Skawica

History abstract

The first settlers arrived in Skawica most probably at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries. Their main activities included deforestation, cattle breeding and sheep grazing. Around 1580, Vlachs from Transylvania appeared in the region. The second half of the following century was marked by peasant rebellions against the extensive serfdom policy of the owners of the surrounding villages, Marianna Stadnicka and Józef Słuszka – starosts of Lanckorona. The strikers were twice lead by peasants from Skawica – Klimunt Czarny and Jakub Derc called Śmietana. In the 1830s, the gang of robbers lead by Józef Baczyński became famous in the region of Babia Góra and Gorce. After the first partition of Poland in 1772, Skawica, along with Lanckorona estate and a part of the Cracow voivodship, was incorporated into the Austrian Empire. In the period from 1839 to 1878, the village, together with Zawoja and Maków Podhalanski, was owned by Count Philip Saint-Genois d'Annecourt. Thanks to the support of the next heir, Albrecht Habsburg, a folk school was established in Skawica in 1874. Around 1900, the village was inhabited by 1526 people in 363 houses. Most men were employed by mills, fulling mills and sawmills belonging to the Habsburgs. Those who did not have a job or other sources of income went to Western Europe to perform seasonal jobs. The peasant parties established in the 19th century were very popular in the region (especially the PSL "Liberation"). Before the outbreak of World War II, the radical National Party joined the fight against the peasants. On September 1, 1939, the German army invaded the Republic of Poland from the Jabłonka and Żywiec side. After the end of the September campaign, the border between the Third Reich and the General Government was drawn along the nearby Skawa River. The occupant quickly began to implement a ruthless economic policy of enforcing high food quotas on the local population. The progressing exploitation of civilians led to the rapid establishment of a conspiratorial branch of the Home Army of Huta-Podgórze. With the end of the war, the life of Skawica's inhabitants slowly returned to normal. The damage was repaired, numerous peasant initiatives were created, the Voluntary Fire Brigade was established and the village was electrified. On April 2, 1969, a serious air crash occurred in the region – a passenger plane crashed on the slope of Polica mountain. Nowadays, Skawica is an important point on the tourist map of the Maków Beskids.