Goldap
- The title of this article is incorrect because of technical limitations. The correct title is Gołdap.
Gołdap (sometimes also spelt Gołdapia) is a Polish town and a seat of a powiat in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodship. It is located between the Szeskie hills and the Puszcza Romnicka forest. It has a population of 13,600 (1998).
History
The village of Gołdap was founded in 1566 and was inhabitated by settlers from Masovia and Podlachia. The village, located in a profitable location on the crossing of several trade routes, grew rapidly and by 1570 it was granted with with a city charter. A part of the Ducal Prussia, Goldap shared its fate. After The Deluge it became a part of Kingdom of Prussia and then, in 1871, of Imperial Germany.
In 18th and 19th centuries the town was a notable centre of commerce and production of various goods for the local market, as well as an important centre of grain production. In 1818 it became a seat of a county. In 1879 it was joined with the rest of the world by a railway.
During the World War I the town was a scene of fierce Russo-German fights and the fronts passed the city twice. As a result, the town was destroyed in 86%. It was rebuilt and soon after the war ended it yet again reached a similar number of inhabitants it had had before.
During World War II it was planned by the German staff as one of the strongholds guarding the rest of German-held East Prussia from the Red Army assaults. In the effect of heavy city fights in August of 1944, the town was yet again destroyed – this time in 90%. According to German war-time propaganda, there were ca. 50 civillians killed on purpose by the Red Army.
After the war the town, together with a large part of East Prussia, was granted to Poland and a large part of its inhabitants was resettled to West Germany. The remaining Masurians were soon joined by Poles expelled from the Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union. The town was rebuilt and retained its status as a seat of a powiat.
Today the town of Gołdap remains an important centre of local trade and commerce. There are several small food production facilities (milk plant, industrial slaughterhouse, mill) located there, as well as a paper mill and a small tourist equipment works. In addition, it is one of the centres of tourism, with many skiing, swimming, sailing and leisure centres located both in the town and around it.
See also
Categories: Poland-related stubs