World War I and the interwar period
The outbreak of World War I found the atmosphere of politics. A procession of members of various parties was taking place near Giewont, from Marchlewski to Piłsudski. The Podhale people joined Piłsudski's Legions with a shooting company. After regaining independence 1 XI 1918 r. the National Council was established, headed by Stefan Żeromski. The ephemeral Republic of Zakopane was created. Right after the war, in connection with the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, Poland has established its southern borders.
It was not without conflicts, in which the inhabitants of Zakopane actively joined.
In a free country, the popularity of the village continued to increase. The interwar period was full of various types of investments. buried – still having the status of a village – equipped with electric street lighting, stylish building of the Tatra Museum, the great jump at Krokiew, new cinema, bus station etc.. W 1933 r. received the desired city rights.
It has turned from a typical health resort into a sports and cultural center. Crowds of tourism enthusiasts began to come here, fatherhood, skiing, art lovers and connoisseurs of entertainment and social life. Before the war, the city was twice (1926,1939) organizer of the FIS World Ski Championships (International Ski Federation). Among the artistic events, the activity of Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz should be mentioned, his Formist Theater and the Portrait Company. At the halfway point of the interwar period, 1928 r. to Zakopane, which counted 17 thousand. residents, more than. 50 thousand. guests. A cable railway to Kasprowy Wierch and a funicular railway to Gubałówka were built in half a year. The road to Kuźnice was paved and many modern schools were built. The organization of the municipal sewage system and sewage treatment plant was started, by the way, the sewage system has not been completed to this day, a sewage treatment plant z 1928 r. it worked for years 60.
The highlight of the summer season 1928 r. there were races organized by Automobilklub Krakowski, attended by approx 1000 cars and motorbikes. The route of the race led from Zakopane to Morskie Oko. There were no accidents. In the same year, the number of permanent residents of Zakopane was 12 thousand.
W 1930 r. a convention of PEN-CLUB members took place in Zakopane. They participated in it, among others: John Galsworthy – English writer, Nobel Prize winner, author m in. Sagas of the Forsyt family, Jules Romans – French-man, creator of unanimism, Ernest Toller – German anti-fascist writer.