Kłecko

Kłecko ([ˈkwɛt͡skɔ]; German: Kletzko, 1940-45 Klötzen) is a town in Gniezno County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,712 inhabitants (2004).

Kłecko
Church
Flag Coat of arms
Kłecko
Coordinates: 52°38′N 17°26′E
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Greater Poland
County	Gniezno
Gmina	Kłecko
Area
• Total	9.61 km^2 (3.71 sq mi)
Population  (2006)
• Total	2,677
• Density	280/km^2 (720/sq mi)
Postal code	62-270
Climate	Dfb
Website	http://www.klecko.pl

Battle of Kłecko

A battle between the Swedish Army and Polish forces stood here on 7 May 1656. The battle was an important victory for Sweden. A painting picturing the battle can be sen in the museum at the current Home of the Swedish Royal Family Drottningholm Castle in Stockholm, Sweden.

Massacre during Second World War

During the German Invasion of Poland in 1939, Wehrmacht soldiers and SS mass murdered 300 civilians from the town on 9 and 10 September. The victims were chosen at random, from all males gathered in the town square and then randomly selected for execution as alleged attackers against German Army. 41% of murdered were teenagers (11 years to 16 years old), but people as old as 78 were also killed. The victims were later buried in mass graves.[1]

Curiosities

After Second World War Greater Poland governor called Kłecko "Wielkopolskie Westerplatte", which means, Kłecko is Greater Poland equivalent of Westerplatte.

1. Szymon Datner "55 dni Wehrmachtu w Polsce" page 315-324