As a result of the First Silesian War the city was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia in 1742, and subsequently became part of Germany in 1871. In 1843 the city obtained its first rail connection, which linked it with Breslau (now Wrocław, Poland). In the early 20th century a glassworks and a large china tableware manufacturing plant, which are still in operation today, were built. In 1939 the city had about 65,000 inhabitants. During World War II the Germans established labour units for Italians from the Stalag VIII-A prisoner-of-war camp, and two subcamps of the Gross-Rosen concentration camp, intended for Jews, located in the present Gaj and Książ districts. It was conquered by the Soviet Red Army on 8 May 1945 - coincidentally, the day World War II in Europe ended.