The change of street designations as "culture change" : on urban names in Rzeszów in the years 1939-1944

Street names have got not only the function of a topographical‐spatial orientation but they also reflect the history and are a cultural and political instrument. At the time of the National Socialist dictatorship, street names were changed in Germany. In the cities of the General Government, in Poland, during the Second World War many streets and squares were also renamed. The aim of this paper is to examine and describe the change of urban names in Rzeszów in the years 1939‐1944, when Poland was under German occupation. A strong influence of the German language is apparent in German designations and more or less successful translations of Polish hodo‐ and hydronyms. Nevertheless, some place and river designations still show their Polish origin. The paper discusses the extent of German influence on the official language of city plans and the ways in which the Polish streets and rivers were renamed. Moreover, an attempt is being made to determine which trends can be observed in urban designations