Last modified: 2018-12-15 by rob raeside
Keywords: zolynia |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
First documented mention comes from XIV century. It was a place of settlement
for the escaped serfs and Turkish POWs. Documents say it was mostly a Tatar
village. The name of the village is derived from the word "żołędzie"
meaning "acorns".
After the Tatar invasion of 1624, the village was bought and rebuilded
by the princely Lubomirski clan. The name was changed to Lubomierz and
it acquired the city rights and the Arms. In 1672 the Tatars invaded again
and destroyed the town. After that, a series of Saxon, Swedish and Russian
invasions were demolishing whatever was rebuilt in the meantime. But the
Lubomirski family never gave up and always tried to raise the town from
the ashes.
In 1772, Żołynia found itself under the Austrian rule, which was relatively
benevolent.
In 1867 the population of the town was predominantly Jewish (63%).
In the countryside the Jews were about 5-10%.
Russians occupied the town in 1914-1915 doing a lot of damage and persecuting
the Jews.
Many locals participated in Polish Legions of Pilsudski fighting the
Russians.
In the interwar period Żołynia lost the city rights due to political
squabbles between the town and the village with the last becoming much
bigger.
In 1942 the Jews of Żołynia were mass murdered by the Nazis and in 1943
the area was severely pacified in revenge for the partizan activities of
Ak (Home Army) and Bataliony Chłopskie (Peasant's Batallions). The area
was liberated on July 26 1944 by the Soviet and Polish troops.
In 1983, Żołynia was awarded the Cross of Grunwald for its resistance
and sacrifices in fight against the Nazis.
Presently the cultivated land is 70% of the commune, forests - 20%.
Arms and flag adopted on November 19, 2002 (resolution # I/3/02)
"Arms: on the ornamental shield topped with the cross two fields: white
with the green oak leaf and red with the brown and green acorns.
Flag: a rectangle composed of green, white and red bands. The white
band is framed by thin yellow stripes. Arms are placed in the middle of
the flag."
Chrystian Kretowicz, 18 Dec 2008