PODGRODZIE CHILDREN'S TOWN - BARBARA SOWIŃSKA-ADAMCZYK

Travel back in time to the fascinating world of Podgrodzie, a children's town modeled after the Soviet Artek. Located on the picturesque Szczecin Lagoon, it was the largest colony center in the Polish People's Republic. For many participants of the then colonies, Podgrodzie is synonymous with unforgettable holidays, acquiring new skills and lessons in independence. Daily duties turned into fun, and each day brought a new, exciting adventure.

• Fascinating journey back to the times of the Polish People's Republic
• Memories of colonists and employees of the center
• Unique photos from private collections and archival press
• History of the children's town of Podgrodzie
• Rich infrastructure of the colony center
• Story about the daily life of the colonists

The colony center in Podgrodzie, which was established in 1952 on the site of the former German settlement of Altstadt, resembled an independent town. The rich infrastructure included residential houses, canteens, a cinema-theater, an amphitheater, a post office, a laundry, a bathhouse, a stadium, a Scout House, and even a three-kilometer narrow-gauge railway, a railway station and an amusement park. In 22 years, first under the patronage of the Central Union of Labor Cooperatives and then the Union of Iron and Steel Metallurgy, about 60,000 children aged 10-14 spent their holidays in Podgrodzie, and seasonally about 5,000 adults worked - educators and support staff.

Barbara Sowińska-Adamczyk's book is not only a sentimental journey into the past, but also an attempt to understand the phenomenon of this unique place. The author analyzes what the day of a colonist looked like, what activities filled it, and whether Podgrodzie was a kind of paradise or a propaganda center of the Polish People's Republic. We get to know different faces of Podgrodzie - a center established by the then authorities and a place of summer recreation nostalgically recalled in the memories of colonists and employees.

Numerous photos from private collections, excerpts from the archival press and postcards will take us to the charming corners of Podgrodzie. This is an extraordinary opportunity to see what life was like in this unique children's town, which has forever entered the history of Polish colonistics. This book is a must-read for everyone who wants to learn more about the history of the Polish People's Republic and what childhood was like in those times.

Księży Młyn Dom Wydawniczy invites you to read this fascinating story about Podgrodzie - a town that will forever remain in the memory of those who were lucky enough to spend even one day there. It is a book that touches, entertains and encourages reflection on the past.