Perhaps it is because of this lush tree stand that the first settlement, dating back to the 13th century, was called Dubbegnek or Dubegnewe, which may mean the same as "New Oak". A century later, its name was changed to Woldenberg, from the name of Waldemar the Great, the owner of these lands.


The city changed these very often. Pomeranians, Branderburians, Teutonic Knights, then the German and Polish state. Regardless of the governments, however, its people worked primarily in agriculture. When it comes to crafts, Dobiegniew became cloth-making. Trade also flourished. All because the city was situated on an important trade route Szczecin - Drezdenko - Poznań and on the road to Kostrzyn.

Dobiegniew was also home to a large Jewish community. Its first representatives came here in the 16th century. In 1897, 4,667 people lived in Woldenberg at that time, of whom only 65 were Catholics and 131 professed the Mosaic religion. The 20th century tragically ended their history in these lands. Many fled, others died at the hands of the Nazis. The beautiful 19th-century synagogue was devastated. After the war, it was turned into a railway warehouse, which is still standing today. Another trace of this community are the remains of the cemetery, where you can see fragments of matzevot with inscriptions in Hebrew.

When talking about the recent history of Dobiegniew, it is impossible to ignore the fate of the "Woldenbergers". This was the name of Polish officers who were prisoners of camp II C Woldenberg. The Nazis set it up only a kilometer from the city center. Nearly 7,000 people were confined here.