Opoki, Poland Explained

Opoki
Settlement Type:Village
Total Type: 
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Voivodeship
Subdivision Name1:Kuyavian-Pomeranian
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Aleksandrów
Subdivision Type3:Gmina
Subdivision Name3:Aleksandrów Kujawski
Pushpin Map:Poland
Coordinates:52.8333°N 53°W
Timezone:CET
Utc Offset:+1
Timezone Dst:CEST
Utc Offset Dst:+2
Population Total:277
Registration Plate:CAL

Opoki is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Aleksandrów Kujawski, within Aleksandrów County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, in north-central Poland.[1] It lies approximately 9km (06miles) south-west of Aleksandrów Kujawski and 230NaN0 south of Toruń. It is located in the region of Kuyavia.

History

In 1292, Władysław I Łokietek allowed Bishop Tomasz Tomka to build a castle in Opoki.[2] In 1454, Opoki was the place of gathering of the Polish Army at the beginning of the Thirteen Years' War and King Casimir IV Jagiellon stayed there for over two weeks.[3] In the late 19th century, the village had a population of 318, predominantly Catholic by confession.[3]

During World War II, Opoki was occupied by Germany. The Germans renamed it to Groß Ottingen in attempt to erase traces of Polish origin. In 1939–1940, they carried out expulsions of Poles, whose farms were then handed over to Germans as part of the Lebensraum policy.[4] Expelled Poles were either deported to the General Government in the more eastern part of German-occupied Poland or enslaved as forced labour of German colonists in the area.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Central Statistical Office (GUS)  - TERYT (National Register of Territorial Land Apportionment Journal). 2008-06-01. Polish.
  2. Book: . Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich, Tom XV Część II. 1902. pl. Warsaw. 413.
  3. Book: . Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich, Tom VII. 1885. pl. Warsaw. 559.
  4. Book: Wardzyńska, Maria. 2017. Wysiedlenia ludności polskiej z okupowanych ziem polskich włączonych do III Rzeszy w latach 1939-1945. pl. Warsaw. IPN. 177. 978-83-8098-174-4.