Otwock

Coordinates: 52°7′N 21°16′E / 52.117°N 21.267°E / 52.117; 21.267
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Otwock
Świdermajer-styled house in Otwock
Świdermajer-styled house in Otwock
Masovian Voivodship in east-central Poland, some 23 kilometres (14 mi) southeast of Warsaw, with 44,635 inhabitants (2019). Otwock is a part of the Warsaw metropolitan area. It is situated on the right bank of Vistula River below the mouth of Świder River. Otwock is home to a unique architectural style called Świdermajer
.

It is the capital of Otwock County. The town covers the area of 47 square kilometres (18 sq mi). Forested areas make up 23% of the territory, and there are several nature reserves.

History

"The Commandant" Józef Piłsudski with his legionaries in Otwock in 1915

Even though the first mention of a village called Otwosko comes from the early 15th century, Otwock did not fully develop until the second half of the 19th century, when in 1877 the

Chłopi there. The Zofiówka Sanatorium was opened in Otwock in 1908. In 1916, Otwock was incorporated as a town and became the seat of a powiat
.

During the Battle of Warsaw (1920), Otwock, along with nearby Karczew, constituted the edge of the right wing of the first line of Polish defense and was manned by the Polish 15th Infantry Division, whereas the second line of Polish defense began in the present-day neighborhood of Świdry Wielkie; however, there was no Polish-Russian fighting in Otwock.[1]

In 1936 railway connection Warsaw - Otwock was electrified as the first rail line in Poland.

World War II

Layover yard in Otwock, 19 August 1942. In the distance, Jews sit on the ground overnight, while awaiting transport to Treblinka extermination camp. Clandestine photo

Following the German–Soviet

Auschwitz.[4] Jews who remained were summarily shot at Reymonta Street soon after.[5]

Memorial to Jews of Otwock who were murdered in the Holocaust

Otwock is the hometown of

Righteous among the Nations by Yad Vashem. Writer Calel Perechodnik, a Jewish Ghetto Policeman from Otwock also hailed from this town. Following the liberation, a children's home for Holocaust survivors was established in Otwock.[6]

Post-war period

In 1952, town limits were expanded by including Świder, Świdry Wielkie, Teklin and Zamlądz as new neighbourhoods.[7] Following the Korean War, in 1953–1959, Poland admitted 200 North Korean orphans in Świder.[8]

From 1975 to 1998, it was administratively located in the Warsaw Voivodeship.

Sights

In Otwock there are many buildings in the Świdermajer style, unique to the town and its surroundings. There are also memorials to Józef Piłsudski and to local Jews, who were murdered by Nazi Germany in the Holocaust.

The Mszar Pogorzelski, Świder and Wyspy Świderskie nature reserves are located in Otwock.

Economy

In 1958, Ewa, the first Polish nuclear reactor was activated in Swierk district of Otwock. A second research reactor, Maria, was erected in 1974.

Sports

Otwock is home to a sports club

Legia Warszawa
and the national team of Poland.

Town hall

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Poland

Twin towns – Sister cities

Otwock is

twinned
with:

References

  1. ISSN 1427-1443
    .
  2. Museum of the History of the Polish Jews  (in English), as well as "Getta Żydowskie," by Gedeon
    ,  (in Polish) and "Ghetto List" by Michael Peters at www.deathcamps.org/occupation/ghettolist.htm  (in English). Accessed 12 July 2011.
  3. ^ "The War Against The Jews." The Holocaust Chronicle, 2009. Chicago, Il. Accessed 21 June 2011.
  4. ^ Sabina Bauman, "Czwarty marsz" (The Fourth March of the Living) Archived 7 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine Linia otwocka 26 September 2005.
  5. ^ Społeczny Komitet Pamięci Żydów Otwockich i Karczewskich - działania w latach 2002-2007 Archived 30 October 2018 at the Wayback Machine Sekcja terenowa Polskiej Rady Chrześcijan i Żydów (Otwock Branch of Poland’s Advisory of Christians and Jews Archived 9 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine); Zbigniew Nosowski, President.  (in Polish)
  6. ^ A Time to Heal: The Story of the Children's Home in Otwock an online exhibition by Yad Vashem
  7. ^ Rozporządzenie Prezesa Rady Ministrów z dnia 3 maja 1952 r. w sprawie utworzenia i zmiany granic niektórych miast w powiatach warszawskim i radzymińskim, województwie warszawskim., Dz. U. z 1952 r. Nr 26, poz. 181
  8. ISSN 0080-3480
    .

External links
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