Suchacz | |
|---|---|
Village | |
 | |
  Suchacz | |
| Coordinates:54°17′4″N19°26′17″E / 54.28444°N 19.43806°E /54.28444; 19.43806 | |
| Country |  Poland |
| Voivodeship | Warmian-Masurian |
| County | Elbląg |
| Gmina | Tolkmicko |
| Population (2006) | 730 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Vehicle registration | NEB |
Suchacz[ˈsuxat͡ʂ] is avillage in the administrative district ofGmina Tolkmicko, withinElbląg County,Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in northern Poland.[1] It lies approximately 8 kilometres (5 mi) south-west ofTolkmicko, 22 km (14 mi) north ofElbląg, and 89 km (55 mi) north-west of the regional capitalOlsztyn.
The name Succase probably derives from theOld Prussian termsuckis for "fish". In view of this, it is assumed that the place was settled by Prussian fishermen until the time of the Teutonic Order.[2][3] The settlement was also recorded with the name Sucase or Suckase. On a map issued fromAmsterdam in 1640, Swedish cartographerOlao Ioannis Gotho named the settlementFischerbud (= German: fishing lodge).[4][5]
A lateNeolithic settlement from around 2000–1700 BC existed at the site.[6][7]
In the course of theHigh Medieval German colonisation of the East (Ostsiedlung) in the 13th and 14th century and the simultaneous conquest of thePrussian region by theTeutonic Order, ethnic Germans migrated to the region, and the original Prussian population was gradually and finally completelyGermanised. In the course of theThirteen Years' War, theBattle of Vistula Lagoon between the navy of the Teutonic Order, and the navy of thePrussian Confederation which was allied with theKing of Poland took place near Succase in 1463. This event is commemorated by a monument in today's village.
Due to the defeat of the Teutonic Order in the Thirteen Years' War (1454–1466) against thePrussian Confederation and the Polish king allied with it, Succase was under the sovereignty of thePolish Crown between 1466 and 1772 as part ofRoyal Prussia and must soon have been annexed by the latter to the territory of the autonomous city republic ofElbing as a donation. Succase was under the jurisdiction of Elbing when it was first mentioned by name in 1570 in the course of a dispute between the captain ofTolkemit and the Elbing council.[8] The document further testifies that there was hardly more than an inn in the place at that time. Only gradually, in the course of time, a few smaller houses were added, whose inhabitants lived mainly from fishing.[8]
After theFirst Partition of Poland in 1772, Succase belonged to thePrussian province ofWest Prussia, and thus to theGerman Empire since 1871. In 1773, the Elbing magistrate, who was still responsible for Succase, determined that the inhabitants were not to be conscripted into forced labour, but only into woodcutting in the municipal forests.[8]
In the 19th century, the village grew increasingly, due to the ceramic industry. After schooling had previously taken place inLenzen, it now became necessary to establish a school in the village itself. In 1838, the community bought a croft that was under construction and set it up as a school building. In autumn 1838, the school building was inaugurated by the Lenzen pastor Simon Gottwerth Plehwe.[8]
Besides fishing, work in the local brickyard was one of the residents' sources of income.[9] In the second half of the 19th century, the village received a second inn. With the opening of the Haffufer railway line in 1899, which connected Succase with Elbing and withBraunsberg, the village advanced to become a place of excursions, especially for the people of Elbing, where a beach life established itself in the summer. Fruit-growing also gained in importance, and the Haff coast developed into the fruit chamber of East and West Prussia. Thus the village expanded more and more, and the population grew steadily. In the cherry season, the Succasians shipped the fruit on their barges all the way toKönigsberg. Between 1919 and 1921, a road was built to connect Succase with Elbing and Tolkemit. In 1925 Succase had 623 inhabitants.[8]
After the Second World War, Succase became Polish, the German population was expelled and the village was now called Suchacz. However, the village was soon able to regain its status as an excursion destination, especially as the former Haffufer Railway soon resumed operation as Linia kolejowa nr 254. In the 1970s there was still a restaurant, camping site, recreation centre of the Polish State Railway (PKP), bathing beach, etc. Towards the end of the 20th century, the decline set in. In the 80's and 90's the place was run down.[10] In 2005 the Linia kolejowa nr 254 ceased operation.[11] But the first signs of another upswing are becoming apparent: In 2004, amarina was established in Suchacz,[12] which could soon gain in importance when theVistula Spit canal is opened.
