Zgoń Explained

Zgoń
Settlement Type:Sołectwo of Orzesze
Coordinates:50.0819°N 18.8294°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Poland
Subdivision Type1:Voivodeship
Subdivision Name1:Silesian
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Mikołów
Subdivision Type3:Gmina/Town
Subdivision Name3:Orzesze
Established Title:Within town limits
Established Date:1975
Area Total Km2:13.3
Population Total:1,133
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:CET
Utc Offset:+1
Timezone Dst:CEST
Utc Offset Dst:+2
Registration Plate:SMI

Zgoń is a sołectwo in the south east of Orzesze, Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland.[1] It was an independent village but as a part of gmina Gardawice was administratively merged into Orzesze in 1975.[2] It has an area of 13.3 km2 and about 1,133 inhabitants.[3]

History

The village existed already in the 14th century.[4]

During the political upheaval caused by Matthias Corvinus the land around Pszczyna was overtaken by Casimir II, Duke of Cieszyn, who sold it in 1517 to the Hungarian magnates of the Thurzó family, forming the Pless state country. In the accompanying sales document issued on 21 February 1517 the village was mentioned as Zgony.[5] The Kingdom of Bohemia in 1526 became part of the Habsburg monarchy. In the War of the Austrian Succession in the mid-18th century most of Silesia was conquered by the Kingdom of Prussia, including the village, and in 1871 it became part of Germany.

After World War I in the Upper Silesia plebiscite 404 out of 421 voters in Zgoń voted in favour of reintegrating with Poland, which just regained independence, against 17 opting for staying in Germany.[6]

Shortly after capturing the settlement during the invasion of Poland, which started World War II, German troops committed a massacre of eight Polish defenders (seven men and one woman) in Zgoń on September 3, 1939 (see Nazi crimes against the Polish nation).[7] German occupation ended in 1945.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Statuty sołectw. 2015-05-06.
  2. Rozporządzenie Rady Ministrów z dnia 22 maja 1975 r. w sprawie zmiany granic. 1975. 15. 87.
  3. Web site: Sołectwa Orzesza. 2015-05-06.
  4. Web site: Orzesze. Historia. 2015-05-06. pl.
  5. Musioł. Ludwik. 1930. Dokument sprzedaży księstwa pszczyńskiego z dn. 21. lutego 1517 R.. Roczniki Towarzystwa Przyjaciół Nauk na Śląsku. Katowice . nakł. Towarzystwa ; Drukiem K. Miarki. R. 2. 235–237. 12 September 2014.
  6. Web site: Results of the Upper Silesia plebiscite in Pless/Pszczyna County. de. 2015-05-03.
  7. Book: Wardzyńska, Maria. 2009. Był rok 1939. Operacja niemieckiej policji bezpieczeństwa w Polsce. Intelligenzaktion. pl. Warszawa. IPN. 132.