Cold War Poland: Factory Holiday Homes

Figure 1.-- Here the Poznań Boys' Choir performs at the International Festival of Choral Singinhg being held in Międzyzdroje (1971). Source: Polish State Archives .

A Polish reader describes how during the Communist era, each enterrprise or institution had their own holiday homes Enployees and their familiers could stay there at no cost, although there could be charges for extras. Our reader's father worked in a factory. He remembers a loveky 2 week summer stay at Międyzdroje, a beautiful small town on Poland's Baltic Sea. "I have been to Międzyzdroje many times when I was a child in the 1960s and 70s. .... Our stays in Międzyzdroje were some of the most pleasant moments of my childhood (1967-68)."

Fctory Holiday Homes

he factory where my father worked had a holiday home there, or rather a complex of houses. During the Communist era, each major factory or institution had its own holiday homes. Here employees andf their families could have all expenses paid vacations. There might be chrges for extras. The vascation stays were for 2-year periods. Transporttion was provided freee of charge. The same busses thst delivered new vacationers returned the factory fmilies bsck home -- all free of chsrge. Everyone knew each other. We children had a large playground and a play room. Other children from a neighboring vsation home belonging to the Army also came. We ll played together. It was only about 300 meters to the beach. In the canteen there was full board included in the price of the stay - breakfast, lunch, dinner. Unfortunately no choice of dishes. Our stays in Międzyzdroje were some of the most pleasant moments of my childhood (1967-68). .

Międyzdroje

At the time, Międyzdroje was a beautiful small town along the Baktic coast. It is surrounded by hills and forests, full of wooden villas built by the Germans and brick mansions turned into holiday homes. There were few holidaymakers, beautiful, wide beach, quite empty, you could even play football on he beach. Vast lawns and walking areas stretched along the beach. There was also a concert shell in which a photo was taken. People were eager to go to concerts because there weren't many other entertainment. (In the "Bursztynowa" restaurant in the evenings "streep-tease" sessions were held, there was also the "Piekiełko" night club). There was a sleepy atmosphere of complete peace. Socialism has sometimes had its advantages - perhaps that is why it went bankrupt. In the 1970s, large holiday houses were built of concrete. Today Międzyzdroje is terribly crowded in summer, people are lying next to each other on the beach, it is difficult to pass. Stay prices high, old beautiful houses less every year. The lawns by the sea have been built up with expensive hotels, the concert shell is gone. On the playground where I played carelessly, there is a boarding house made of steel and glass, trees were cut in the street.

International Festival of Choral Singing

The International Festival of Choral Songs was held in Międzyzdroje (1971). This festival was launched (1966) and continues to this day. Unfortunately, it is not identified. I am almost sure that it is depicts the Poznań Boys' Choir, better known as the Polish Nightingales. The choir was founded by Jerzy Kurczewski (1945). It was the most important Polish boys' choir. The choral trsining was conducted s part of a boarding school so the boys coild concentrate on the chorfl training. The costumes shownhere were changed in the mid-1970s.

Created: 7:59 AM 1/31/2022
Last updated: 7:59 AM 1/31/2022