Miedzianka, Lower Silesian Voivodeship
Miedzianka | |
---|---|
Village | |
Jelenia Góra | |
Gmina | Janowice Wielkie |
Elevation | 500 m (1,600 ft) |
Population | |
• Total | 80[1] |
Miedzianka
It lies approximately 16 km (10 mi) east of Jelenia Góra, and 82 km (51 mi) west of the regional capital Wrocław.
History
The settlement's history begins in the 14th century, then known as Kupferberg,
After falling within the re-drawn borders of Poland, the village was renamed Miedzianka. It became a site of a secret Red Army mining operation, as Soviet experts expected to develop a uranium mine there.[1] From 1949 to the 1950s about 600 tons of uranium were sent from Miedzianka to the USSR.[4] Extensive and wanton mining caused much damage to the town, and when the uranium deposits proved to be insufficient for continued exploitation, the local economy collapsed amid the government's attempts to hide the uranium excavation.[3][1] The mine was publicly labelled as a "paper factory"; Polish and Soviet troops and secret police guarded the mine, and the miners who could not keep the secret were executed.[4][5]
In the late 1960s, a planned destruction of Miedzianka began, with demolitions of selected buildings, and a ban on repairs of remaining ones.[3][4] Around 1972, most inhabitants were resettled to the town of Jelenia Góra.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Miejscowości". Janowicewielkie.eu. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ^ "Central Statistical Office (GUS) – TERYT (National Register of Territorial Land Apportionment Journal)" (in Polish). 2008-06-01.
- ^ a b c d "Dlaczego Miedzianka musiała zniknąć? | Nie ma miasteczka". Polityka.pl. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ^ a b c "Miasto-widmo w Sudetach - Reportaże - Przewodnik w Onet.pl". Przewodnik.onet.pl. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ^ "Miedzianka - zemsta Stalina za uran (Słuchowisko) - Radio RAM". Radioram.pl. 2008-05-30. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
Further reading
- Springer, Filip (2011). Miedzianka. Historia znikania.