The town, located on the bend of the Dniester, was almost a paradise before the war: villas, guesthouses, beautiful beaches, clear water, and a Mediterranean climate!
Marshal Józef Piłsudski in Zaleszczyki, photo: NAC
Thanks to it, many species of plants were successfully bred here, even exotic ones such as oranges, melons, watermelons and rice. A nationwide grape harvest festival was organized here every year. During the season, there was no need to look for special entertainment - dancing and open-air concerts were the order of the day. Cultural life also flourished.
Artists and politicians from the front pages of newspapers, such as Józef Piłsudski himself, rested in Zaleszczyki. During the season, the city could be reached directly from Warsaw, Krakow and distant Gdynia, which significantly increased its importance.
It was like that until the outbreak of World War II. After September 17, 1939, the resort belonged to the Soviet Union. After the outbreak of the German-Soviet war in 1941, the NKVD sank wagons with prisoners from Chortkiv and Kołomyja in the Dniester, thus murdering hundreds of people. To this day it is not known how many people lost their lives.
For the next three years, a flag with a swastika flew over Zaleszczyki, until, as a result of the Red Army offensive, it was replaced by red banners with a hammer and sickle. The Soviets' second entry into the city puts an end to the resort.
To make room for the Lenin monument, the baroque town hall was demolished, villas and guesthouses were completely or partially demolished, famous beaches and gardens were destroyed, and melon, citrus and vine plantations were cut down.
The picture of destruction is complemented by the devastation and conversion of the historic church of St. Stanisław into a fertilizer warehouse, stable and toilets.
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