Pruszków

“Kolej na Pruszków!” This motto, meaning “It’s Pruszków’s turn,” reflects Pruszków’s journey from a small village to a bustling town near Warsaw. Pruszków’s story begins in the 15th century. Its growth was spurred by the Warsaw-Vienna Railway in the 19th century. Later, the Elektryczna Kolej Dojazdowa, Poland’s first electric commuter train, further connected Pruszków to the capital. This railway development contributed to Pruszków’s industrial growth. Factories producing needles, porcelain, faience, and soap emerged. In 1891, a large psychiatric hospital opened in Tworki, a village now part of Pruszków. It remains operational today. Pruszków officially became a town in 1916 amidst the turmoil of World War I. A battle raged here in October 1914 between German and Russian forces, causing significant damage. The town was occupied by Germany in 1915. Pruszków’s history during World War II is particularly poignant. The Germans established a Jewish ghetto in 1940, confining the Jewish population. In 1941, its inhabitants were sent to the Warsaw Ghetto and subsequently to Treblinka. In 1944, during the Warsaw Uprising, Pruszków became the site of Dulag 121, a transit camp. Thousands of Warsaw residents passed through this camp, facing forced labor, concentration camps, or expulsion. Post-war Pruszków transformed into a major industrial center near Warsaw. Factories and companies like Herbapol, Daewoo Electronics, and L’Oréal established a presence here. However, Pruszków also became synonymous with organized crime in the 1990s, due to the notorious “Pruszków gang.” Today, Pruszków is known for its cycling center and velodrome. It continues to evolve, a town with a rich and sometimes dark history, striving to embrace its future.