Godkowo is a small village in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, located approximately 40 km from Elblag. A unique microclimate and a close proximity to lakes makes Godkowo a perfect place to rest and practise water sports in.
Godkowo is a small tourist resort, perfect for those wishing to spend their holidays in peace and harmony with nature. If you decide to organise a conference, a wedding or a picnic here, you will not be disappointed. Godkowo is worth visiting; you will long remember its unique character.
Godkowo is also a good starting point to Elblag (40 km) and Lidzbark Warminski (53 km).
Godkowo is a village in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in Elblag County, with the population of 260. It is a seat of Godkowo Commune.
The first records about Godkowo are from 1320-1331. The last war between Poland and Teutonic Knights (1519-21) brought many destructions, so as did Poland-Sweden wars in the early 17th century. At that time the village was almost completely desolated, but due to its convenient location in the crossroads of the region’s routes it was quickly inhabited and rebuilt.
In the beginning of the 18th century there was a plague in the village, which again desolated the town. During the Seven Years’ War (1758-62), on the other hand, Russian troops stationed here. A half century later the situation repeated, but this time it was worse.
In the early 20th century Godkowo was developing very fast. In 1904 shuttle post riders started operating on Morag – Godkowo – Slobity station route and a year later an independent post office building was erected. In 1924 the village was electrified.
After the outbreak of the First World War inhabitants of Godkowo were made to evacuate the village as Russian troops were looming. They, however, reached only Orneta, where they destroyed a listed basilica and were defeated.
In October 1939, just after the end of the Invasion of Poland, there appeared Polish prisoners of war in Godkowo. They were forced to work for rich land owners. In the end of 1944 there was an inflow of fugitives from eastern Prussia (to which Soviet Red Army was looming) to Godkowo. Because the battlefront was looming very fast, all local men (aged 16 to 65) were recruited to the Volkssturm. Early morning on Sunday 21 January 1945, German authorities in Paslek sent an order to pack and evacuate the village. It was, however, impossible to do, since all the local roads were already blocked.
Therefore, most people stayed in Godkowo and left it only on Monday 22 January. On the next day Soviet tanks T-34 entered Godkowo. The Red Army soldiers burned and robbed land properties and raped women. On Saturday 27 January, after the Wehrmacht’s counterattack, the Red Army left the village. Eventually, on 3 February 1945, in the morning, the Wehrmacht troops left Godkowo without any fights and soon the Red Army appeared again.