Chotomów

Chotomów is a village in Poland, located in the Masovian Voivodeship, within the Legionowo County, with a rich history dating back to the 14th century, when it was mentioned as a clerical village. Architecturally, it stands out for its Neo-Gothic Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, built between 1861 and 1865 and designed by Franciszek Maria Lanci, along with its belfry of the same origin. The village is also home to the Pope Pius XI Orphanage, designed by Edgar Aleksander Norwerth and opened in 1937. During World War II, Chotomów was a site of activity for the Polish Military Organisation, and Jan Trzaskoma organised an attack on the German garrison there. During the occupation, nuns at the orphanage hid Jewish children, and an underground non-commissioned officer school operated in Chotomów. These events highlight the cultural and social engagement of the local residents. In 2016, the Servant Sisters celebrated the 90th anniversary of their work for orphans, having cared for approximately a thousand children. The local community also maintains monuments commemorating soldiers who died during World War II and the actions of the Home Army. Chotomów also takes pride in its two primary schools and a local unit of the Volunteer Fire Department, established in 1918. In recent years, the village has gained new infrastructure, including a viaduct over the railway line. In addition to historical figures associated with the locality, such as Polikarp Wróblewski, a social activist and soldier, Chotomów remains an important site of memory and local culture.