town about 80 percent destroyed, including much of its historic town center, largely consumed by fire. After German surrender,  sovereignty over the town was ceremoniously transferred to Polish authorities on July 7.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.vffow.de/assets/downloads/dateien/Pr.%20Holland-Die%20Wende%201945_Diss.pdf|title=PREUßISCH HOLLAND/PASLEK – DIE WENDE DES JAHRES 1945. DIE VERTREIBUNG/AUSSIEDLUNG DER DEUTSCHEN BEVÖLKERUNG 1945-1947|author=Joanna Ewa Wisniewska|pages=91}}</ref>

The previous unilateral Soviet transfer of power to Poland was accepted according to the [[Potsdam Agreement]], however, under preliminary terms. The town was partially repopulated by Polish settlers, many of whom came from areas of eastern Poland [[Territorial changes of Poland immediately after World War II|annexed by the Soviet Union]].

In 2001 the St. Catherine Church, built in 1346, destroyed in 1945, and rebuilt after 1979, was declared a Basilica Minor. This Gothic Hall church was built on a site which had held a previous wooden Church of St. Catherine since 1280. Prince-Bishop [[Lucas Watzenrode the Younger|Lucas Watzenrode]] of Warmia (1447–1512) had added extensively to the original building.