Late medieval The earliest mention in the records of Imielin dates from 1386. At that time it was part of the
Duchy of Racibórz, the eastern border of which was marked by the
Przemsza River. Imielin, like the neighbouring villages of
Kosztowy and
Chełm Śląski was nevertheless isolated from the rest of the duchy by the dense forest which were a feature of the area formed by the sources and headwaters of the
Kłodnica and Mleczna rivers. For this reason in 1391
the Duke of Opava-Racibórz gifted this eastern portion of his lands to the
Bishop of Kraków.
Early modern and nineteenth century Imielin was annexed by
Prussia in the
Third Partition of Poland in 1795. In 1796 administrative control and ownership of the land was also transferred to the Prussian crown. In 1802 Alt Gatsch (Stara Gać) was established as a daughter settlement, followed in 1820 by Neu Gatsch (Nova/New Gać). During the period of pan-European warfare with which the nineteenth century opened,
the Napoleonic general Jean Lannes, who had been appointed Prince of
Siewierz by the
Duchy of Warsaw, asserted control over Imielin, along with Siewierz, citing in support the fact that historically both had belonged to the Bishopric of Kraków. Following the end of the Napoleonic Wars, Imielin was in 1817 returned to Prussia, and in 1818 it was incorporated into the newly created
Pleß administrative district.
Twentieth century Following
World War I, Poland regained independence and control of Imielin. Imielin's excellent transport links to the industrial cities of
Katowice,
Oświęcim and
Tychy enabled it to grow considerably during the twentieth century, both as a residential town for commuters to these larger centres and on account of businesses establishing themselves in Imielin itself. The official population count increased from 2,614 in 1900 to 5,200 in 1931, and to 7,757 in 1970. During the German
Invasion of Poland at the start of
World War II in 1939, German soldiers mass murdered 28 Poles on the night of 4 and 5 September. The victims included refugees, three women and one 5-year-old child. Afterwards it was
occupied by Germany until 1945. The local Polish police chief was murdered by the Russians in the
Katyn massacre in 1940. ==Sights==